Two Varieties of Chinese Elm ?

[awarrenj]

I have these two Chinese Elms that were out all summer and just brought inside when our cold began ( about late October). The small one hasn't dropped its leaves ( though some new growth) but the larger one has dropped and now showing new growth.
I understand there are many varieties of Chinese elm, some for indoors and some for outdoors; I am guessing the smaller one is indoors but not sure why no leave dropping, maybe they don't.
I am comfortable defoliating the larger one in the spring (May for us) but not sure the smaller one should be defoliated since there have been no leaf drop.
Appreciate comments and advice on what I have here.

 

[BrianBay9]

No need to defoliate. The leaves will drop, at the latest when new leaves start budding out.

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

Chinese elms are outdoor trees.

 

[penumbra]

As stated above, all Chinese elms are outside trees. Some people keep them inside but they will always perform better outside. And there are many varieties, both cultivars and seedling variation. I have 6 varieties I am aware of.

 

[Shibui]

Definitely quite a few different Chinese elm vars being grown. Like @penumbra I have 6 distinct types here. Some react differently to winter. The one I know as 'Catlin' is definitely more evergreen than any of the others and usually retains green leaves right through our winters while all the others go deciduous. 'Nire Keyaki' leaves turn brown but hang on the tree for ages before dropping.
Retaining leaves through winter is not a problem. Old leaves will drop off as the new ones emerge in spring. 'Corky bark' and 'normal' Chinese elms planted in the grow beds will often go through winter with green leaves while the same varieties in pots drop leaves. Sometimes the same variety will react different in pots not far apart on the nursery benches.

Chinese elm does NOT have any requirement for dormancy.
All Chinese elms are outdoor trees. As far as I am aware none are better suited to indoor cultivation but all will cope if conditions are adequate.

Defoliation, if you choose to do it, is not dependent on whether the tree dropped leaves in winter.

 

[awarrenj]

Thank you for the input. I feel a lot better knowing that there is no requirement for dormancy. Fortunately, both of mine are healthy and next year will be kept outside with my other trees.
Thanks to all.