Zelkova Not Budding!!!

swatchpost

Dear All,

I have a beautiful 12 year old Zelkova Serrata that I acquired from DaSu Bonsai Studios last August and haven't watched it go through all seasonal changes yet.

After it was shipped to me, it lost some of its leaves probably due to shock and coming from a colder climate to a warmer one, but then in December after the first really cold spell hit, it lost all of its leaves, as it naturally should.

We're on the verge of spring here in Austin, TX and all my other Chinese Elms are budding, yet the Zelkova is STILL completely out of leaf with no signs of even the tiniest bud. I can still bend it's branches and they don't snap off, so I don't think that it's dead—just getting a little worried because I haven't seen it's behavior pattern before as far as when it normally buds.

What say you all? Do Zelkova's bud late? Should I just keep giving it enough sun and water and let it do its thing? Anyone have any experience with Zelkovas?

Would appreciate any help!

Thanks,

Yusef

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Joanie

Mine always bud later than the Chinese elms. If the twigs have color.... greenish tan.... you're all right.

Joanie

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Joanie

Or if it doesn't have young twigs... you're probably still all right.

They do bud later. The buds on mine haven't swelled at all yet.

Joanie

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Aaron_K

Hi Yusef,

Here in tropical England , my Chinese elms never went dormant over winter, all my Zelkova did. They are still out of leaf now. I wouldn't worry too much. Give it another few weeks and I'm sure it will awaken from its slumber. So far, my Amur maples and Japanese maples have broken bud, all the other deciduous trees are still dormant.

All the best,

Aaron

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Thomas_J.

Your Zelkova will be one of the last trees to bud if not the last one. Here in the DFW area mine usually bud in mid to late March, so you should be a little ahead of me.

Don't compare them with your ch. elms on budding because they are far apart in that respect.

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rockm

Zelkova are among the latest of my trees to bud out. I've often found myself questioning if they are alive come mid-March . They don't get going here until early-mid April, especially after long cold winters.

swatchpost

Thanks for all the responses! I really appreciate it. I've learned a lot browsing the forums today.

Quick follow-up question: What should I do in the meantime to my Zelkova? Water when the soil is almost dry? Water it sparingly like I did in the dead of winter?

What say you all?

Best!

Yusef

Mcspeed

When it dries down, will suffice. Otherwise it will get too wet. They won't need much when dormant.