Repotted Chinese Elm...is it dying now?!

Gladeve

Hi

I have had a Chinese Elm for the past 3 years which has been doing fantastically well. I decided about 5 weeks ago to repot it as it hadnt been done in the years I have had it. The tree has been kept indoors and has thrived....until repotting. I followed a bonsai book exactly as it said and was very careful cutting back any roots and watered it well and left it unwatered for 4 weeks, not feeding it. I used bonsai soil as recommended and left it where it has always been happy.

I noticed initially it was dropping some leaves which I thought was to be expected and just assumed it was the shock of the repot. Now in the last week the tree has looked very sickly and grumpy and it appears that all the leaves are drying up and no new buds forming. The leaves at one point were looking very wilted and flaccid so I misted them daily and they seem a little bit perkier.

As the weather has perked up hre in the UK and the days are now beautifully sunny and mild I have moved the tree outside in warm (not hot) sunlight with a gentle breeze in the hope that the tree will liven up but still no new buds....

I have scratched the trunk and certain parts still look green whilst other parts (unfortunately the lower trunk) is a dubious pale green. I have also cut a couple of the higher branches and they look green (or so I am maybe fooling myself!!)

When should I be expecting new buds?! and do trees frequently do this when repotted only to improve and get back to their old self? or, have i inadvertently caused its unecessary death?! Am just hoping that this is the norm when bonsais are repotted!

Any advice on what I can do would be grately appreciated

Kind regards

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waltr

I wouldn't give it up yet. Just leave it where its been for the last few years and water ONLY when the soil is almost dry. Chinese Elms are resilient, it should come back.

Joanie

You didn't water it for four weeks? Did the book say that??

Joanie

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Gladeve

Hi

I watered it initially when it was repotted. The top of the soil has remained moist so I have not watered it since....

Mcspeed

Is this an outside tree that got rained on during the 4 weeks you didn't water it?If not it's dead, unless you live in a very humid house ( ie water dripping from the ceiling) you can't skip watering for days let alone weeks.

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