Chinese elm problem HELP!
a week I ago bought a chinese elm from a nursery where I have bought several starter bonsai and stock plants that I have trained from scratch and all were healthy and fine. I even examined the semi cascade that I am talking about now for years before I bought it but after I finally got it home and trimmed back the long overgrowth they had left on it for some unknown reason I realized that there were only a couple new shoots on the whole tree and some branches weren't dead but had no leaves on them and some only have leaves towards the tips.the few new shoots also look thin and weaker than they should with reddish stems(ive seen red on new growth of healthy chinese elms before but this seems deeper red) I think it has been several years since its been repotted but the greenhouse just switched owners and the new owners could not tell me anything about the last repotting. This is a beautiful tree and I want to restore its vigor asap. Is it a root bound issue??, low nutrients ?? I feel the world will lose a work of art if this tree dies and I have never worked with a tree so old (25+years training) so I am not as confident to just rip it out of the pot as with all my other trees. I can post pics soon if someone needs to see to help better. ANY ADVICE WILL BE TREASURED thanks
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IndorBonsai
- Senior Member
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Sat May 02, 2009 5:15 pm
- Location: Seattle area WA
LOL 
Lets get some pictures of the soil and branches / leaves. I know Norm or Bonsaiboy will have some good ideas. Who knows maby I could even think of something useful to help you out 
Like you say the tree might just need a re-pot, and a trim then it might be good as new. But lets get a few pictures before you do anything. A tree with good training and age is always best to take your time and get a few good ideas of what might be the problem and pictures always help out.
Welcome to the forum by the way
Lets get some pictures of the soil and branches / leaves. I know Norm or Bonsaiboy will have some good ideas. Who knows maby I could even think of something useful to help you out Like you say the tree might just need a re-pot, and a trim then it might be good as new. But lets get a few pictures before you do anything. A tree with good training and age is always best to take your time and get a few good ideas of what might be the problem and pictures always help out.
Welcome to the forum by the way
welcome
and yeah a few piccys would help and as for being worried that its a older tree I really think you shouldnt worrie to much elms r such hardy little buggers thay can take a kicking just be a little bit gentel with the olderand britteler looking branches. all so if its really haveing a hard time with new groth it may be time to be crule to be kind as in give it a hard pruneing and then let it grow wild for a wile. if you look at my post you will see my elm shes 80+ years verry hardy and every now and then I will let her grow wild.
alot of ppl wont agree with me on that but the proof is in my tree =D just look at it
anyway let se sum piccys
good luck hun
and yeah a few piccys would help and as for being worried that its a older tree I really think you shouldnt worrie to much elms r such hardy little buggers thay can take a kicking just be a little bit gentel with the olderand britteler looking branches. all so if its really haveing a hard time with new groth it may be time to be crule to be kind as in give it a hard pruneing and then let it grow wild for a wile. if you look at my post you will see my elm shes 80+ years verry hardy and every now and then I will let her grow wild.
alot of ppl wont agree with me on that but the proof is in my tree =D just look at it
anyway let se sum piccys
good luck hun
thanks for getting back so quick I will be posting some pics a little later on today. I know it may sound like I am worrying too much much I just want to make absolutely sure it does as well as possible, it has lost a couple leaves but I'm pretty sure that is just from switching locations. I will be posting pics shortly so I hope they help. And thanks again for the support.
[img]https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww269/logic1248/bonsai176.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww269/logic1248/bonsai175-1.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww269/logic1248/bonsai180.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww269/logic1248/bonsai171.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww269/logic1248/bonsai173.jpg[/img]
here is the chinese elm in question. I am really starting to think it needs to be repotted the wire holding it in is almost growing into the trunk just under the soil and the soild is soid under the first quarter inch in all places with roots , but I cant see into the drainage hold much to check for roots there. Any advice will be apprecitated, thanks
[img]https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww269/logic1248/bonsai175-1.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww269/logic1248/bonsai180.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww269/logic1248/bonsai171.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww269/logic1248/bonsai173.jpg[/img]
here is the chinese elm in question. I am really starting to think it needs to be repotted the wire holding it in is almost growing into the trunk just under the soil and the soild is soid under the first quarter inch in all places with roots , but I cant see into the drainage hold much to check for roots there. Any advice will be apprecitated, thanks