Leaves Dropping

Vermontoise

Hello -

Can anyone tell me...

1/ exactly what kind of tree this is?
2/ why it's dropping its leaves? This happened rather suddenly: one day it was all green, and the very next the leaves were yellow then brown. It's March, so I didn't think it was normal... I water it every two days (I don't soak it but I water it a lot, and let the excess water sit in the tray below.) It was fine for four months.

Any advice would be very much appreciated!!

Thanks in advance -

Bonnie Woolley
Paris

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Emperor Fish

Bonnie,

Welcome.

Firstly, what you have there is a chinese elm.

Secondly, I think that you may have a root problem. Looking at your picture, the soil doesn't look like it's offering much drainage - not as much as your tree would thrive in anyway. Although these elms drop leaves throughout the year, if there's more than a few turning yellow and dropping (particularly if the leaves are not being replaced by other new ones), then something is wrong.

The first thing that I would do is check the rootball. If you have black roots that just drop off if you touch them, then you have a root problem (or more specifically, a soil problem).

The second thing that I would do is to stop watering on a schedule. It makes life easier for you to remeber - but it won't help the tree. The tree needs water when the soil is drying out, it will not like to be constantly soggy. You are almost certainly watering too much. Leaving it sitting in a tray of water is not helping either.

Thirdly, are you keeping this tree indoors? Winter heating will dry out the air and the tree will prefer to be outside. This on its own might not kill your elm, but over time it will weaken the tree substantially.

Hope some of this helps.

Fish.

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Vermontoise

Fish,

To answer the last question first, yes, the tree is indoors; I'm in a Paris apartment and can't do much else...

The pot stands about a half inch above the tray, so it doesn't actually sit in the water - but I read somewhere that even having a tray full of water would help the humidity, so I've done it that way. When I water the plant, the water runs fairly quickly back out the bottom of the pot.

Do you think I should repot this tree (or have it repotted by someone who's a bit more savvy than I)? Or should I just check the roots and then put it back into this pot?

One last thing about the leaves: the ones that turned yellow overnight are mostly gone now, and I don't think any other leaves are turning yellow. Strange!

Thanks...

Bonnie

Jay

Bonnie, This is a Ulmus parvifolia (Chinese Elm), or as far as I can make out. May I suggest that you no longer water by a schedule, it is seldom that a schedule works. You need to check the soil daily and water it when it is 'becoming' dry. If you check the soil and it is still wet, do not water.

You can get a small piece of a chop stick, place it into the soil half way between the tree and the pot edge. Take it out each day and check, if it is wet do not water if it is drying out water. When you water.. water till the water comes out the bottom of the pot. As for the tray below, if the pot has air under it then it is OK. But in all honesty, a tray will only minimally help the humidity.

As for a repot, check and see if you can find a Bonsai Club near you, they can give you first hand help.

Jay

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Vermontoise

Jay -

Great idea about the baguette! I'll give it a try. I was wondering if there were some kind of moisture meter, or... if that were cheating!! :-)


Bonnie

Jay

This 'stick' approach is well accepted by many to be the way to go. I have been doing Bonsai for four years now and find that with this method I have far less trouble with watering.

Remember, it is a small pot. Over watering is as bad as under watering! To my thinking, other than 'patience' watering is the hardest thing to learn.

Jay

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

Vermontoise

Jay -

You mention the small size of the pot - I thought so, too - but is it too small for the tree? If so, when should I repot? (I'll be sure to follow all the newbie faqs on this site and others if and when I do!!) I was also wondering if the roots shouldn't be buried a bit more.

Thanks for the help. I'm sure I should have been posting this to the "bonsai for idiots" forum, but you all seem so nice... I couldn't resist.

Bonnie

Jay

Bonnie, Yes it does seem the pot is a little small for the tree, but that is to my eyes. When I was talking of small pots, I was talking in general about ALL Bonsai. The pot even if much bigger is still small compared to the ground. Thus watering is a more difficult thing than if the tree was in your garden out of a pot.

As for the style of the tree, exposed root, I am not knowledgeable enough to tell you if you should change the planting height. I think the exposed roots were what got you to get this tree, so think what it would be like without them. Remember what I said, patience is the key. For most things regarding your tree you have time to think and to decide.

As for this Forum, I agree, on the whole everyone here is nice and helpful. We have world class Artists to first time.. first tree individuals. We all get along and we all try and help each other.. remember to get a feel for the ability level of those giving you advise... as for me I am as it says in my signature a novice with some knowledge.

Jay

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

LivingArt

Sometimes your tree just needs fresh air and a breeze. Do you keep it by an open window? If not do that and let me know if it helps.