Newbie Help Please
 

I have a Chinese Elm (Zelkova), I have had this about 4 weeks and now the
leaves are turning yellow and dropping what am I doing wrong?

I have been immersion watering everyother day and spraying the leaves top of
the soil alternate days?

Am I killing my tree??

Many Thanks
Simon

--- Simon Taylor wrote:

I have a Chinese Elm (Zelkova), I have had this
about 4 weeks and now the
leaves are turning yellow and dropping what am I
doing wrong?

I have been immersion watering everyother day and
spraying the leaves top of
the soil alternate days?

Am I killing my tree??

Many Thanks
Simon

Simon,

Tell us where you live and whether you are keeping the
tree indoors or out doors. Chances are, if you are in
the northern hemisphere, the tree is celebrating fall
and loosing leaves i s natural if kept outside.

Kitsune Miko

=====
****
"Expectations are resentments under construction."

Anne Lamott

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

Tell us where you live and whether you are keeping the
tree indoors or out doors. Chances are, if you are in
the northern hemisphere, the tree is celebrating fall
and loosing leaves i s natural if kept outside.

I am in the United Kingdom and the tree is kept indoors, if this is natural
do i keep watering it during winter just the same?

Chinese Elm are much better kept outdoors until the first frosts and
then kept in a cool frost free place for the winter. They like to
partially dry out between waterings and are better watered from the top
as immersion watering can lead to soil compaction in the long term.

Once they have lost their leaves they don't transpire as much. Decrease
watering and only water when the soil below the surface starts to dry
out.

If this is your first tree, try to get hold of a good book. There are
reviews of many on our IBC site here
http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/bookrev.php You can often pick up a
bargain such as Dave Prescott's new book, Craig Coussins, Harry
Tomlinson's or Dan Barton's in cheap bookshops in the UK. Read all you
can and don't despair if this first try fails. Learn from it and try
again.

I have a 40' high Chinese elm growing in my garden that I air layer
from. It is completely hardy in the UK (with their roots in the ground).

Cheers

Kev Bailey
Vale Of Clwyd, North Wales


I am in the United Kingdom and the tree is kept indoors, if this is
natural
do i keep watering it during winter just the same?



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.759 / Virus Database: 508 - Release Date: 09/09/2004

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

Simon: As Kitsune mentions, autumn is approaching, and it is
about time for deciduous trees to start dropping their leaves.
That may be all that is happening.
However, I suspect more problems. You specifically
mentioned immersion watering. Bonsai sold by mass merchandisers
often have specific directions to water this way. While
immersion won't hurt when done occasionally (indeed, it can be a
good practice once in a while), it causes health problems for the
tree when done routinely. This is because watering by immersion
causes soil compaction and robs the soil of air which is a
necessary component. Eventually you cause a moist, anaerobic
environment just perfect for the development of all sorts of
nasties like the fungi which cause root rot.
Does your bonsai have gravel glued to its soil surface?
If so, remove the glue and gravel layer and replace with a loose
mix bonsai soil. The glued-on-gravel's function is to prevent the
soil from being knocked out of the container during shipping, and
like many things in life, it actually becomes harmful once its
purpose has been fulfilled.
Grow your Zelkova outdoors if at all possible. It needs
conditions of light, humidity and air circulation that are very
difficult and expensive to provide indoors.

Alan Walker
http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org


-----Original Message-----
--- Simon Taylor wrote:
I have a Chinese Elm (Zelkova), I have had this about 4 weeks and
now the leaves are turning yellow and dropping what am I doing
wrong?

I have been immersion watering everyother day and spraying the
leaves top of the soil alternate days?

Am I killing my tree??
Many Thanks
Simon
==============
Simon,
Tell us where you live and whether you are keeping the tree
indoors or out doors.

Chances are, if you are in the northern hemisphere, the tree is
celebrating fall, and losing leaves is natural if kept outside.
Kitsune Miko

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