AusBonsai

Earlier today I did my first re-potting on a 6 month chinese elm that i bought from bunnings using osmocote soil and was just wondering how long I should wait before I can add fertiliser. I bought the same brand meant for fruit, citrus, trees and shrubs only because im new to all of this and im trying to make as little mistakes as possible

Also how can I help my tree to recover? Ive got it sitting in a hot box which I made (im not allowing it to get to hot in there) spraying it ever half an hour to add some humidity and was just wondering if there was anything else that I might be able to do.

Hi Red and welcome. Did you defoliate the elm ? It's a little late to repot but if you defoliated it the tree should be OK. I would take it out of the hot box and keep it in some shade and water it with seasol. Leave the fertiliser for about a month.

Bougy Fan wrote:Hi Red and welcome. Did you defoliate the elm ? It's a little late to repot but if you defoliated it the tree should be OK. I would take it out of the hot box and keep it in some shade and water it with seasol. Leave the fertiliser for about a month.

I didn't I was planning on doing later on, should I trim in now or should I wait? I only just re-potted it today.

Deciduous trees are only to be repotted in winter when they are dormant. You should defoliate it so it doesn't die. Repotting an elm in full leaf is a sure way to get another bonsai. Do you have a photo ? The mix may not be the best either but I would leave it and see how you go. Is it in a bonsai pot ?

Bougy Fan wrote:Deciduous trees are only to be repotted in winter when they are dormant. You should defoliate it so it doesn't die. Repotting an elm in full leaf is a sure way to get another bonsai. Do you have a photo ? The mix may not be the best either but I would leave it and see how you go. Is it in a bonsai pot ?

We learn everyday - I did exactly the same thing with my first chinese elms (there were 2 in the pot) - hope I haven't killed them. Though I did use a much more free draining soil mix. Always worried about the mix they're in when buying from the big green shed!

Cheers

Being an elm it most likely wont die.
You should trim it now. You want to balance the amount of leaves to something close to the amount of roots so that there is enough water form the roots for the leaves.
The hot box is not what the tree needs. It will have less water absorption because you have worked the roots and the hot box will increase water transportation. Keep it in the shade and give it a while to recover.
There will be plenty of nutrition in the soil so you wont need to fertilize for a good while, until you have wash out some of the nutrients with watering. But seasol now and every second week will help the plant, in a diluted concentration.

I have an elm stump with no roots in full sun. Its a meter high and just had some leaves come out but other than keeping the soil moist it hasn't had and special treatment. Elms are pretty though you should be fine. If it was a maple it would be dead soon.

Bougy Fan wrote:Deciduous trees are only to be repotted in winter when they are dormant. You should defoliate it so it doesn't die. Repotting an elm in full leaf is a sure way to get another bonsai.

Broad Statement, there are some deciduous trees which Prefer potting after spring. I have repotted chinese Elm in full leaf, no issues.
just saying.

I have to take issue with the

just saying.

It doesn't make your statement more acceptable or valid by putting that at the end of it. If you have an opinion have the hairy ones to stand by it and not make out it's a casual flippant remark !

My point is for a very new beginner he is best sticking to some "rules" and when he has some more experience he can experiment with things like repotting times.

As a beginner you learn. Everything is an experiment. I have killed lots of plants but by trying I have learnt what works for me.

To say

Bougy Fan wrote: Repotting an elm in full leaf is a sure way to get another bonsai.

It seems to heavy handed and that's why I am saying no the tree has a chance with good after care. If not trying something is still worth the effort.

Thanks for all the advice, i did give it a little trim im just hoping it doesn't die. Ill be sure to put it in a shady spot for some time.

Bougy Fan wrote:I have to take issue with the

just saying.

It doesn't make your statement more acceptable or valid by putting that at the end of it. If you have an opinion have the hairy ones to stand by it and not make out it's a casual flippant remark !

Nice attitude/boardering on a Personal attack over 2 words and since i don't have "hairy one's" i guess i can't stand by it mate!

Also I hope your tree does well Red Maple .

I reported 2 elms this year out in leaf and also 15 maples, just didn't get to everything in time, didn't loose a single tree. I also collected 9 Buxus in the middle of summer on a 45 degree day and only lost 2. It's more about after care and root disturbance I think. Any collected/potted tree gets sprayed with seasol twice a day. If the roots have been reduced then they will struggle to take up water until they recover. Misting the foliage and trunks helps to reduce moisture lost, even spraying the trunk of no leaves helps IMHO. This works for me and I loose very few trees. I choose to dig at optimum times for the health of the tree but not always possible.
Everyone is different and bonsai don't have rules but rather guidelines. For newbies following these guidelines to begin with will help establish confidence to then push the boundaries later on.
I think recommending deciduous trees be repotted in winter is good advice to a newbie, but seeing that red maple hasn't done that its about giving advice to give the tree the best chance.
I remember repotting a tree then asking then question to be told it was the wrong time to repot. Someone gave advise on saving the tree and I managed to save it. I learnt a lot from repotting that tree, when it SHOULD be repotted and that fact it can be repotted outside that time with care. Made me push the boundaries on other trees to.
Sometimes we need to take ourselves out of the question to give the best advise for the person asking the question.

Just my
Josh.

Red-maple wrote:Thanks for all the advice, i did give it a little trim im just hoping it doesn't die. Ill be sure to put it in a shady spot for some time.

Hi Red-maple,
That's the right thing to do. Also remember to give it a drink of Seasol. Use the 25ml per 9Litre mix. You could do this a couple of times a week. When you see good new growth, start to bring it out into more and more sunlight.

Just a note that I have edited in. Don't mix up your Seasol in quantity and then use it. Make sure you always mix a new batch when you use it.

Regards Ray

Shibui has been experimenting with Repotting Maples through the Summer with good success, so not to say that it can never be done.
do not know what after care he gives whether anything special or not,

Ken

Repotting Maples through the Summer with good success

I just don't get maples then.
I have had one for almost 2 years now and its still the same stick that I started with.
Lots more to do then.