Hello people,

I got a Chinese Elm two months ago and was given some wrong info regarding watering. I have under watered it and now it has lost all its leaves. I have started to water it when required. However, there seems to be a white fungus growing on it and also the roots do not hold the tree in the pot.

Please advise as to what I should do to help my tree recover :(

I will repot it soon as I think the soil is of poor quality, also this should help the roots, I think.

Cheers,

Elm

Hi Elm187, sorry to hear about your tree. Where is the white fungus growing in the soil or on the tree? Are there still signs of green or growth? You might want to get a fungicide which they sell at Home Depot or any garden supply and spray the white little fungus.

Try to maintain a normal water cycle so that the tree does not dry out again and when you do water make sure you give it a good watering. Put your bonsai in a bowl of water and let it soak for about 20 minutes to make sure it is fully watered.

The fungus is on the soil and is in very small quantities. I am now keeping the soil moist and watering when required. I used the 'submergance' technique when I needed it, thanks for advice.

All the green growth has gone as I trimmed it recently. Please dont tell me its a goner. It also smells rotten. Is that the soil?

Can you suggest were to buy akadama soil from? I was going to buy online, but if you know anywhere good please suggest. I live in Sutton (London) btw.

Thanks,

Elm

I wouldn't give up yet..wait a couple more weeks until you see some green showing. The smell is probably caused by the soil being too moist which would indicate why there is fungus growing on the soiil too.

sorry I don't know any places off the top of my head that would offer akadama soil via shipping to London. so your guess would be as good as mine ;).

i had the same problem a few weeks ago. I WAS watering it too much. well anyway hope ur tree lives. good luck

I have a Chinese Elm tree too, It was doing fine, there was alot of green shoots (sorry, im really very new to this) growing all over.
Then, my wife had a baby and I sort of forgot about the tree for a week (it was swamped by cards on the sideboard).

When I went to water it, all the leaves had turned dark green and where just hanging on to the tree, if I so much as blow on it, they fall.

I've picked up my normal watering routine as before, but I'm not sure if I'm wasting my time?

Hello Elm187,

When caring for your Chinese Elm bonsai tree, you want to keep it protected from harsh conditions, as well as cold weather. Although the tree is hardy, cold blasts of air is not good for it. Then to prune, the best time is after the growth period, which would be in the early spring months. Just make sure when pruning that you leave one to two nodes located closest to the main branch or trunk.
For water, the Chinese Elm bonsai tree will need moderate water throughout the year. The key is to keep the tree moist at all times but not over watered.
Regular garden watering. Chinese elm is not as tolerant of drought as Siberian elm.



Thanks.