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Hi. I'm a newby bonsai owner and I have a 50cm tall zelkova which i've had for 5 months in its original 25cm long oval pot. It is kept in a bright sunny room but does not receive any direct sunlight. I water it every 2-3 days and include a little fertiliser with the watering. I also spray the leaves whenever it is watered. duringthe first 3 months it seemed to flourish and i had some new branches and leaves. Then since about september it has been losing leaves - maybe a couple of dozen max per week...but in the past couple of weeks there ha been some new growth...new branches and over the past week or so I've noticed many new buds and mini branches on original branches so I presume its not totally unhealthy.

Can anyone tell me if this growth behaviour is 'normal'/acceptable and if not what i should do. also is this an annual cyclical behaviour or might it occur more frequently. Can I expect it to regain its summer (I bought it in early July) leaf fullness/density?

Thanks in advance
Lol1

Zelkova is a temperate decidious tree. Shedding leafs in authum or winter is part of there natural anual cycle. That is not a problem, it is necessary for long term health. However growing new leafs this time of the year is a serious problem. You need to stop this emedently as the tree will spend all off its energy that it will need come spring. The tree needs to be cooled down right now. If you still have a few weeks without frost put it outdoors emedantly. If you allready have frost, you have a problem and must find a bright place at 5c for rest of the winter. Once winter is over you can move it outdoors. Once outdoors, never put it indoor again.

Thanks for the information. Thats most helpful and informative.
I will do as you suggest but....how often should I water it pre-frost and then during the colder winter months?

Watering is done when the tree needs it, not on a scedule. That is very much depending on your local climate. Where I live in western Sweden (hardiness zone 7) rain takes care of it from late october until I put my trees into unheated overwintering room in december. January and februrary the soil is normally frozen. If it thaws and the soil looks dry, I will water carefully during this period. Sometimes in March or April I start to check the trees weekly and water if needed. In May and onwards I water daily or or every second day if it is not raining. In a heat spell I may need to water some trees twice a day. But that is rare here. I know people that needs to water twice daily for most of the summer. But they are much more south than me.

Thanks for the advice tropfrog.....so should i remove the new shoots/growth to deter the tree from using energy to maintain them whilst the tree is being kept outside/ in a colder room ( as necessary to avoid frost) during this dormant period?

No, do not remove anything this time of the year. Cooling it down will stop growth.