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Help a Beginner out!
http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13604		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  nat02 [ 08 Jun 2015, 15:04 ]
Post subject:  Help a Beginner out!
Hello everyone!

Before I discuss my issue I shall introduce myself.
I'm Nathan and recently visited the Royal Cornwall show to celebrate finishing my first year of University. So as I have some time off I bought myself a Chinease Elm...a hardy species so I'm told.
I've always wanted a bonsai but was deterred because of being told how difficult they are to care for left, right and centre! So as youd imagine I'm rather worried about killing it, and with various websites and care guides saying different things....I don't know who to believe.
Currently my elm is yellowing slightly and I made the error of failing to ask the seller how they were caring for it previously. So far I've kept it watered daily without drowning it and fertalized it the first day I got it with Bonsai Focus. Its indoors in the light but not directly...so naturally I thought its not getting enough light and so I moved it into the sun in the early morning so the light wasnt too intense...but I dont know if Ive shocked it by doing this as it was gaining a yellow leaf or 2 from day one....and slowely its getting a few more yellow leaves by the day....What could I be doing wrong?
Author:  stymie [ 08 Jun 2015, 16:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help a Beginner out!
Hi Nat and welcome.
I reckon that you have been somewhat misinformed. They are one of the easiest trees and quite suitable for a first time bonsai excursion. Your watering regime seems OK to me. Leave the feeding out until it shows signs of growing new leaves. It is fairly hardy if kept outside all the time but some people give them some shelter in the coldest months.
Your's is merely not getting enough light so get it outside where nature intended. It may still drop some more leaves as it settles in but will grow plenty soon after, after which start feeding again at two week intervals. When you water it, does the water come out of the drain holes within a few seconds? This is how it should be. If not, we may consider recommending a coarser planting medium later on. Not yet. Meanwhile, if you can take a photograph against a plain background, please show us so that we can be sure what we are talking about. Lastly; give it the best light available, which is outside.
Author:  BrendanJ [ 08 Jun 2015, 16:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help a Beginner out!
Hi Nat
There is a lot of material on this site for Elms so just run a search on Elm, and I think that will get you started
But a few points
Elms are really outdoor trees, now is the time to get it outside and leave it outside at least till winter.
Elms drop yellow leaves when conditions change, or even when growing new leaves, nothing to worry about, it will settle
Keep moist but don't overwater, check the soil its in, at first opportunity get it into something free draining (search on site for articles on cat litter)
watch it grow this year and read up, but they are one of the most forgiving trees.

By way of inspiration see link below on Weetreeers elms
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12226

Welcome to the forum
Author:  nat02 [ 08 Jun 2015, 18:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help a Beginner out!
Thankyou for you speedy replies!
Some great tips tthank you and I'll be sure to put it outside ASAP! From your description it may look like I'll need a more coarser soil as the water doesnt appear to drain from the bottom within a few seconds! Hopefully the file ive attached is okay!

Again many thanks
Hopefully once this ones growing well.... id very much like to get another one!
Author:  Will [ 08 Jun 2015, 18:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help a Beginner out!
hello and welcome Nat
Author:  Jerry Norbury [ 08 Jun 2015, 19:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help a Beginner out!
Welcome.

Insufficient light.

You cannot shock a tree with too much light, only not enough.

Put it outside and water it just about every day. You can do this with Chinese elms, even in the oft-maligned Chinese soil they come in.
Author:  roger m [ 08 Jun 2015, 20:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help a Beginner out!
Hello Nat, welcome to the forum.

Roger
Author:  aesir22 [ 08 Jun 2015, 21:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help a Beginner out!
Hello nat, welcome

Everyones right, best left outside. I'm no expert but by reading posts on elms on this forum (and I have read hundreds as I'm getting one this week) its clear that 99% of people who have problems are ones keeping them indoors. Outdoors in good light, watered frequently but not with constantly drenched soil, will see it right. If you want an indoor tree I have read lots of people recommend a ficus. I have a fukien tea (much to the horror of many) that I keep indoors at night and put out during the day til night temps rise a little. But apparently they're a tough tree to keep alive so msybe a ficus would be better?
Author:  stymie [ 08 Jun 2015, 21:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help a Beginner out!
Nat. Right away, i would remove the moss so that you can see what is going on with the planting medium. Then poke a few holes well into it to aid the passage of water. A skewer or chop stick should do the job and a slight wiggle of the tool will help the particles to separate a little. The roots require air as well. When the tree is putting new growth out, which will be very soon, we might think about getting it into a more suitable medium. Good luck. You'll soon be more knowledgeable and confidence will follow. All this outside of course. :grin:
Author:  nat02 [ 09 Jun 2015, 19:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help a Beginner out!
Thankyou very much all and especially to stymie!

One last question being should I bring the Bonsai in at any other time besides winter and frost? (I.e. when there ois continuous torrential rain etc?)
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