I have a chines elm tree and I live in NH USA. Leaves from regular trees are coming down in droves and we've had several freezes. Yet the Bonsai leaves remain green and full.

Doesn't the elm lose its leaves like other trees?
Shouldn't it go into dormantcy?

There have been reports of snow in the area. Do I bring it in and put it in a window?

I dont think it should be left below freezing. However, it should be kept in 40 degree temps.

My choices are (1) outside where it will go in the 20's until dec and then down to 10 F average (2) put it in a deep freezer at 32 F but it will be dark so I think the leaves would leave the tree, and (3) bring it into the house where the cats will munch it, it will be kept in 65 F, and get muted light. I was hoping for it to lose its leaves and then put it in the deep freezer but it is not cooperating.

http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Ulmus.html
Read this, it has lots of info pertaining to your elm. So if your tree has been outside all year so far, then you should leave it outside with some mulch on it.

Your chinese elm will take some fairly hard temps. Done to say 5 degrees and live. But keeping at above freezing is best or around 40 ish. You find that you wil have a lot of die back if you let the tree sit at its frost hardy limit for successive days or weeks. So the loss of branches would be my concern if your zone stays above the twenties then the tree shoudl be fine in just a pot. I never pot mine into the ground ever. all of mine thrive without special care as such but my zone allows for some forgiveness yours might not.

I hope it can take tough temps. The guy my brother bought from told me to put it the bulkhead for the winter and water it. It is -10 F tonight and I am hoping not to kill it. I pulled it into the heated basement for a few days until the temps get back to teens and 20's. It is setting next to the bulkhead door. It doesn't look too worse for wear but the leaves look kind of dry (yes, still on the tree).

enjoy here
-thanks for your post

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Hi there,:itsme:

Sorry for the late reply, but I was in vacation. Some Elms originate from warm climates, and have never suffered cold conditions. It can be dangerous to keep these Elms too cold the first year or two. Chinese Elms may drop a number of leaves in the winter due to the normal decline in light. This is ordinary. As with the majority of bonsai trees, your Chinese elm bonsai should be guarded from intense winter conditions like cold and wind.:eek:

Thanks and regards,:shakehand
- Michel Buzz

Chinese Elms are winter hardy down to about 5 degrees F. What you could do is keep it outside, but put it next to a window. All houses, when they are heated, leak heat through the walls and windows, depending on how well insulated they are. If your basement is heated, you can keep the tree outside next to a basement window, and it will not only get some warmth from the house, but shelter from the wind as well.

For future bonsai projects, you might want consider something that really likes your outdoor weather, like Norway Spruce, or Serbian Spruce, or Japanese White Pine. (We literally cannot grow these trees in CA because the winters are too warm).