AusBonsai

Greetings from Los Angeles! I saw all the great advice you were giving and I was hoping you could help me.

I have had a chinese elm small leaf variety for a little less than a year now. The tree started with a pest problem which a soap solution seemed to work best. Also, the tree never became too used to being indoors despite being in a south-east window. The leaves would turn yellow and fall especially on extremely hot days (i’m in zone 9, Los Angeles). Eventually as winter came the leaves slowly all fell off. I thought maybe it was going dormant, but I was suspicious of the look of the tree and also the fact that it generally stays rather warm here. I have repotted in anticipation of the spring, but it just doesn’t seem to be growing right. Very few new buds have come, and most just quit after sprouting a few leaves with the tips drying out or looking slightly black. Also the very few new leaves appear to have tiny white speckles. The overall look of the tree doesn’t look good, but it is certainly alive, as you can even see green in the banshees without cutting.

I do think leaving it in the original shop soil had much to do with it and despite my efforts to monitor the soil moisture, I think it perhaps retained too much water. At one point the tree started taking less water. I have seen no adverse reactions since the repot (besides the overall unpleasant look of the tree), but I am concerned about some new growth’s slow progress and that some cease to grow. An expert saw pictures and concluded that the tree has a serious pest problem and suggested I use insecticide weekly. I have begun treatment with an insecticidal soap but I’m curious as to whether there may be a fungus issue. My best new growth is now giving up, and the newest leaves turned black and closed up. I noticed the same with some of the other newest buds. What I also have noticed is many of the branch stumps are now black (while others remain a healthy beech wood color). I took pictures to try to show the new growth giving up and the black branch stumps. I never thought I had any fungus problem, as I didn’t see any signs on the leaves when they fell, but the black concerns me. In any event I will keep with the insecticidal soap. I have added pictures and any friendly thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!

Here are the pictures: http://s124.photobucket.com/user/keith_ ... Bonsai%201

Hi kieth_esq , mate it looks like a Suji Elm and while i have never bothered with them like all bonsai they need to be kept outdoors . Most tree's apart from figs and a few others maybe , will surely die if kept indoors for prolonged periods . I wouldn't be using a herbicide or pesticide weekly , any treatment should be a 1 off not an ongoing saga .

I would place it outside in dappled light under a shady tree and out of the wind until it recovers and monitor the watering as it may have root damage .The black stubs tells me the tree is dying or has die back not fungil or pest attack but its hard to determine without quality pics or actually seeing the tree . Sunlight is required by most plants to grow healthy and vigourous , light through a window won't suffice especially for an Elm .

Hope this helps , others may have different idea's .

Cheers Alpineart

I would follow alpine's advice 100%. Fungicide and incectacide should be a short solution. But I think the issue is it has been kept indoors. Not sure if you can get seasol over there but if you can I would give it a water with seasol every couple days between your normal watering. It's a tonic and helps with shock of plants. Place as Alpine said in dappled light and monitor the watering closely.
Do not feed it and I would stop the incectacide spraying for now. It should come back with proper care but you may have lost some branches though.

Josh.