hello all,
i bought a young chinese elm last summer at the chicago
show and brought it home to indianapolis. since then it
has been repotted, ifested with some really small light
colored bugs that were eating the roots, repotted again,
and now sits indoors (where it has always been) near a
source of humidity under a grow light. this thing has yet
to grow one new leaf since i brought it home. it has lost
a probably 2/3 of its leaves since i bought it. the tree
is alive but its like it just stopped growing when i bought
it. i have read in some places that you only need
fertilize this tree 2 or 3 times per year, and then other
places that you need to fertilize every two weeks. since
july i have probably given it fertilizer 5 or 6 times. i
have never let it dry out. i might have over watered it
for a while but now i do the popsicle stick thing and i
think that will help. any ideas what i can do to wake this
thing up?

adam roler
indianapolis indiana

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Adam:
In my humble opinion ferilizing a tree that does not seem healthy is not
a very good idea. It might be worth putting the tree in a tent for
awhile and see if t just needs a little more humidity than you can give
it. The tent should be large enough so that no leaves touch the
plastic. About once a week I would open a flap and give t fresh air.
It might take a month to start growing leaves in what I call an ICU.

I also feel that Chinese Elm do much better out doors during the growng
season, and that your tree would do well to have a 1000 hours of
dormancy in a cool place.

Hopefully, more experienced Bonsaist wll chime in if the have other
ideas.

Good luck and keepus informed.

Carl L. Rosner

adam roler wrote:

hello all,
i bought a young chinese elm last summer at the chicago
show and brought it home to indianapolis. since then it
has been repotted, ifested with some really small light
colored bugs that were eating the roots, repotted again,
and now sits indoors (where it has always been) near a
source of humidity under a grow light. this thing has yet
to grow one new leaf since i brought it home. it has lost
a probably 2/3 of its leaves since i bought it. the tree
is alive but its like it just stopped growing when i bought
it. i have read in some places that you only need
fertilize this tree 2 or 3 times per year, and then other
places that you need to fertilize every two weeks. since
july i have probably given it fertilizer 5 or 6 times. i
have never let it dry out. i might have over watered it
for a while but now i do the popsicle stick thing and i
think that will help. any ideas what i can do to wake this
thing up?

adam roler



************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

i bought a young chinese elm last summer at the chicago show and brought it
home to indianapolis. since then it
has been repotted, ifested with some really small light colored bugs that were
eating the roots, repotted again, and now sits indoors (where it has always
been) this thing has yet to grow one new leaf since i brought it home. it
has lost a probably 2/3 of its leaves since i bought it. the tree is alive but
its like it just stopped growing

I'll try not to be flippant, but the problem is you can't wake it up because
you didn't let it go to sleep. This is a temperate tree which needs to go
dormant in the winter. There is a lot of controversy over whether Chinese elm
can be grown indoors at all.
For now, forget about fertilizer; that is not what it needs. Put it outdoors in
the shade, where it will get natural temperatures and light. Until your frost
free date, don't let it go below freezing. If it starts to grow, gradually get
it into the sun. You should let it dry out a little between waterings. Keep it
outdoors until next fall. Then come back & we will tell you what to do.
Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)