Help! I'm new to bonsai and Worried!

[Jonny Robertz]

Hello everyone, I am really new to bonsai and I'm having some trouble with my medium sized Chinese Elm. My wife ordered it for me online from a reputable shop and the tree showed up in amazing condition. It was full, green and beautiful! I have had the tree for about 5 weeks now and within the last week the issues started. It began dropping leaves. Now more and more of the leaves are turning yellow and brown and falling off. I keep the tree near a window where it gets direct sunlight for the morning and partial sunlight for the afternoon. I only water when the pot feels dry. I have only lightly pruned the tree once and I followed a very detailed instructional video. I have not repotted or added any nutrients. The small blue pellets are still there from when I bought it. Also, since the pruning I have seen new growth so I am extra confused. Please help! I do not want to hurt my little tree! Any advice would be greatly appreciated by this newbie! I have included a photo from 5 weeks ago and one from today.

 

[M. Frary]

It needs to be outside. It's dieing inside the house.

 

[Jonny Robertz]

It needs to be outside. It's dieing inside the house.

Okay, just FYI, I am in South Georgia and it's 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit here daily this time of year. Still put it outside? Direct sunlight?

 

[M. Frary]

Give it a few hours in the morning gradually building up to all day long. I don't live in Georgia so someone like @Adair M who does can tell you how long it can have full sun there.

 

[Jonny Robertz]

Okay, thanks for the input! It's greatly appreciated!

 

[Adair M]

Give it a few hours in the morning gradually building up to all day long. I don't live in Georgia so someone like @Adair M who does can tell you how long it can have full sun there.

Mike is correct. That tree should be outside 24/7/365 in South Ga. It can take full sun. Since its been inside, start off with 1/2 day sun, shade as in under a tall tree, the rest of the day. Water every day around noon if you can.

Chinese Elms grow like weeds in our climate.

 

[LanceMac10]

Tons of trees grow outside, and they seem to grow really fast in the summertime.

Best to follow nature's lead here....
after I get some sun......

 

[Jonny Robertz]

Okay I will start phasing it outside today. Thank you so much for the input! On a separate note I was told the Chinese Elm would thrive inside as well if kept near a window. Are there any types of bonsai trees that do well indoors? But again, I sincerely thank you for the info! I will move it outdoors immediately!

 

[aml1014]

Okay I will start phasing it outside today. Thank you so much for the input! On a separate note I was told the Chinese Elm would thrive inside as well if kept near a window. Are there any types of bonsai trees that do well indoors? But again, I sincerely thank you for the info! I will move it outdoors immediately!

Check out the tropicals subforum. Many tropical and subtropical trees like ficus, bougainvillea, and Brazilian Raintree all do well indoors over winter. But it's always best to have your trees outdoors during the growing season.

Aaron

 

[sorce]

I was told

We know who told you that!

@Ironbeaver, don't you have the photo?

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[petegreg]

I always consider spider mites and a watering issue if this happens to CHE.

 

[Ironbeaver]

don't you have the photo?

This one?

 

[DougB]

Johnny welcome to the Nut House and to the horticultural art of bonsai. An couple of suggestions. First it will help everyone to respond to your questions if you put your location in your profile. Secondly the very best place to learn is not here on the web but your local bonsai club, you should join. And thirdly the first two things to learn are patience, bonsai takes years not hours, and the ability to not just keep your trees alive, but to thrive for many years.

 

[rockm]

Okay I will start phasing it outside today. Thank you so much for the input! On a separate note I was told the Chinese Elm would thrive inside as well if kept near a window. Are there any types of bonsai trees that do well indoors? But again, I sincerely thank you for the info! I will move it outdoors immediately!

That is a tactic used by some less-than-knowledgeable sellers who just want cash. Elms aren't "indoor" trees. They can sometimes tolerate inside treatment, but over time, as you're finding out, they start to decline. Even near a window, they never get enough light. Sunlight drops off dramatically inside even near windows. Elms are very strong trees and need a lot of light to grow.

 

[Jonny Robertz]

Thank you so much for the input everyone! And FYI I am just outside of Savannah Georgia.

 

[Alain]

Thank you so much for the input everyone! And FYI I am just outside of Savannah Georgia.

You should up-date your profile with this info as nobody will remember where you live after a couple of post.

I was told the Chinese Elm would thrive inside as well if kept near a window. Are there any types of bonsai trees that do well indoors? But again, I sincerely thank you for the info! I will move it outdoors immediately!

In Georgia no tree should be inside, ever.
Or may be only in case of really severe extreme winter conditions

 

[Jonny Robertz]

Profile updated! Lol

 

[just.wing.it]

This one?
View attachment 112001

There's a van like that around my way too. The guy just sets up shop on the roadside.
Good luck with your elm.

 

[M. Frary]

There's a van like that around my way too. The guy just sets up shop on the roadside.
Good luck with your elm.

From what Ive gathered from previous posts on a different thread,won't he just be prey for the locals?
Nothing left but a frame and cheap bonsai dirt left laying around when they're done with him?

 

[Paradox]

Youve gotten some good advice. Elms do best outside. Inside near a window can be very bad for an outside tree,

Welcome to BNut and the Bonsai obsession.

If you are interested in getting into this hobby, I highly recommend reading everything you can get your hands on then read it again. Forums, books, blogs etc. Join a local club if you can.
Clubs can be a great source of info, but in my experience the learning curve is very long in bonsai. Relying on just a monthly club meeting will take you a million lifetimes to learn anything.
If you want to speed that up, read, read, read. There is lots of good and bad info everywhere (internet, clubs, etc) and it will take you time to figure out which is which but the only way you can is to dive in and research, ask questions when you dont understand something and try things out for yourself and see what works for you.