I live in Southern Ontario, Canada.

I have recently purchased a Chinese Elm bonsai and am wondering if it should
stay outside all winter or is it meant to be brought indoors?

Will the the leaves fall off like other deciduous trees?

All helpful advice is requested.
M

"M" wrote in message
...
I live in Southern Ontario, Canada.

I have recently purchased a Chinese Elm bonsai and am wondering if it
should
stay outside all winter or is it meant to be brought indoors?

Will the the leaves fall off like other deciduous trees?

All helpful advice is requested.
M



Only got mine 4 or 5 weeks ago and the thing won't stop sprouting new
shoots. Eleven have appeared in the las 2 weeks. I keep mine on the
mantlepeice and that is where it will stay.

MC

I keep mine on the mantlepeice and that is where it will stay.

MC


Then don't expect it to live very long -- especially if you have
fires in the fireplace.

Chinese elms, at best, are only marginally "indoor" trees.

That means that when indoors, they must be kept in ideal
conditions (for indoors, at least). This means either a
south-facing windowsill or 14 hours (or more) under a strong grow
light or fluorescent light -- as well as some means of
humidifying the tree in the overly dry indoor environment
(*especially* the heated, wintertime indoor environment).

Elms are outdoor trees -- without exception. Chinese elms are
one of the toughest of the elms, meaning they can _survive_ for a
while indoors -- but just barely, and in the right environment.

A mantelpiece is NOT that "right environment."

Jim Lewis - - Columbus, NC - The four
universal laws of ecology: Everything is connected to everything
else. Everything must go somewhere. Nature knows best. There is
no such thing as a free lunch. -- Barry Commoner

I've put it outside and now will keep it there 'til the leaves fall off.

I do have a question about "how to water". Do you sit in a water bath and
water from the bottom or do you pour the water on top of the stones? Misting
should be alright, but not enough, I would think.

Any thoughts?

M.


I live in Southern Ontario, Canada.

I have recently purchased a Chinese Elm bonsai and am wondering if it
should
stay outside all winter or is it meant to be brought indoors?

Will the the leaves fall off like other deciduous trees?

All helpful advice is requested.
M

M wrote:
I've put it outside and now will keep it there 'til the leaves fall off.

I do have a question about "how to water". Do you sit in a water bath and
water from the bottom or do you pour the water on top of the stones? Misting
should be alright, but not enough, I would think.

Any thoughts?

M.


I live in Southern Ontario, Canada.

I have recently purchased a Chinese Elm bonsai and am wondering if it
should
stay outside all winter or is it meant to be brought indoors?

Will the the leaves fall off like other deciduous trees?

All helpful advice is requested.
M


I drown all my deciduous from the top. They have to have good drainage
so it shouldn't be an issue to soak it good when you do water. Just
don't let it freeze. Winter it in a garage or even bring it inside when
it gets below freezing outside or in the garage. Then put it back to
the cold but don't let it freeze, as the roots are not well protected in
our little pots. Basically the rule is, it needs 45 days under 45 degrees.

That's what I do for these maples:

Mi Amor Verde(18 yrs)
http://img3085.imagevenue.com/img.ph...5_000_0242.jpg
http://img3085.imagevenue.com/img.ph...6_000_0243.jpg

El Rojo Grande(11yrs)
http://img3085.imagevenue.com/img.ph...8_000_0248.jpg
http://img3085.imagevenue.com/img.ph...7_000_0245.jpg


Well, that's how it works in zone 7. YMMV, as always.

Donald

"Jim Lewis" wrote in message
...


I keep mine on the mantlepeice and that is where it will stay.

MC
Then don't expect it to live very long -- especially if you have fires in
the fireplace.

No fires in the fireplace

That means that when indoors, they must be kept in ideal conditions (for
indoors, at least). This means either a south-facing windowsill or 14
hours (or more) under a strong grow light or fluorescent light -

The mantlepeice is 6ft from a very High and wide south facing window


humidifying the tree in the overly dry indoor environment (*especially*
the heated, wintertime indoor environment).

Tree sits on a humidifying tray and I give the whole tree a very fine spray
when watering


Elms are outdoor trees -- without exception. Chinese elms are one of the
toughest of the elms, meaning they can _survive_ for a while indoors --
but just barely, and in the right environment.


This may be true but I know of somebody who has had a chinese elm on their
mantlepeice for about 6 years and it thrives.

MC

"MC" wrote in message
...
"Jim Lewis" wrote in message
...


I keep mine on the mantlepeice and that is where it will stay.

MC
Then don't expect it to live very long -- especially if you have fires in
the fireplace.

No fires in the fireplace

That means that when indoors, they must be kept in ideal conditions (for
indoors, at least). This means either a south-facing windowsill or 14
hours (or more) under a strong grow light or fluorescent light -

The mantlepeice is 6ft from a very High and wide south facing window


humidifying the tree in the overly dry indoor environment (*especially*
the heated, wintertime indoor environment).

Tree sits on a humidifying tray and I give the whole tree a very fine
spray when watering


Elms are outdoor trees -- without exception. Chinese elms are one of the
toughest of the elms, meaning they can _survive_ for a while indoors --
but just barely, and in the right environment.


This may be true but I know of somebody who has had a chinese elm on their
mantlepeice for about 6 years and it thrives.

MC

Do the leaves fall off or does it stay the same all the time?

M.

"M" wrote in message
...

"MC" wrote in message
...
This may be true but I know of somebody who has had a chinese elm on
their mantlepeice for about 6 years and it thrives.

MC

Do the leaves fall off or does it stay the same all the time?


Leaves do fall but not in vast amounts (more in the winter when there is
less light) and are quickly replaced by new growths so the tree always looks
like it has full foliage.

However, going back to the points Jim made, it really does depend on
circumstances. Some may thrive, some may "survive" and some may die. Mine
has only been on my mantlepeice for a couple of months so I cannot say what
it will be like in a further couple of months. It is loosing leaves but the
amount of new growth it has is quite astonishing and more than making up for
losses.

MC