Is it too late to defoliate a chinese elm now?

Share your success stories about defoliation, bare rooting and anything else relating to maintaining healthy bonsai.
Post Reply
longd_au
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 347
Joined: July 31st, 2013, 9:59 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 5
Bonsai Club: None
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 61 times

Is it too late to defoliate a chinese elm now?

Post by longd_au »

Hi

I have a small healthy chinese elm that I am thinking of defoliating to get some ramification.
Do you think it is too late given there is probably just 3 months of growth left in the season?

Thanks,
DL
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dennis
A journey full of experiments
User avatar
bodhidharma
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 5007
Joined: August 13th, 2009, 1:14 pm
Favorite Species: English Elm
Bonsai Age: 24
Bonsai Club: goldfields
Location: Daylesford, Victoria....Central Highlands
Been thanked: 11 times
Contact:

Re: Is it too late to defoliate a chinese elm now?

Post by bodhidharma »

am still defoliating mine and have defoliated as late as mid Feb with no hiccups. Just give them good aftercare.
"Advice is rarely welcome, and the one's who need it the most welcome it the least"
User avatar
Pearcy001
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1307
Joined: February 8th, 2015, 7:23 pm
Favorite Species: Natives and Exotics
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Yarraville, VIC
Been thanked: 81 times

Re: Is it too late to defoliate a chinese elm now?

Post by Pearcy001 »

bodhidharma wrote:am still defoliating mine and have defoliated as late as mid Feb with no hiccups. Just give them good aftercare.
What would be the best aftercare post defoliation?

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
longd_au
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 347
Joined: July 31st, 2013, 9:59 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 5
Bonsai Club: None
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 61 times

Re: Is it too late to defoliate a chinese elm now?

Post by longd_au »

Thanks Bodhi.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dennis
A journey full of experiments
User avatar
bodhidharma
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 5007
Joined: August 13th, 2009, 1:14 pm
Favorite Species: English Elm
Bonsai Age: 24
Bonsai Club: goldfields
Location: Daylesford, Victoria....Central Highlands
Been thanked: 11 times
Contact:

Re: Is it too late to defoliate a chinese elm now?

Post by bodhidharma »

Pearcy001 wrote:What would be the best aftercare post defoliation?
Hi Pearcy, good aftercare means not much water until budburst, misting, keeping it in a protected spot from to much sun and wind (dappled shade is good) until leaves are starting to harden off. Once you have budburst start a feeding regime. This is a good aftercare regime if you can manage it.
"Advice is rarely welcome, and the one's who need it the most welcome it the least"
rodm
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 344
Joined: May 19th, 2010, 7:12 pm
Favorite Species: Pines junipers and others
Bonsai Age: 40
Location: Tamworth NSW
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 15 times

Re: Is it too late to defoliate a chinese elm now?

Post by rodm »

I don't or rarely defoliate any of my elms, particular this time of the year. Combination of very hot days and very hot winds or heat wave conditions easily means dead trees. I find that waiting til after they drop their leaves, autumn. This exposes the branch structure, then trim the branches accordingly thus creating the least amount of stress on the tree. Fert with slow release and in late winter- early spring give them a boost with something like seasol/power feed combo or dynamic lifter ;)
Cheers RodM
User avatar
bodhidharma
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 5007
Joined: August 13th, 2009, 1:14 pm
Favorite Species: English Elm
Bonsai Age: 24
Bonsai Club: goldfields
Location: Daylesford, Victoria....Central Highlands
Been thanked: 11 times
Contact:

Re: Is it too late to defoliate a chinese elm now?

Post by bodhidharma »

Melbourne and Tamworth are very different animals Rod. How is the Country and music festival going? My in Laws headed up there this year and are having a hoot.
"Advice is rarely welcome, and the one's who need it the most welcome it the least"
User avatar
bodhidharma
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 5007
Joined: August 13th, 2009, 1:14 pm
Favorite Species: English Elm
Bonsai Age: 24
Bonsai Club: goldfields
Location: Daylesford, Victoria....Central Highlands
Been thanked: 11 times
Contact:

Re: Is it too late to defoliate a chinese elm now?

Post by bodhidharma »

viewtopic.php?f=129&t=7459&start=15#p174330

This might prove helpful at this point in time.
"Advice is rarely welcome, and the one's who need it the most welcome it the least"
rodm
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 344
Joined: May 19th, 2010, 7:12 pm
Favorite Species: Pines junipers and others
Bonsai Age: 40
Location: Tamworth NSW
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 15 times

Re: Is it too late to defoliate a chinese elm now?

Post by rodm »

Ye ha thank god its &@$?" its over for another 12 months. Yep I hear what you are saying, being a Victorian by birth I remember it being very hot and lately it's been a bit of heat wave down there. It's a bit of a different climate here. These are my tried and trusted techniques that work for me up here. These can be modified for others ;)
Cheers RodM
Jag001
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 64
Joined: February 14th, 2016, 6:29 pm
Favorite Species: Chinese Elm
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: none
Location: Perth

Re: Is it too late to defoliate a chinese elm now?

Post by Jag001 »

Gotta say that defoliating completely hear in Perth at this time of year is not a problem at all.

Chinese elms here in Perth very rarely drop their leaves even in winter.

Every climate is different, you just have to watch the growth habits of your tree in your area and modify techniques to suit your environment.
cheers,
JEff
Post Reply

Return to “Tips, Techniques, Maintenance and Advice”