chinese elm dormancy

ChrisM

i have never had good luck with this species. the one i have left has been doing well for quite some time now, but is not ready to be outside for the winter (not yet). my question is about dormancy and perhaps inducing it. the tree has dropped about half of its leaves up to now. i am wondering when or if i should "help" it by pruning off the rest. the tree is in good health, will not be moved until (depending on weather) late spring, etc. any help/advice much appreciated.

chris

__________________
A bonsai is like a good marriage.You commit, for better or for worse, till death do you part. I DO!!!

Advertisement

Aaron_K

Hi Chris,

If the tree is indoors then it won't have a dormancy period, unless you are physically putting it in a cold room (below 6c) and depriving it of light. As the tree wont go dormant without meeting these two criteria, your tree should replace those leaves its dropped. If it doesn't, something else is amiss. I wouldn't cut the remaining leaves off as you would effectively just be leaf pruning and won't force the tree into dormancy by doing so.

All the best,

Aaron

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

ChrisM

thanks aaron. i don't think i can provide that low a temp. without going far below it by putting the tree in my shed, which will maintain the outdoor temp. because it is not heated. if this winter is anything like last, we are talking about temps of below 20F. is it alright for the tree to be skipping dormancy? can it be kept indoors for the colder months, still in leaf, and outdoors for the warmer without risking its health? i think part of the reason it is dropping leaves is because it sits in a bay window that is rather cool at night (50's F), but does get the benefit of daylight. anyhow, any further help would be much appreciated.

thanks again,
chris

__________________
A bonsai is like a good marriage.You commit, for better or for worse, till death do you part. I DO!!!

Fletch

Chris;

While I have no direct experience with chinese elm they are supposedly hardy to Zone 4 (at least according to this web site"Ulmus Parviflora" ) so I don't see why you would be reluctant to overwinter it outdoors or at least in your shed in Zone 6. In fact if you have been keeping your previous attempts with this tree indoors over a number of winters that could explain why you've had trouble with them. Trees won't die from one winter indoors (not too often anyway) but over time they will not survive without appropriate dormant periods.

Are there any other members out there from a Zone 6 location with direct experience with this tree?

__________________
Advice worth every penny you paid for it.

Regards
Fletch

hansvanmeer

Hi Cris,
I have been keeping them outside for many years now with out much trouble.
The last 7 or 8 years i have them in a cold green house under a shelve, the lowest temperature there is around 0 degrees. But on a very cold night they might freeze over without any problems for days, but if they are frozen , don't let the temperature get to high inside the shelter, and never let them completly dry out, or you will lose the smaller branches! This way they will get beautiful fall collors, and when the leaves fall off, it is the right time to work on the branches with wire and sissors, and then before you put them in the shelter, spray them with deluted lime sulfer, to protect them from desises. And allways make sure (if the weather permits it) to air the shelter space. During their dormancy they are at there best!!
p.s.
I have posted photo's of one of mine, i have been working on this one for 15+ years now. It stayed outhside every winter! And we have bad winters over here!

good luck,
Hans.

Attached Images

	acdc 113.jpg (67.6 KB, 77 views)
	acdc 777.jpg (65.6 KB, 47 views)

drewhart

where did you get the tree? china is a big country. there are strains of the chinese elm from more north that are very winter and will be fine outside for winter and some from the more southern regions that are almost tropical. mine i collect from my area so i know they are fine outside for the winter, with allittle protection, such as being dug in the ground with mulch. at least thats what ive been told. its my first winter so ill see.

Aaron_K

Lovely looking Elm you have there Hans!

All the best,

Aaron

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

ozzerbon

G'day Chris,

Ulmus chinensis do well for me too, mine have gone semi-evergreen, and stay outside permanently, on a very exposed fourth floor balcony. Depends on how long your 25 degrees Farenheit period lasts for, translated to about 4 degrees Celcius. If you have a shed, then I'd place it in there, but I certainly wouldn't move it backwards and forwards, or in and out, which ever you prefer, watch the weather forecasts, they are 0 degrees tolerant, but not for too long a period, considered over here to be one of the easiest of species.

Hans
Your elm looks like a tree, and very nice too!

Nigel

__________________
http://pictures.bonsaitalk.com/user/ozzerbon
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozzerbon/

Jonny

I overwinter my elm in a cold frame (zone 5) and I've done it this way for 3 years. During the coldest part of the winter, I usuallly shovel snow into the box and it helps insulate the trees from the cold. It's not so much the temperatures I worry about, it's the wind that can freeze dry them. Have to watch out for rodents in my area, ie. voles, they can be known to be a pest.


Jonny