help... chinese elm dropping leaves...

drewerb

Just wondering if anyone can help answer a question i have. I have a small chinese elm which I have had for over a season now, it seems to be healthy enough throwing out new shoots all over.

My problem is that when ever I try to prune the new shoots they end up dropping all there leaves. Am i doing something wrong or is there something wrong with my tree?

I also wondered if having too big a pot would cause this sort of problem?

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BonsaiGreenhorn

You could possibly be watering too much, try not to water from above either (mostly because of the new shoots)... Are you noticing any black spots on any of the leaves? Don't be afraid to let the shoots grow a little more either.

If you have a larger pot it may be the problem (watering too much) but I can't be certain.

Welcome to BonsaiTALK.
-Evan

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drewerb

I have always watered this tree by lowering it into a bowl of water, and not with a watering can or similar. I feel you are probably right about the over watering.

I have decided to check the roots, just in case. They do seem ok, I have bought some new bonsai compost and repotted it, I know its a bit late but I had to check.

I did have a spell were I could see very small webs, so i treated the tree with some insecticide, which seemed to work, so I have tried that again since and will keep that going for the near future.

I have also moved this tree from a sunny indoor position to a sunny position outside, I'm hoping to get it hardy for the winter, if i don't kill it first...

Thanks

BonsaiGreenhorn

Most of the time, you should only submerge the pot for watering only in drastic situations, you have made the right move in going away from that. On the other hand, it might have not been then best idea for a repot right now, I'm not sure what zone you're in but chances are its late. This puts more stress than was on it if there was any before. Moving it outside is also a wise move, Chinese Elms enjoy full sun for most of the day and it should do better outside.
But still, keep a close eye on this tree, its moved from being inside to outside and a repot in a day or two, it's probably stressed out right now.

Hope this Helps
Best of Luck
-Evan

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Joanie

It seems as though Chinese Elms are also a bit picky about insecticides, so you might want to search more for info on that before using it again. The connection between Chinese Elms and insect treatments has been mentioned before.....

Good luck!
Joanie

Treebeard

Just to clarify, do you mean that as soon as you touch the shoots the leaves drop off, or that sometime (maybe days?) after you prune, the leaves remaining on the shoot drop off? More detail would help...

Regards,

Chris.

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"Do not be hasty, that is my motto"
-JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers.
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drewerb

recently the leaves have been dropping off the shoots without being touched (just a small amount of wind and there off), where as previously when i pruned they would also drop off. Seems to be more of a strenght thing...

hope this is clearer.

thanks

Treebeard

OK then, it would seem that the pruning is not the cause. There must be something else causing the leaves to drop.

It might be a reaction to the late repot, if you're not giving the tree the extra care a late repot requires. It might also be a reaction to being moved outside.

Are the dropped leaves being replaces by new ones, or does the twig remain bare?

Regards,

Chris.

__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto"
-JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers.
-----------------------------------
christopherguise.co.uk