Is it dry?

[treeman]

short and sweet................................'Hot weather shedding'.......Older mature leaves past use by.
My Elms have done similar with new buds pushing the old people out.

Steve.

There should be no shedding of leaves in summer.

[shibui]

I agree Mike. Chinese elm in warmer climates will shed old leaves in Spring when the new buds start but any new leaves should stay on the tree all summer. If you have summer leaf drop you have a problem.

Bonsai are plants. feed them plant food. It does not matter what sort of plant food because they cannot read what's on the packet. Any fertiliser for trees and shrubs will be OK. Use at the rates on the packet.

When you water you need to keep the water going until it runs out the drain holes

Even this is often not enough. When the root ball dries out it often shrinks a bit. When you apply water it runs down the sides of the root ball and out the holes. You think you've watered enough but the centre of the potting mix is still dry. That's why I suggest double watering - see previous - the second time the water will penetrate much better. Soaking the root ball does the same thing.

[Theodore]

Does it live outside or inside?!

[Ray M]

Hi AJ,
I use Seamungus, Dolomite Lime and Foliage feeding. My Chinese Elms have always done very well with this regime.

Seamungus: Seamungus
Dolomite Lime: Dolomite Lime

• Put Seamungus on the soil.
  
  Sprinkle Dolomite Lime over the top of the Seamungus. You only need to do a light sprinkle. Water the Dolomite Lime into the soil immediately after application. After the Seamungus has broken down and it is time to place some more on the soil, repeat the procedure with the Dolomite Lime.
  
  I also use Foliage Feeding. The following is a link to how I do this. Foliage Feeding

Regards Ray