Very slow drainage

[The other Ryan]

Hi all

After some advice. Recently picked up an Chinese Elm and have noticed that when watering it’s very slow to drain. Water tends to pool on the surface for a solid 30 seconds before it starts to seep in and it takes a good while for it completely get through.

The tree seems in a good state as it’s still pushing new growth with the odd warmer weather the NSW south coast (Batemans Bay) has been having lately.

I’m not 100% what medium it’s in but it looks like it may be starting to compact. Is it worth repotting out of season and giving it a fresh medium to grow in or do we think a few more months until later winter early spring will be ok? Cheers!

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[shibui]

That soil does look a bit clogged up. I am actually quite surprised at the lack of roots on the outside of that root ball so the soil may already be having a detremental affect on growth of that tree.
It gets pretty cold up here so I would wait for spring. Hot and dry weather is behind us now so slow water penetration will soon not be a problem. Too wet could be an issue but I think that's unlikely to hurt between now and repot time

If the soil gives you enough of a concern you could still do a temporary repot now. Just shake off whatever soil will fall off, maybe scrape some more away if it won't drop off voluntarily, then fill with new mix without cutting roots too many roots.

Both those options are me being a bit conservative as I have not root pruned Chinese elm at this time of year but I have been told that in QLD, where Chinese elm never loses leaves, they repot these any time of year.
On the coast it probably doesn't get real cold so it may even be safe for you to follow the banana benders??

[Grant Bowie]

The soil looks like real soil which is not great for Bonsai. Make a better mix and you wont have problems in future.

I am still repotting Pines, junipers, maples and Elms currently and think it would be fine for you to do so.

Grant

[TimS]

My first reaction was the same as Shibui’s, that looks like not a lot of roots for a pretty significant trunk (judging against the few side branches in the photo)

I’d be tempted to do as said above and change it into potting mix now as that soil looks like it’s quite heavy. They are very tough and will bounce back very quickly once happy

[The other Ryan]

The soil looks like real soil which is not great for Bonsai. Make a better mix and you wont have problems in future.

I am still repotting Pines, junipers, maples and Elms currently and think it would be fine for you to do so.

Grant

Good to know! I believe this was ground grown so that would explain the soil. Is there general rule how much of the original soil I should or shouldn’t remove or could a go full new mix? I hear elms are quiet hardy

[The other Ryan]

My first reaction was the same as Shibui’s, that looks like not a lot of roots for a pretty significant trunk (judging against the few side branches in the photo)

I’d be tempted to do as said above and change it into potting mix now as that soil looks like it’s quite heavy. They are very tough and will bounce back very quickly once happy

Yeah there doesn’t appear to be a lot of root mass. There is some really thick ones in there. Sounds like I need to get my hands dirty and sort it out sooner rather than later!

[The other Ryan]

That soil does look a bit clogged up. I am actually quite surprised at the lack of roots on the outside of that root ball so the soil may already be having a detremental affect on growth of that tree.
It gets pretty cold up here so I would wait for spring. Hot and dry weather is behind us now so slow water penetration will soon not be a problem. Too wet could be an issue but I think that's unlikely to hurt between now and repot time

If the soil gives you enough of a concern you could still do a temporary repot now. Just shake off whatever soil will fall off, maybe scrape some more away if it won't drop off voluntarily, then fill with new mix without cutting roots too many roots.

Both those options are me being a bit conservative as I have not root pruned Chinese elm at this time of year but I have been told that in QLD, where Chinese elm never loses leaves, they repot these any time of year.
On the coast it probably doesn't get real cold so it may even be safe for you to follow the banana benders??

Thanks Neil. It’s still in the mid to high 20s at the moment and the lows haven’t really dropped below 12. My young trident maple has already dropped its leaves but this elm is still going. The conservative approach might be the go. The time it takes for the water to drain does concern me and I’d rather not lose this one if I can help it