One thing beginners don't know about ch elms is they are semi tropical and deep cold will kill them. Even here in Texas when the temps get in the 20s overnight you could lose your ch elm if you don't give protection in an un heated garage. Keeping them indoors is a crap shoot as some will tolerate it and some won't, probably most won't really. So living in Ill is a challenge unless you use local trees, but even then keeping them in shallow pots will still present somewhat of a challenge to a beginner. It would be best for a beginner to talk to someone in the area either in person or through the forums and see what type of trees they use for that specific area.
For indoor trees, some tropical trees will be your best bet, but keep an eye out for aphids and other pests for indoor trees. Unless you're sure those spider webs are from spider mites, don't be in a hurry to remove spiders as they will consume your aphids if you have any. Not all insects are harmful to plants and many being beneficial.
My last bit of advice would be for the watering aspect; get some really good well draining soil and forget the science of watering aspect. Then no matter how much you water you can't overwater, but you will have to water no matter what maybe 2 to 3 times a day when the temps get really hot. But of course as humid as Ill. gets (born and raised there) twice a day might be sufficient. I've been doing bonsai for 25 yrs and never lost one due to overwatering. My trees have been in rainy periods where it rained constantly for days without any problems. It's all about the soil.
