Chinese Elm lost most foliage
- Rodrigo
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It is a Chinese Elm bonsai and it lost its foliage from the time of purchase (June) until now (November). Images attached.
Roots seem fine (i.e. not rotten). Image attached.
Is there something I can do (e.g. re-potting, pruning, feeding, wiring, etc.) to bring back its foliage?
The loss of foliage could have been due to overwatering in the past months.
Answers or any general advice based on the pictures are much appreciated!
About the bonsai: 7 years old (according to retailer (Amazon)); now it takes about 1 week to re-water (the necessary time for a chopstick to come out completely dry); it stays by a well lit window in my kitchen, where it's constantly 20C; humidity in the flat stays around 60%. I'm in Scotland, so days are getting shorter quickly.
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- Auk
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- Rodrigo
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- Auk
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- Rodrigo
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- Initially watered it every second day; since last week, I've been using the chopstick method and not watered it. I'm waiting for the chopstick to come out completely dry. The soil came to the point of building a white layer of mould, which I scraped off last week and it hasn't come back since.
- I fed it with a 4-6-6 feed every fortnight until last month; I haven't fed it for a month and Im planning to feed it monthly.
- I pruned it twice during summer; gradually during summer, it lost leaves and the thiner branches are quite fragile. this week I removed all branches that had no leaves or only 1 or 2 leaves on the tip.
- It's still in the same pot it came in.
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- Samantha
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you know they like being kept outside all year right? How far up north are you?
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- m5eaygeoff
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- Rodrigo
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I am almost as north as North can be Aberdeen, Scotland. The problem is I live in a flat and I won't be able to place it outside.
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- m5eaygeoff
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- Rodrigo
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I'm confused... I did look up online and many websites say Chinese Elms do well indoors... Anyway, which species would you recommend for indoors?m5eaygeoff wrote: Ok, well, then you will have to put up with it not living long. Next time get something that will survive inside.
Ok, this is what I'm doing now.m5eaygeoff wrote: You need to get the watering right. Do not water to a schedule, check every day and water when almost dry.
Ok, will try that. Does that include pruning roots and crown?m5eaygeoff wrote: You could re pot now as it is going to remain in.
Ok. Sad to know I messed up somewhere, but good to know what to aim for from now on.m5eaygeoff wrote: Losing leaves would be ok if it was not inside, but it should not lose many. The conditions are not helping.
I read a low N fertiliser is best for indoor (could be wrong again). What NPK ratio do you recommend?m5eaygeoff wrote: Fertiliser is not doing any good either.
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