Chinese Elm In Deep Trouble!

duartix

Hello.
I'm a newbie to Bonsai.
I've read a few books and a week and a half ago I decided to transplant a 15 year Chinese Elm. I made a lot of serious mistakes in this task which only now I am aware of.

Mistake #1
Since I live in Portugal which has a warm Mediterranean climate (max temperature now will go around 20ºC [68ºF]) I thought that I could use a soil mix heavily (80%) based on organic matter so that water retention was much higher.

Mistake #2
There were roots spreading covering around 4 times the length of the vase, so the IDIOT here has massively cut away 2/3 of the root system and I'm not sure if he has left enough "white hair roots".

Mistake #3
I've put the tree outside as I always did. This is the balcony of a 14th floor. As you can guess there can be some moderate drying winds up there. Heat will probably be an issue now since temperatures as I mentioned are as high as 20ºC (68ºF) when the Sun is at the top.

Mistake #4
As I was noticing the tree was getting some dark spots in it's leaves and they were getting yellow and dry, I've aplied some general purpose fungicide/insecticide sold at a major bonsai garden while I teared off the afected leaves.
At this point I also mixed some (50%) white sand at the top 2/3 of the soil to lighten the soil mix.

2 days later, when I see up to 50 or more afected leafs, I took the tree to that major bonsai garden to be placed in their hospital. After one night there, they are telling me: there is probably no hope for that tree, they won't even attempt an emergengy transplant, point me to all my errors, tel me to give it some vitamins and wait. They also told me I should have pruned it at the time.

Now what can I do?
Should I stay put before I do any more mistakes?
Will it be better to put the tree outdoors at the mercy of those winds but with some cover so that it doesn't dry up completely?
Should I place it indoors so that it gets some light but doesn't catch these drying winds although it's dryer inside?
Should I continue to take off the affected leafs?
Should I spray it at night? (Remember there is probably some fungicide left in the leaves)


I feel like a father who has killed a son out of ignorance, please help with your suggestions!

Some serious lessons have been learned here. Wether it survives or not my heart is already broken...
I hope at least this will help someone not to make the same mistakes as I did.

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Carl_Bergstrom

Duartix,

My condolences. I know the feeling.

I just wanted to note two things.

1) If any tree can survive this, a chinese elm can. Don't give up hope!

2) Just about every one of us here has made mistakes and lost trees. It's a bad feeling, but it's an inevitable part of the learning process. Don't let it discourage you too much - keep trying, keep learning, and you'll have great successes on down the road.

Best wishes,
Carl

__________________
In love with trees

Jay

Duartix, Hello. I've been there and done that! Patience. I have a favorite saying when it comes to Bonsai.....You can not kill a dead Tree! Soooo, no matter what you try, if it is already to late it will not hurt it.... B U T>>>>> if it has a chance you have to try.

Like Carl said, Chinese Elms are very tuff trees. Do the right thing and you may be suprised. Do not get it into a pendulium type situation. Swinging from one extreme to another. Water it only when the soil is getting dry. Hold off on fertilizing for awhile, try and keep it in partial sun partial shade. If possible mist it to keep the leaves moist (not the soil). I would not do a repot at this time, work with the soil! Have patience, I bet it will return to health.

I too am a novice, I've lost my share of trees, but I try and learn from each one something..... I try not to make the same mistakes too often.

Good Luck
Jay

__________________
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

duartix

Thank you for the advice.

I haven't given up hope yet. Some of the buds are still growing although the tree has already lost about 1/3 of it's leaves and still going yellow. By advice of the bonsai garden I'm taking off those yellow leaves so they don't stress the tree anymore.

I just hope those dark spots are from the drying and not a fungus.

Jay

I do not feel qualified to answer the question on the possibility of fungus or mold. I will tell you that the dropping of the leaves is in response to over or underwatering but must likely from your drastic pruning of the roots. The tree is just equalizing the leaves to the roots remaining. As soon as it does this and conditions are favorable it will start putting on new leaves and growth.

Check the new leaves as they come in, if they are fine and remain so the black spots are less likely to be mold or fungus.

Good Luck
Jay

__________________
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

eric

I have the same problem...
I thought it was this black bug eating my leaves and the before stage eating my roots...
It lost about half its leaves... I try to be patient but scared...
Thanks for the info...

duartix

This is the latest state of the tree as I left home this morning.
See how many leaves I had to take off.

Attached Images

leaves off.jpg (69.1 KB, 297 views)

duartix

This is a close up on the leaves remaining on the tree.
Some are already yellow.

Attached Images

drying leaves2.jpg (55.3 KB, 286 views)

duartix

... and finally this is a close up on the leaves I took off.
This is why I though there was a fungus infection.
Still wondering if it is a fungus.

Attached Images

leaves close up.jpg (27.4 KB, 269 views)