名媛直播

Hello everyone!

I’m new to this forum, but have had a bonsai since a couple of years now but I need your help.

Background:
I have a bonsai (Chinese elm if I’m not mistaken) which I keep indoors because of the very temperamental Belgian weather, which had a watering accident 2 years ago which caused it to die, but before that a new shoot grew from the base which I recovered to start a new tree with it.

Now:
That new shoot is my new tree which was very good growing for 1,5-2 years but end of February I went on holiday and let my friend take care of my bonsai, but he forgot to water it which caused it to dry out and visually die.
Since the tree means a lot to me I searched for signs of life and while doing the finger nail test I saw green in the bark which means it’s still alive!
The only thing is that the tree and branches have become pretty rigid because of the under watering (the tree was much more flexible before) and the leaves all dried off but are still firmly attached to the tree (they don’t fall off by themselves).
When I retrieved the tree from my friend I repotted it in new soil and watered it acutely for the last 2 months but my question is if I need to keep the leafs like that of is it better to pluck them off since their all dried off?

I know it takes a long time for trees to recover after such an event but I was wondering if those dried leaves are maybe preventing new leaves from shooting?

Thanks in advance!

Chinese elms is temperate trees and needs to be outdoors. If there are any life left it will sprout back once outdoors. But I highly doubt it. Its spring time now when the tree should be flushing new growth as mad. They are very strong growers.

The scrape test is a very bad idea, so are repotting an unhealthy tree. Together with indoors keepint that may have tipped it over the edge of no return. Dont be too hard on your friend. This tree was doomed before you moved it there.

Hello!

Thank you for your reply!

I’m sorry but I made a mistake. It is not a Chinese Elm but a Chinese privet. It was initially sold as an indoor bonsai so that’s also why I kept it indoors.

Does that change something? Because I need to say that my tree grew as mad all year round before, even in the winter since it was inside.