Hi Can anyone help I have been given a Chinese Elm Bonsai for a birthdsy present that is 15 years old and very beautiful, the only problem is that every plant I have ever had has died on me, as I don't have green fingers.
I live in the UK and don't want to kill off this tree.
I don't even know if this tree is an indoor or out door tree. Please help, all advice will be very welcome. I have purchased a book on bonsai trees but it only covers general care with no reference to the Chinese Elm itself.
Caz
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Being a UK personage, you should check out Peter Adams' books which are VERY good and very English (measurements and products discussed, etc.)
Chinese elm are a 'tweener (they are found in tropical locations, but very hardy as well) so you have choices there. Treat it as a tropical, or as a temperate, or somewhere in between...
Pretty hardy tree, so don't panic! I have seen mildew as a pretty regular problem on this one, so don't leave foliage wet at night (water early if you can). Other than that it's a pretty easy tree...
Here's some specific info...
[url]https://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=90[/url]
Check out the [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/bonsai/]bonsai[/url] articles here on site and let us know how you're doing with it...
Scott
Chinese elm are a 'tweener (they are found in tropical locations, but very hardy as well) so you have choices there. Treat it as a tropical, or as a temperate, or somewhere in between...
Pretty hardy tree, so don't panic! I have seen mildew as a pretty regular problem on this one, so don't leave foliage wet at night (water early if you can). Other than that it's a pretty easy tree...
Here's some specific info...
[url]https://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=90[/url]
Check out the [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/bonsai/]bonsai[/url] articles here on site and let us know how you're doing with it...
Scott
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You need to observe how fast the tree is utilizing soil moisture. I can't say every day, or every other day, without knowing what kind of pot, how big it is, how big the tree is, where you keep it, etc...
Probably every third day or so, but check the weight of the pot. I can tell if my trees need it by picking them up; long association with them let's me know when it's light. When in doubt squiggle a finger into the soil; if it's pretty dry a knuckle down, water...
Sorry, didn't mean to use a technical term like "squiggle"
Scott
Probably every third day or so, but check the weight of the pot. I can tell if my trees need it by picking them up; long association with them let's me know when it's light. When in doubt squiggle a finger into the soil; if it's pretty dry a knuckle down, water...
Sorry, didn't mean to use a technical term like "squiggle"
Scott
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- Posts: 7491
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:17 pm
- Location: Colchester, CT