How To Care For Your Chinese Elm Bonsai – Part I

{The Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) is one of the most popular trees available for creating bonsai.|One of the most popular trees for creating bonsai is the Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia).|A favorite tree for creating bonsai is the Chinese elm(Ulmus parvifolia).|The Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) rates high on the list of favored trees for bonsai.} {There are, of course, numerous superb tree species for bonsai, but the Chinese Elm is a perennial favorite.|Year after year the Chinese elm is one of the top trees for producing bonsai.|Despite the fact that there are a variety of great trees that can be used for bonsai, the Chinese elm is always a favorite.|It is often a perennial favorite among bonsai lovers year in year out.} {It can be an suitable choice as the first tree for beginner bonsai growers.|If you’re just a starter in bonsai this is a good choice for a first bonsai tree.|Seasoned bonsai artists regularly suggest this particular plant to newcomers in the hobby.|A specialty bonsai gardening shop will frequently suggest this plant to beginning bonsai owners.} {The Chinese elm has a relatively predictable pattern of growth and it’s not necessary to be a professional pruner due to the fact this tree is rather forgiving.|This tree is incredibly forgiving just in case you make beginner mistakes, like a poor trimming job.|One of the reasons the Chinese Elm bonsai is wonderful for newbies is that they have a relatively predictable growing pattern.|The growth pattern of the Chinese elm is moderately predictable which is among the reasons it is a good tree for the beginner.} {In addition, the tree is slow growing and for that reason allows the novice to master and become accustomed to training and looking after it.|It is a slow growing tree and therefore it permits the rookie to become familiar with looking after it and training it.|Newbies generally do better with a slow growing tree to allow them to become accustomed to it, and the Chinese elm fits that description.|A slow growing tree is the most appropriate for a rookie and the Chinese elm definitely is a slow grower, so it is a good match up.}

{The Chinese elm tree grows wild in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan and as a natural tree it may reach a height of 60 feet tall.|In it’s native environment the Chinese elm tree can grow up to 60 feet tall.|The Chinese elm can reach up to 60 feet in height in its natural environment.|The Chines elm is native to Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and China, where it may grow as tall as 60 feet.} {The tree’s leaves tend to be small, dark green in color, and have a leathery look with a shiny top side and dull serrated edges.|Excellent for bonsai, the trees leaves tend to be small. They are leathery to look at and dark green in color with a somewhat serrated edge.|The leaves of the Chinese elm are darkish green in color, and have a rather leathery look with blunt serrated edges. The leaves are small, and so are perfect for bonsai.|The smaller leaves of the Chinese elm are perfect for bonsai. The leaves have a blunt serrated edge, and are dark green and kind of leathery in appearance.} {If the plant is kept inside it will stay semi-evergreen, but when kept outdoors then it becomes deciduous.|One more reason for this plant’s attraction is that it can be grown either outdoors or indoors. When grown inside it’s going to be green year-round.|This plant’s acceptance is also to some extent because of the fact that it may be grown both outdoors and indoors. If grown outside it is going to go through the familiar life-cycle of a deciduous tree, but indoors it’ll be an evergreen.|The Chinese elm is adaptable to both an indoor environment or an outdoor environment. It is a hardy deciduous tree and will drop its leaves in the fall and spend the winter in a state of dormancy. If grown in the house it will stay green all year round.}

{One of the advantages to growing a Chinese Elm bonsai tree is that it is not at risk of Dutch elm disease.|Fortunately the Chinese elm is not at risk of Dutch elm disease.|In contrast to other elms, the Chinese elm is not susceptible to getting Dutch elm disease.|And don’t be concerned regarding Dutch elm disease with your Chinese elm – they aren’t at risk of the disease.} {Because of this, the Chinese Elm makes an outstanding plant for people just starting out growing bonsai.|So for folks only starting in bonsai the Chinese elm makes a great choice.|For all of these reasons the Chinese elm makes a good tree for the inexperienced bonsai grower.|For all these reasons the Chinese elm is really a great subject tree for both experienced and novice bonsai growers.}

{Watering Your Chinese Elm|How to Water Your Chinese Elm|Properly Watering Your Chinese Elm}

{Because bonsai are planted in coarse soil as well as in shallow pots they could dry out rather quickly.|Since the majority of bonsai pots are rather shallow, and the soil used is relatively coarse, the dirt can dry out fairly quickly.|Bonsai plants have a tendency to dry out significantly faster than other potted plants since they are mainly potted in shallow pots with coarse soil.|Your bonsai plants will likely dry out more rapidly than other potted plants given that they are potted with somewhat coarse soil in shallow pots.} {In some cases, you will need to water the tree daily.The best way to tell if your Chinese elm bonsai requires water is to feel the soil.|It might be necessary to water your Chinese elm daily if the soil gets too dry.|If the soil becomes too dry you may need to water your tree each day determined by environmental conditions.|Depending on the season, whether you are growing your Chinese elm inside or outside, you might need to water your tree as often as every day.} {Stick your finger a 1 / 2 inch or so into the soil;|Dig down about a half inch into the soil;|Put your finger into the soil to about a half in . deep:} {in case you don’t feel very much moisture in the top 1 / 2 in . of the soil, then it’s time to water.|if the top 1 / 2 ” feels dry then it is time to water your bonsai.|water the plant if the top 1 / 2 in . of soil feels dry.|you need to water your bonsai if the top 1 / 2 inch of soil feels dry to the touch.} {The most effective solution to water your bonsai is to put it in the kitchen sink, or in a shallow container, and let it sit in the water for a few minutes until it has absorbed enough from the drainage holes in the bottom.|The easiest method to water your Chinese elm bonsai is to fill your sink with just enough water to come up to just beneath the pot’s rim. Allow it to remain in the water for a few minutes soaking up water through the drain openings in the bottom of the pot.|The best way to thoroughly water your Chinese elm bonsai is to place it in a container containing water (just enough water that the pot is not entirely immersed) and allow it to sit for a few minutes while it absorbes water in from the drain holes in the bottom of the pot.|A real easy technique to water your Chinese elm bonsai is to set it in a sink or container partially filled with water, making sure that the water level is just beneath the rim of the bonsai pot, and let it soak water in through the drainage holes in the base of the pot.} {After 5-10 minutes take out from the sink/container and allow to drain completely.|Take the pot from the water after 5-10 minutes and allow it to drain fully.|After it has been soaking for 5-10 minutes get it out from the kitchen sink and put it where it will drain thoroughly of any surplus water.|Remove your bonsai from the sink or container after it has been soaking for 5-10 minutes and then let it completely drain all unnecessary water.}

{The guideline with many bonsai plants would be to never let the soil dry up completely, but don’t keep it soaking wet continuously.|One thing you want to continually be conscientious of is to under no circumstances permit your bonsai plant get completely dry.|Keeping your bonsai plants correctly watered is one of the most important things you can do to keep you bonsai living healthy. A quick way to kill it is to let it become completely dry.|Be sure that you never let your bonsai plant become totally dry. It is a sure way to kill it quickly.} {Determine your watering program on how the soil feels.|It’s easy to understand when to water your bonsai – just check the soil on a routine basis.|By examining the soil level of moisture inside your bonsai pot you will always realize when your plant needs watering.|Your bonsai plant’s watering schedule is determined through checking out the level of moisture of the soil in your bonsai pot.} {Test it daily.|You must check the moisture level daily.|It’s easy to check the moisture level each day.|It is a good idea to check the level of moisture every day.} {If you are able to feel moisture, then you may not need to water.|If you feel moisture in the top half inch you don’t have to water yet.|If the top half inch of soil feels damp then you don’t need to water yet.|You shouldn’t have to water yet if the top half inch of soil still feels moist.} However, {if your|in case your} bonsai is in a very small pot and/or {it is a|it’s a} hot or {windy|breezy} day, or {if the|if your} bonsai is pot-bound, {then you may|you may then} {need to|have to} water. {If one part is dried out, then you need to water that part.|Check in a number of areas of the pot. If an area is dry then water it.|Don’t merely check in one spot for moisture. One area might be dry and another moist. If the area is dry then just water that area.|Sometimes you may should just water one area of your bonsai pot if just one area of the soil has become dry.}

{Location and Sunlight|Getting the Right Amount of Sunlight|Getting the Best Levels of Sunlight|How Much Sunlight?}

{Chinese Elm trees are extremely adaptable to their environment.|The Chinese elm tree is a really adaptable tree.|Being adaptable to their surroundings is one of the Chinese elm tree’s most significant attributes.|The Chinese elm tree can adapt to a number of different environments.} {If adapted correctly, they can be grown indoors year-round.|Unlike some hardy deciduous trees, the Chinese elm tree may be successfully grown inside. |Not all hardy deciduous trees may be grown indoors, but for the reason that Chinese elm is so adaptable it can survive indoors and can stay green all year round.|The Chinese Elm bonsai can be grown successfully indoors if it is adapted carefully.} {|If hardened off to the cold gradually, they will drop their leaves in the autumn and be considered deciduous trees, so you have a couple of choices.} {When they are acclimated, Chinese elms thrive in full sun—and lots of sun also helps to keep the leaves smaller.|If you have grown your Chinese elm inside, and now would like to grow it outdoors, you need to slowly adapt it to full sun. When acclimated it will prosper in full sunlight. |Your Chinese elm will prosper in full sunlight, and a lot of sun will result in the tree producing more compact leaves, which are desirable with bonsai.|Full direct sun is fine for your Chinese elm bonsai, the truth is it’s going to thrive under this condition.} {It is important to be sure that the leaves are used to sun before you place the tree in strong sunlight.|Be sure that the plant is accustomed to full sunlight before you leave it exposed all day. You’ll be able to acclimate it by leaving it in the sun a bit longer each day.|If your tree isn’t accustomed to all day full sun you can get it accustomed to it by putting it in the sun for a short time in the beginning, and then gradually increasing the amount of time you expose it to full sun.} {If the tree has been in the house, you need to expose it to sun little by little so that the leaves do not burn.|If you expose it to too much sun too quickly you run the risk of sun burning the leaves.|If your Chinese elm has been an indoor plant it’s leaves could be sunburned if left in the direct sun for too long. Expose the plant slowly to full sunlight.} {Good air flow is also crucial for the health of your bonsai.|Your Chinese elm bonsai also needs very good air flow.|Your Chinese elm bonsai will profit by very good air circulation too.} {If grown inside keep your Chinese Elm in a well-ventilated place.|Be sure you keep your plant in a well ventilated spot if you will be growing it inside.|A well ventilated area is critical if you will be growing your Chinese elm indoors.|If you are growing your Chinese elm indoors then you must ensure it is kept in a very well ventilated area.}

{Some Elms come from warm parts of the world, and have never encountered cold conditions.|If your Chinese elm came from a warm environment it might not be accustomed to cold environments.|Your Chinese elm is probably not used to cold conditions if it originated in a warm climate.} {It can be harmful to keep these Elms too cold the very first year or two.|It is probably not smart to keep these Elms too cold the first year or two.|It could hurt your plant to keep these Elms too cold the first year or two.} {Chinese Elms may well drop a number of leaves in the winter as a result of natural decline in light.|Even if grown indoors your Chinese elm may drop leaves through the winter time which is due to the decrease in natural sunlight as the days are shorter.|When the days get shorter in winter and the tree receives a lower number of hours of natural sunlight it may well drop some leaves.} {This is ordinary.|This is not unusual.|This is to be anticipated.|Don’t be concerned, this is normal.} {Even though the plant is hardy it should be guarded from intense cold and windy conditions to avoid damage to the tree.|As with the majority of bonsai trees, your Chinese elm bonsai should be guarded from intense winter conditions like cold and wind.|Even though your Chinese elm bonsai is a hardy plant it can still be damaged by harsh winter conditions of severe cold and wind so take measures to protect it from injury.}