I hadn't realized that his apartment is super hot and dry (his landlord is from Barbados and likes to keep the building that warm!)One tree was fine, but the other one, a tiny (6" tall) chinese elm got bone dry. It dried out so fast that the leaves didn't even fall off-- but they are crisp and bleached olive in color.
I am trying to keep it alive. I soaked it thoroughly and have placed it getting soft south light (the only one in my apartment). I have pruned off the leaves, branch tips and dead wood until the limb looks at least somewhat green in cross section. Is there anything else I can do to optimize its slim chances of survival? (I have just bought Bonsai Techniques I by John Naka on the advice of this forum, but it has not arrived yet.)
Some things I was considering: (1) keeping the plant under a purple grow light for extra hours at night (in addition to its normal daylight), (2) putting a loose plastic bag over it with air holes to create a more humid environment (out of strong light)
Any thoughts on ways to stabilize a once healthy but badly shocked tree?
