Chinese elm lighting set up.... I think its right.....

[Lazaroo]

Hello,

Ive been lurking for the past few weeks gleaning knowledge from previous posts but the time has come for me to show what ive rigged up and ask for some advice

I have a chinese elm which came to me a few weeks ago with scale, maybe mites and mildew. I sprayed and fungicided and all seemed well. I have placed it in a very large south facing window which when sunny gets fabulous light, however the past week has been wet and cloudy and my elm has developed a lot of yellow leaves. I guess its been a bit too dull and possibly a little upset by moving here and being sprayed.

I'm trying to get to know how it likes to be watered but it is possible that I have overdone or underdone it slightly.

I didnt want to take any chances so I have rigged up a light system to help it out and maybe lengthen the daylight hours at least.

Here is what it looks like at night to show the light spread:

[img]https://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h174/DaezD/IMAG0051.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h174/DaezD/IMAG0048.jpg[/img]

Its a cfl 20w bulb. I would really appreciate any advice or tips you might have on my set up until I can get this tree outsiede in the spring and hopefully let it rest next winter.

Thankyou

[linlaoboo]

Lazaroo,

I came to say your setup looks good and so does the tree. It is good at telling you conditions aren't ideal with yellow leafs but like you said it's most likely in the transition period. As you probably read allready it will benefit from repotting into a better bonsai soil but that's a task for the spring time, not now.

[JTred]

It's hard to tell, but is your tree on a small table near a radiator or other heat source? If so I would consider another spot because that will be an area of your house with a lot of extremely dry air, which is one of the major problems of indoor growing.

edit: P.S. I like the light.

[Lazaroo]

Thankyou both I'm learning fast how to keep this one happy, its good to know I'm on the right track.

I have it next to a radiator but its turned off so theres no heat coming from it at all. The window practically completely opens up so I do that if its not windy or a cold day to add moisture from the air outside. Do you think thats a good move?

I bought the tree from a bonsai specialist who said it had been repotted this spring just past...the soil is quite sandy and drains well as far as I can see. I think I may have misjudged the watering when it was dull compared to a sunny week which must have dried it out quicker.... this week its just stayed wetter so I'm on my guard with how much water to put in next time.
Do you think I should repot anyway in the Spring with that in mind?

The light is really cool... its a camping light with a mirrored inside shade and it stays lovely and cool....Fingers crossed it helps to keep the leaves green and healthy!

[manofthetrees]

howdy, jst a tip on watering . I have a ficus about the size of your tree and put it in the sink to water it with the sprayer, I water the whole tree, trunk and leaves. the exposed roots will stay damp for a few days to a week when they are dry I wait a day and water again. this seems to work well as marker. good luck

[Lazaroo]

Thanks! I will give it a try

I'm pleased to say that after a mass of yellow leaves which either dropped off or I removed, my tree is looking a bit more stable now.

I think the spray was responsble for a bit of the yellowing...but at least we are bug and mildew free now

The crown of the tree nearest the light is really green and healthy looking so I'm sure its helping a lot.

[Lazaroo]

I'm happy tp report that my tree has sprouted new bunches of leaves at every point with the onset of spring here in the UK. We have survived the winter indoors with additional light and I'm still providing it until its bright and warm enough to go outside completely.

Will post pics asap!

[snowblind]

the tree looks lovely I must say

I'm from the uk aswell in kent.

can I ask why did you bring the elm inside at all ? just wondering about that is all

I myself have never been one for the *bring the trees inside to save them from the weather* and elms especialy don't need to come in over winter (unless ofc thay r suffering with sum major issue ofc). all I can say is get the tree away from that rad or make sure the rad is off. elms r one of the hardyist trees imop so it will take sum time indoors as long as you keep on top of the watering. the onely issues with that is the temptation to keep watering and then one day you relise youve been over watering it for ages and youve done more harm than good wen you keep them inside

but I must say all in all a lovely little elm keep it up keep it happy and you will have meny meny years of a lovley tree

[Lazaroo]

Hello, the rad is off don't worry, we have spent a whole winter with no heating in that room just to save the tree

Its inside as we bought it at the start if winter and it had previously been kept indoors so we didnt want to risk it going out into freezing temps without hardening off. As soon as it warms up it will be outside where it should be, I'm just glad I managed to keep it watered right and alive through the indoors bit.

It also had scale and all sorts going on which is all gone now with lots if TLC over the past few months.

Does anyone have any tips on when it should go outside? And the watering aspects of it being out?