My Chinese Elm has sprouted - too early?

Well, I managed to keep my first bonsai alive during its first winter, but...it's now sprouting and it's much to soon for my area.

It's a 12 year old Chinese Elm. I kept it outside in Fall (Colorado Springs) until the the leaves dropped then put it in the garage which stays at about 40 degrees and has no windows. I kept it watered sparingly to "mimick" the winter outdoors.

Two weeks ago the buds began to swell but I didn't think anything of it. I thought trees knew when to begin to grow by amount of light and temperature. Now it has miniature leaves that are a pale green/yellow (due to no sunlight).

Do I now put it outside during the day and bring it back inside at night? Our "real" trees will not sprout leaves until about late May here so I'm afraid I might kill it now that it looks so tender.

Any suggestions out there?

Thanks!
Darrell

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Tony

Chinese elm are early to leaf out and trees in pots will warm up quicker the their big brothers in the ground. *If the overnight lows are mostly above freezing then put it outside and only bring it in when you expect a freeze. *If not, your option would be to put it out in the morning and bring it in at night until the weather warms up. You could also keep it in the garage and put a grow light over it.

Tony

ficusfanatic

i would put it out. at least on nicer days and leave it out on nicer nights, i'd say over 40's but this is colorado. watch out for the freak snows like last week. but if it got through a winter in your garage and wants to grow now... let it. carefully.

redhawkbonsai

Tony:
I agree with everything you posted here BUT, We want to protect it from the FROST (not freezing) it can frost at a few degrees higher temp than freezing. I get a very early spring here (mid feb) and I have to do that bonsai shuffle (in the garage out of the garage) with the cold fronts that blow in after the start of Spring.

hAPPY SprinG'ing, redhawk

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