I screwed up...Dried out Chinese Elm.

JD_Wolfe

So....

I fell ill and there was nobody available to care for my Chinese Elm for a week. As a result it dried out, some of finer twigs died, all the leaves dessicated and the trunk developed deep, leathery, creases. I scraped below the bark and the cambium was still green. I immersed the tree overnight and let it drain this morning.

Now I wait.

Is there any thing else I can do?

What do you think my chances of bringing it back from the brink?

While the tree was actively growing it was very easy to determine its water requirements. Approximately every one to two days the tree needed water, which I determined by the chop-stick method. Since dormancy has set in, watering requirements have been tough to measure. After two days or so the stick is nearly dry, but I found that if I watered at this point the tree showed signs of over-watering (leaves drooping, curling).

Generally, another two days more and it's ready for water, but this is not something you can really count on and I haven't really been able to figure out what works consistently. The soil mix I use is very fast draining although some of the root ball contains loam from the previous owner (it was a late season repot so I didn't want to push it too hard by bare-rooting).

Are there are any tips on watering during dormancy (p.s. this tree is indoors in a cold room)?

Thanks,

JDW

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watchndsky

Watering can be tricky, its an art in itself.

Dont give up yet, those things are pretty tough. I moved some stuff around out back, blocked one of medium size elms from view and missed watering it for awhile. I just knew it was dead - it was completely brown. Got back to watering it and a couple of weeks later it was popping new growth all over. It really surprised me, so maybe its not too late for yours either....Good luck!!!

Fletch

Howdy and welcome JD;

I'm afraid I don't get time to browse the bonsai sites too often lately so I missed you when you first posted back in October. It's been quite a while since I noticed any bonsaiist's in Calgary on here. (I believe Acoustico is still lurking out there but he's the only one I'm aware of that appears to still be active).

I'm afraid I have no direct experience with Chinese Elms but I would say that since you found the cambium green that you have a reasonable chance to revive it. I wouldn't have soaked it quite so long (overnight) but you probably haven't made things any worse. I would imagine its just a waiting game now.

If its in a cold room, was it completely dormant (i.e. leaves changed / dropping) before this incident or was it still green and just slowed down? If it was completely dormant then you may have to wait till spring to know whether it will come back or not.

My own collection has suffered a great deal in the past few years due to having to move (no cold room anymore) and being away a lot for work (relying on family to remember to water, etc.). I've lost a fair few of my trees and am now basically starting over with a few 'twigsai' and some older trees in bad need of styling / maintenance.

Your profile mentions you are a member of the 'Foothills Area Bonsai Society'. I'd appreciate it if you could pass on their contact info. As far as I knew there hasn't been an active club in the area for quite a few years and I'd be interested in getting in touch with them and possibly joining them.

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed and don't get too anxious with poking around your tree, just be patient let it rest and recover on its own.

BTW, when I had a cold room my pomegranates and other tender trees didn't require much watering at all. Once lightly every couple weeks seemed to work just fine, much more and I got moulds and things growing and actually had some die of root rot...

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Regards
Fletch

JD_Wolfe

Normally I wouldn't have either, but I figured that the roots were already in such rough shape that it's oxygen uptake ability would have been on the low-to-nill-side anyway. I thought it would be better to rehydrate and try restore a little turgor pressure and worry about 02 later. Sort of like what you might do with a recently transplanted wild tree (I remember reading somewhere that Peter Adams soaks his transplants in water and SuperThrive for a night before transplanting them into a box). Don't really know if it was a good idea, but I guess we'll see.

I wouldn't say that it was in a deep dormant state. It still had at least 80% of its' leaves but it hadn't pushed any new growth in about 5 weeks (and this tree grows like crazy when it's active).

Yes, I have been accepted as a member, and on September 12th we were to have our inaugural meeting, and yet nothing came of it. No notice. No call. I spoke to the gent running it and he said that interest level was minimal (I was one of 7 to have shown interest)). Hopefully it will gain legs.

Here's the sign-up link if you're interested:

http://www.goldambre.com/CalgaryBonsai/newtemplate.html

Will do. Hopefully it'll pull through.

That's the thing...This tree really doesn't like to be overwatered, and I thought that this tendency would help it pull through my week of illness. I've let it go for up to 5 days with no apparent trouble, but somewhere between 5 and 7 days something went very wrong. Who knows. I'll have to keep a better eye on it in the future.

Thanks to you and the others for your response.

Regards,

J.D.W.

Mcspeed

J.D. I'm thinking that getting it into a well lit area, where it would want to try to grow might be better than trying to revive it at the same time as trying for dormancy. I think you will need the trees systems working rather than sleeping.

Re. the club - Guy's get the info on the others interested and do a study group, whatever it takes, especially if it is run on a when we feel like it basis, thats ok for a couple /few people, but if you have 7 or 8 move forward, even if it's informal.

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Always remember that you're unique -- just like everyone else

Enjoy this day.
Bill

JD_Wolfe

I thought about that but I wasn't sure if it would get the tree going or just further its shock.

It has had close to 6 weeks of light dormancy, which is not enough, but it will do, I guess.

Thanks Mcspeed.

- JDW

watchndsky

I would agree - let the tree get some light and get to work.....that worked in my case....

Hayleyga27

How did you go?

I have a Chinese Elm that has also has suffered shock. My Bonsai has been doing really well in the backyard, but has suffered from some harsh Australian weather this last week. A few hot days and then some heavy rain. So it appears it has dried out and then been drenched.

I have now brought it inside, half the leaves have fallen and the rest are brown and curled.

Help? This was a gift, I am a slow learner I guess.

Dav4

Hayleyga, don't bring the tree inside. Leave it outside in the shade and out of any significant wind, and water when needed, which may be less then before due to lack of leaves. With a little luck, your tree will start pushing some new leaves in a few weeks.

Dave