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JustinBoi
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Location: Largo, Florida

My Chinese Elm Troubles

My Chinese Elm has some exposed roots. And they are started to turn green, the main root that is the largest that is exposed is sort of.. split.
It looks like it was cut in half. Maybe I should re-pot it now?
The owner I bought it from re-potted it last year right before spring.
I have plastic bonsai pots I could re-pot it in for now. The soil it is in now is not free draining. It seems like top soil and a mix of Miracle Grow soil. With some fertilizer.
So, should I re-pot it or what?

TomM
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Exposed root is sort of ..... split. You might want to show us what you mean.
"cut in half"? "green"?

I'm wondering if root rot has begun. Chinese elms are prone to this. That's why free draining bonsai soil is important. Is your soil mix damp all the time? It needs to dry a little between waterings.

This may be a good reason to re-pot, though it was potted up 1 year ago. In most cases I wait 2 years between re-potting, sometimes 3. I've learned to tell when something is root bound.

If you have got better soil on hand go ahead and change/re-pot. But realize that the change may put further stress on the plant for awhile. It will need some recovery time. A period of rest, TLC - not blazing hot Florida sun. Like 3 weeks or so. Then a slow increase in amount of sun over the next couple weeks.

Let us know what happens - but don't panic. Be patient with your trees. Try to learn what is happening with them, and why.

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JustinBoi
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It is like cut in half, I don't know if it split by itself. But it's split and green on the side, you can push it too.
Never knew root rot was prone to Chinese Elm's. Should of done more research. It is in very soggy soil. Not free-draining at all.
It's damp almost all the time, even after 3-4 days without waterings.
I have tried to develop my own free-draining soil but material that they need are very hard to come by. They said moltan is good for it but they say try pumice. So far all I have is peat moss, Miracle Grow soil, sand, and top soil.
Not sure what would be the best mixture.
Will be taking pictures very soon. Will post in a few minutes.

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JustinBoi
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Took some photos!:
https://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/Justin_Broughton/Newcameraphotos008.jpg
The split root.
https://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/Justin_Broughton/Newcameraphotos009.jpg
Some of the greenness.
https://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/Justin_Broughton/Newcameraphotos010.jpg
The tree.
https://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/Justin_Broughton/Newcameraphotos011.jpg
More of the greenness.
https://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/Justin_Broughton/Newcameraphotos012.jpg
Roots inside.
https://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/Justin_Broughton/Newcameraphotos014.jpg
Plastic pot, drainage mesh, and the tree.

TomM
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Sorry Justin, I can't open your pics. But from what you describe the soil you have is bad. We've talked before about good bonsai soil here before. Someone somewhere in your area should be able to help you out with this problem. We can't ask for your address and mail/ship any to you - but, heck, there must be some way to do this. And I know your next birthday is too far away.

There are many online sources but you would need a card/paypal, some means of paying. You shouldn't need to mix your own.

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JustinBoi
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Hopeless little me.

I just remembered something..
Umm.. Oh yeah, I bought soil with my purchase of supplies when it was my birthday.
I think the owner said it was made of.. peat moss, pine bark, and calcined clay.
Do you think that would help?

TomM
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Oh yeah - go for it.

Gently 'comb out' the roots when replanting and work in the new soil into the root area using a chopstick for both jobs.

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JustinBoi
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I'll be doing that today and post some pictures.
Two quick questions.
Should I put the exposed roots under the soil? Or keep them like they are?

And then the guy I bought the materials from gave me Mendael Root Stimulator. He said it's made of two root hormones: IBA and NAA.

Should I use that on it after re-potting or just leave it alone for now?

TomM
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I usually bring the soil level up to the exposed roots so that they show along the top but dip down in. I can't see your photobucket pics. so I can't say for sure if that would be good advice for you.

I am not an expert with rooting hormones and I have only one that I use for cuttings - FASTROOT - made by Miracle Grow. But I've never used it for treatment of root rot. For any issues with roots I use a vitamin product called SUPERthrive. A lot of bonsai people know this stuff. I like it. Some don't.

If your elm has root rot - please understand that it didn't happen overnight. Eliminating it won't happen overnight. It might not survive the damage or the stress of re-potting. Don't be alarmed. It's worth the effort to try to save it, and it is good experience. It will need a special recovery time afterward.

If, in the end, it dies - go on with other plants and try again. Plants eventually die. Pets die. People die. My point is 'don't get discouraged!'

My very favorite (indoor) tropical bonsai died early this winter. It was a Bahama Berry and I fussed with it more than any other. I was so proud of it at club shows. It was beginning to show early signs of rot around the base of the trunk - I re-potted, root pruned, fresh soil. It died anyway. But, hey, I have others including a few new ones. They're all lookin' good and I'm so happy. I remember my Bahama Berry - and cats who are gone now. They are all great memories, but they don't live forever.

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Gnome
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Justin,

First, if I recall your previous set of pictures, your tree seems to be doing much better so my trepidations about re-potting are lessened.

Your new plastic pot appears a little deeper so the roots you are concerned about should end up covered a bit more. When you re-pot make sure to remove all of that old muck. The best way is in a bucket of water or with a garden hose and spray nozzle.

The green stuff is due to the overly wet conditions it is in now and should lessen when it is in a better medium. You could also gently brush it off with an old toothbrush, making sure not to damage any bark. If bark begins to slip off, you have bigger problems.

I'm not familiar with the hormone product you mention but such chemicals are often used to aid in the rooting of cuttings. I'm not sure I would use them for this application.

Norm

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JustinBoi
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Thanks for the advice, both of you.
I understand things die eventually but my position is to keep my plants alive as long as I can.
No matter what I got to do.
For Gnome, should I brush the truck before or after I re-pot? Does it matter?
When I first got it, bark fell of because it was damaged in the box a bit.
I didn't worry and the spot the bark fell off is fine. Barely recognizable.
I will go out now and re-pot it, get the bad soil out and re-pot, brush the green stuff, ect.

I used the Mendael Root Stimulator for my Juniper when the squirrel ate all the roots, and it has recovered well. So I'm greatful for this stuff.
Will post pictures when finished.

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JustinBoi
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Just finished, didn't take a picture of the finished product.

https://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/Justin_Broughton/Newcameraphotos009-1.jpg
The whole tree without the old soil.

https://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/Justin_Broughton/Newcameraphotos011-1.jpg
The roots and the root structure.

https://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/Justin_Broughton/Newcameraphotos007.jpg
There was this weird jelly stuff inside, so I removed it.

https://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l612/Justin_Broughton/Newcameraphotos008-1.jpg
I am not sure if it's root rot or not, I'm not completely sure what it looks like.



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