Chinese Elm may need Excavation?

eeiko321

hi guys

its the beginning weeks of autumn here in australia.
ive got 3 chinese elms... 1, a root cutting.... 2, a chinese elm forrest & 3, a Large tall elm

my tall elm, by every day passing i can see that its getting several yellow leaves that are about to fall off...and is increasing by the day.

im guessing it is a semi-dormant type tree... but then why is the other 2 trees not doing that if its in the same environment as the large one?

anyhow, i have a strong feeling that it may be dormancy, ive heard trees in the same area may not sync with others.

but last night, when i was looking at the branches ive noticed a little crawling bug...
it dissapeared when i was attempting to kill it....
i couldve sworn it looked like a wine weevil!!!!!! (But i may be wrong)
because i heard they come out at night...

i heard premature yellowing in some trees means a problem with root system.

anyhow if i am really worried, is it safe to not prune the roots but to take it out....expose all roots and remove soil....to find if there is any wine weevil larvae to remvove them & then put new soil at this time of the year?

withought pruning roots but an excavation...would the tree consider this a "Shock?"

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Cathie

Is it possible that due to either soil mix or pot dynamics that the tall elm is holding more water (or being watered more often) than the others? If not, it may just be a variety that loses leaves in winter (fall) and the others aren't.

PatArizona

G'day eeiko...

"...im guessing it is a semi-dormant type tree...".

Please accept a little friendly advice...

The time for "guessing" is long past...

It's really a good idea to do some research about your plants. Even before you acquire a particular plant. You will be way ahead in your bonsai adventure if you truly know the care requirements for each of your bonsai. You just might find from your research, that you really don't want to add "that" species to your collection.

"Guessing" just doesn't fit well in the bonsai world...

My opinion...of course...

Pat

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MarcS

These guys are a real pest. The larvae eat the roots. You can use an insecticide for under ground insects to kill them without harm for the tree.

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eeiko321

ummm........firstly.) you just TOTALLY ignored my question.......................
Secondly.) i used the term "Guessing", because everyone has different experiences with Elms. depending on your area... in sydney...up the coastal cold areas that has frost...elms are dormant... in inner suburban areas it may not.
some collectors have 2 elms in a pot next to each other, one goes dormant and the other doesnt.
thats what i mean that im GUESSING that its going dormant in my area~~~
never mind.........................

yea i heard they are the ULTIMATE pest for Bonsai...and once the problem is apparent...then its too late to save the tree....GONE......(like cancer)

i havent seen the vine weevil looking thing....since..... but ill keep an eye on it.
thanks for that

nsmar4211

I'm a little lost....... you mean you're going to take the tree out of the pot, wash all the soil away, and give it fresh soil, right?

That would be a repot, and would be a stress to the tree (not as much as trimming roots or whatnot though).

If it's the right time of year to repot, go for it. If not, look at other options....could you move a *bit* of soil around and see if there's any roots? Can the tree come out of the pot with the soil ball in *one* piece so you can look at the underside for anything scurrying? This would completely depend on how much the roots have filled the pot..... what about laying it on its side and sliding it out of the pot a bit to check the soil?

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