I have been practicing bonsai for 5 almost 6 years, but in the comfort of Florida's sub-tropical climate. I am moving up to Minnesota this early summer and I want to slowly start bringing my collection with me.
I have 3 Chinese elms that I absolutely adore and I want to do what's best for their future health. I was thinking of developing the trees as outdoor specimen but is it too dangerous? I know the sudden change of climate, South Florida to Minnesota, is quite drastic but I have always had issues with growing bonsai indoors and plan to be staying in Minnesota for a while.
My main questions are:
- Can I train a Chinese elm that has been growing in a sub-tropical climate to grow and go dormant in a temperate climate? If I can what do I need to do to prepare the trees.
- If I can't, what would be a good indoor setup and what are the care guide lines? I have access to a basement storage room that has 2 small windows that get adequate light, 2 electric outlets, and the area stays rather dry during the winter with temperatures staying above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.