bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Chinese Elm Recovery question

Mushashi,

Having no idea what your conditions there are like right now, and not knowing the recent (*past two years) history of the tree, it is hard for me to give advice on what to do next. I'll just elaborate on some thoughts....

It seems odd that branches in the middle portion of the trunk have died, yet upper and lower branches are alive. Besides mechanical reasons I cannot think of any other reason for this to happen on a Chinese elm other than some sort of root problem. [Chime in everyone if you can think of another reason!]. So my determination is that it is probably the result of an unknown root problem.

Generally it is prudent to remove the dead roots without disturbing the root ball too much, and then repot into a larger container, using a free-draining mix. I've had great results with this even on trees with generally weaker root systems. I even got away with this once, out of necessity, on a JBP in the middle of a Texas Summer. But I admit that that had to be more luck than skill.

* Okay, all of that said, there is this to consider: your tree's deep health today is a reflection of it's superficial health from (as much as) two years ago.

So, the shabbiness of your tree today is a reflection of it's condition two years ago. Therefore, any procedure that you carry out today must be done with the consideration of it's health over the past two years. All of this is because energy is being stored in the roots of your tree from which it draws it's vigor. If the tree has been under stress over the past two years, it's not going to have a lot of reserves to draw upon. I think this is why trees seem to "die for no reason". It wasn't the care this year, but the year before, that caused a minor stressor to kill the tree.

So, all of this is to say.... I don't have an answer for you. There are a lot of variables to consider: time of year, care you can provide, actual vigor of the tree, can it make it to next spring for a proper repotting. All of these considerations and more should be weighed before you take action.

What do you think?

HTH,
Jim

15-Apr-2005	#6
malhomme bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman Join Date: Feb-2005 Location: Austin, Texas USDA Zone: 8b AHS Heat Zone: 9 Posts: 814	Mushashi, Having no idea what your conditions there are like right now, and not knowing the recent (past two years) history of the tree, it is hard for me to give advice on what to do next. I'll just elaborate on some thoughts.... It seems odd that branches in the middle portion of the trunk have died, yet upper and lower branches are alive. Besides mechanical reasons I cannot think of any other reason for this to happen on a Chinese elm other than some sort of root problem. [Chime in everyone if you can think of another reason!]. So my determination is that it is probably the result of an unknown root problem. Generally it is prudent to remove the dead roots without disturbing the root ball too much, and then repot into a larger container, using a free-draining mix. I've had great results with this even on trees with generally weaker root systems. I even got away with this once, out of necessity, on a JBP in the middle of a Texas Summer. But I admit that that had to be more luck than skill. Okay, all of that said, there is this to consider: your tree's deep health today is a reflection of it's superficial health from (as much as) two years ago. So, the shabbiness of your tree today is a reflection of it's condition two years ago. Therefore, any procedure that you carry out today must be done with the consideration of it's health over the past two years. All of this is because energy is being stored in the roots of your tree from which it draws it's vigor. If the tree has been under stress over the past two years, it's not going to have a lot of reserves to draw upon. I think this is why trees seem to "die for no reason". It wasn't the care this year, but the year before, that caused a minor stressor to kill the tree. So, all of this is to say.... I don't have an answer for you. There are a lot of variables to consider: time of year, care you can provide, actual vigor of the tree, can it make it to next spring for a proper repotting. All of these considerations and more should be weighed before you take action. What do you think? HTH, Jim