AusBonsai

Hi all,

I plucked up a bit of courage recently and gave my Chinese Elm a hard prune, pruning some roots and a few branches, and repotted into a larger pot to allow it to grow.

As you can see in the picture, its not looking well, and has been this way for nearly two weeks. The leaves are floppy, a dull color, and each day a few turn crispy

All cuts have been sealed and I've been keeping an eye on pests. I've also had it in a shaded area away from strong wind, and making sure not to overwater during summer.


Are there any first aid procedures I should consider, given that the tree really seems to be struggling right now?


Thanks everyone.

I Hard prune and root prune just prior to bud burst-very early spring-are you sure this is a chinese elm?

Big leaves for a chinese Elm. Take off all the leaves and keep it in a protected and shaded area. Mist spray with a product such as Amino gro two or three times a day until bud swell. Your tree has had a shock and can not supply the leaves so you do not need them. Let it pump its energy into the roots and it will push growth when it is ready (2-3 weeks) Elms are tough and it should come back with good aftercare. Best of luck. Same reaction as Guy..are you sure it is Elm

English Oak?

Guy wrote:I Hard prune and root prune just prior to bud burst-very early spring-are you sure this is a chinese elm?

Looks like an Oak to me.

Regards,
Leigh.

No, i would say Celtis hard to say all wilty like that.

Hi Emoska,

This year i had a Chinese Elm do exactly what your 'Chinese Elm' seems be doing - floppy leaves, droopy, dull in colour.
It occured after a hard prune and repotting exercise following some not too positive critiques of its style and shape from my local Bonsai Club (although these critiques proved invaluable and i learnt quite a bit that night).

Firstly, in the photo it looks like the plant is indoors. Does it live outdoors? Does it have a good draining soil mix?
Also, you sure its an elm?

My Chinese Elm, required just a little extra TLC. Filtered sunlight, made sure it had enough too drink and kept out of the wind.

Secondly, take off some, if not all of the leaves.

I dont see why your Chinese Elm wont spring back to life. But note, my hard prune and repotting occured in September - the heat may also be playing a detrimental effect.

Good luck

Hi E.
Looks like an English Elm to me but the type of tree is a bit irrelevant unless we can save it.

Your plucked up courage is good, but definately untimely. Deciduous trees ideally are root pruned when they are deciduous and as previously stated, just prior to budswell. ESPECIALLY living as far north as you do I would NOT rootprune at this time of year.

The remedy is to totally defoliate. Water with Seasol or Super thive and wait.
Whilst it has no leaves make sure you don't keep it too wet.

I have a horrible suspicion that you might have put insect gauze or shadecloth over your drainage hole. If that's the case your tree could be drowning
cheers
Dave

Hi all

Thank you so much for the great advice and support! Am obviously still learning about all this, and had not idea bout the right time to root prune a tree like this. I learn something new here every time

I'll likely do a total defoliation tomorrow and let the tree put its energy into the roots. I'll also hunt around the shed for some Seasol, Amino Gro or Super Thrive and try to revive this guy.

To give you all some background into the tree, I've been told its a Corky Bark Elm by the seller, which I thought was a variation of Chinese Elm. It lives outside in our courtyard and has been repotted with some good draining mix, but its currently right up against the house in the most shaded area.

Thank you all again!

PS. No shadecloth over the drainage hole Dave; one of the first lessons I learned when I first started It's in a self-watering pot, so the water drains into a hollow cavity where it stays and acts as a humidity tray.

Hi E.
Mate, I don't know about a self watering pot. Have never used them for bonsai,however, have had a couple of pot plants in them and they always keep the potting mix TOO WET which might be giving the same situation as the insect gauze or shadecloth over the hole.
Bonsai should be in a well drained mix.
Should be watered to saturation
should be allowed to NEARLY dry out before rewatering again

The 3 ingredients for a healthy plant are
1) Nutrients
2) Water
3) AIR !!!!
If the soil is continually wet there is no AIR and you will get rot and bacteria

Hate to argue with your seller, but I would be hugely surprised if that is a Corky Bark Elm
cheers
Dave

If you cant repot -make sure the self watering section is empty -ie tip it out-after every watering

Guy wrote:If you cant repot -make sure the self watering section is empty -ie tip it out-after every watering

Yeah, I was just going to say that I'd been doing that recently anyway, so I might stick with it. Thanks Guy.

And thanks Dave, I'll keep an eye on the watering. Pretty cool to hear that it may be something other than a C.Elm. Would love it if it was an Oak :-p

Dave54 wrote: I would be hugely surprised if that is a Corky Bark Elm
cheers
Dave

i agree it doesn't look like a Chinese elm,and not cork bark oak or elm either,, it definately looks more like english oak, Regards Craig

the very top couple of leaves still look sort of ok-which is promising--but looks english elm to me