Zelkova post-repot troubles

[Faysal]

Hi all, I could really use some help with my new Zelkova.

I picked this guy up a month ago, about 9 inches tall, kept indoors (no choice). The tree was potted in really water-retentive potting soil, and while it seemed to be growing okay there were gnats buzzing all around it and it drained very poorly. I was pretty sure I had to move it to a better soil. I opted for an akadama-pumice mixture, did a bit of very light root trimming, and put him in the new soil and in the shade.

About ten days after the repot he started dropping leaves. Not disastrous yet, but not moving in the right direction. I was pretty gentle with the root trimming - guessing it might be the soil?? I'm confused. I know some people have done well using this soil mixture for Zelkovas. I can see some buds just about poking out of the bark but not quite getting out there.

Is this a normal post-repot reaction for Zelkova? Or have I messed up somehwere?

 

[coh]

So what you're saying is that you took a tree that was already leafed out and repotted it, and then it started dropping leaves?

If so...I'd say that's a pretty normal reaction, as you've damaged roots during the repotting and in addition you pruned off some of the roots. It's probably not the soil mix but your timing that is the problem. I don't have specific experience with zelkovas, but in general I'd advise you to not over-water and keep it out of the wind until it stabilizes. Maybe give some morning sun and then gradually increase the amount of sun as it responds.

By the way, what size/age tree are we talking about...seedling, older established tree, something in between? A photo might help.

Chris

 

[small trees]

You also said that you kept it inside. Is it still inside or did you place it outside? If it's still inside, that could also be a factor, although I agree with what was said above ^

 

[Faysal]

So what you're saying is that you took a tree that was already leafed out and repotted it, and then it started dropping leaves?

If so...I'd say that's a pretty normal reaction, as you've damaged roots during the repotting and in addition you pruned off some of the roots. It's probably not the soil mix but your timing that is the problem. I don't have specific experience with zelkovas, but in general I'd advise you to not over-water and keep it out of the wind until it stabilizes. Maybe give some morning sun and then gradually increase the amount of sun as it responds.

By the way, what size/age tree are we talking about...seedling, older established tree, something in between? A photo might help.

Chris

Chris, thank you.

Yes, that is what I'm saying. I take your point that my timing was off, but tbh I got totally confused because I read many different and contradictory guidelines on timing and when to repot Zelkova. So you're saying I re-potted too late in the season, and should have done so before it began leafing.

I will go ahead and do as you advise, thank you for helping out.

 

[Faysal]

You also said that you kept it inside. Is it still inside or did you place it outside? If it's still inside, that could also be a factor, although I agree with what was said above ^

GeorgiaBonsai, I have kept it inside. I realize it's far from ideal, but I don't have a choice and it had always been kept indoors according to the seller. I agree with both of you that timing was likely the issue. Thank you for helping out an aspiring zelkova-grower. I really want to get this right.

 

[coh]

Chris, thank you.

Yes, that is what I'm saying. I take your point that my timing was off, but tbh I got totally confused because I read many different and contradictory guidelines on timing and when to repot Zelkova. So you're saying I re-potted too late in the season, and should have done so before it began leafing.

I will go ahead and do as you advise, thank you for helping out.

You're welcome!

Generally the safest time (or one of the safest) to repot is before or just as growth begins in the spring, especially if significant root work is involved. Once the tree has leafed out it is much more susceptible to the effects of root loss/damage. I don't know any reason why zelkovas would be different than most other deciduous trees in that regard.

That said, I've repotted many trees in leaf even during the heat of summer - but those were slip-pots, where I just took the tree out of the old pot and placed the entire root mass into a new, larger pot with fresh soil...with minimal or no root disturbance. I would never do a major repot involving root work on a deciduous tree in full leaf unless there was a really compelling reason - such as the tree was suffering and I suspected the roots were rotting. Instead, if the soil seemed heavy/wet but the tree still looked healthy, I'd just be very careful with watering and plan to repot the following spring.

Good luck...having to keep the zelkova indoors is probably going to be difficult in the long term. Do you have a place where it can get full sun? And can you arrange to give it a cold dormant period during the winter?

Chris

 

[JudyB]

I agree with Chris about the reasoning for your problems, and the tree was already in a weakened state because of the soil, and the wet root conditions that it probably already had.

The seller is not only wrong about the type of soil it was in, but also about keeping it inside. There are very few trees that will live happily inside, and zelkova is not one of them.

I would work on getting it out in partial sun for the morning, and in the shade for the afternoon. This tree will not live if you try to keep in inside I fear. It's already in trouble, and only going to make it if you do everything right from here out.

 

[Faysal]

You're welcome!

Generally the safest time (or one of the safest) to repot is before or just as growth begins in the spring, especially if significant root work is involved. Once the tree has leafed out it is much more susceptible to the effects of root loss/damage. I don't know any reason why zelkovas would be different than most other deciduous trees in that regard.

That said, I've repotted many trees in leaf even during the heat of summer - but those were slip-pots, where I just took the tree out of the old pot and placed the entire root mass into a new, larger pot with fresh soil...with minimal or no root disturbance. I would never do a major repot involving root work on a deciduous tree in full leaf unless there was a really compelling reason - such as the tree was suffering and I suspected the roots were rotting. Instead, if the soil seemed heavy/wet but the tree still looked healthy, I'd just be very careful with watering and plan to repot the following spring.

Good luck...having to keep the zelkova indoors is probably going to be difficult in the long term. Do you have a place where it can get full sun? And can you arrange to give it a cold dormant period during the winter?

Chris

Lesson learned.


Yes, I have a place where it can get full sun. Right now though I'm keeping it in the shade most of the time until (hopefully) it recovers.

For winter: I have a storage space in the building garage that might work, but I'll need to do a bit more homework - I don't know what sort of winter climate it would need to go into dormancy and whether Washington DC fits that.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

How have you identified it as zelkova?
Do the leaves resemble one of these two examples?