bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - HELP! My bonsai is sick!

Hope you can help me!

I have a Chinese Elm that is about 60 years old and it's very sick - it has lost much of its leaves.

When I water the tree I often catch sight of a white caterpiller like animal no more than a millimetre or so in length - I am sure there are lots of them.

This is the second time this has happened. The first time (without advice!) I immersed it in warm soapy water for a while before repotting.

Now it has happened again I want some EXPERT advice:

How do I kill the caterpillar without further harming the tree?
What type of soil should I used to repot?
How do I nurse it backi to health?
How do I ensure this does not happen again?

Thank you!

22-Mar-2005	#2
toefinger brian Join Date: Mar-2005 Country: UK Posts: 1	Help Required with my Chinese Elm Hope you can help me! I have a Chinese Elm that is about 60 years old and it's very sick - it has lost much of its leaves. When I water the tree I often catch sight of a white caterpiller like animal no more than a millimetre or so in length - I am sure there are lots of them. This is the second time this has happened. The first time (without advice!) I immersed it in warm soapy water for a while before repotting. Now it has happened again I want some EXPERT advice: How do I kill the caterpillar without further harming the tree? What type of soil should I used to repot? How do I nurse it backi to health? How do I ensure this does not happen again? Thank you!