AusBonsai

G,day to all the Horticulturists and Botanist and any one else who can answer this conundrum.

I have 3 three Shohin Elms two standard one suberosa. all on the same bench side by side. Receive the same amount of every thing, as in all the requirements to keep tree's healthy.

Now for the conundrum starting at the last one on the bench they are all going though the winter shedding of leaves as in colour and drying, and new buds on the tips of twigs and branches!!.
This has never happened this early and it is still warm has not gone below 18 at night for longer than about 1 hour. One tree I would swear was dead, the leaves are as brown dead leaves are and crisp, but the buds are there.

Is it possible the tree thinks it has been growing long enough so it has shut down for the season!?

I am treating them as if they have gone or going dormant less water and a bit of seasol, instead of fertiliser. I will keep you posted.
I would like to know if any one can answer though.
Cheers Pup

it sounds a bit odd for sure pup, i am wondering if you had a cold snap at all that might have shocked the tree into dropping its leaves but then it warmed up again??

not sure mate?


jamie

Kvan has reported that his Tiawan maple has just dropped all it's leaves.
viewtopic.php?f=102&t=4187&p=47205#p47205
I would disagree with Jamie that this is normal. I think that is too early as well especially for north of here.

I'm only posting on what I saw this afternoon while watering:

4 Chinese elms all next to each and from the same nursery are 4 different stages at the moment - one is green and still shooting, the other end the leaves are yellowing and dropping and the two others are at various in between stages.

My dozen or so tridents - not two of them are the same. Some green, some yellow, some red and some almost nude. Same with liquidambers. And variegated gardenias, crab apples etc.

It seems to me that each tree plays to its own tune so to speak a this time of year..

Mine are still putting out new shoots

where did i say this was normal?

but in saying that, i remember with my big elm that this has happened a couple of times up here over the past few years.

In the linked thread above Jamie! Maybe I misunderstood the discussion?

Kvan
The japanese and trident maples are doing fine for me here. Just my taiwanese (hard leaf maple) just decided to drop all leaves. Handon, are we into Autum yet? Is it what it suppose to do?

Jamie
yes mate thats what it is supposed to do you will also notice some of your other deciduos trees will also drop leaves, mayne not all of them but some will, some might only even patially drop there leaves.

Maybe you misunderstood Kvans question?

In any event it seems to be another tree that is dropping leaves earlier than I would have thought.

Funny ( ) you should say this Pup. Only 4 or 5 weeks ago I had the exact thing happen to my very first bonsai. Almost like complete dormancy (which this tree has never acheived). Only for the new growth to wither and do the same. It to was a Saburosa, bought from Peter about 8 yrs ago

Cheers!
Anthony

ahh ok now i am with you mate. when i answered that i was under the assumption that all trees go into and out of dormancy at different times. i have an english elm that is early to break buds and leaves and late to drop them. and an elm that doesnt drop them often at all, and the maples i had lost there leaves and never come out of dormancy, i think it all depends on climate, and weather.


jamie

could be the neighbours cat peed on it is it poted in kitty litter

All mine are still going hard with new growth, and none of my trees is looking like turning yet but the coldest night we have had so far is 16 deg

There is i s a street tree Maple type thing on the foot path next to my house that is just starting to show a yellow tinge, but the Japanes Maple over the road has not yet.

Strange Pup
Ken

Dosen't it have something to do with the reduction of daylight hours?

Ooh-ooh-ooooh! Didn't WA start daylight savings again this Summer. Maybe the Elms are confused!

I understand that Perth has had the longest, hottest summer ever.
Is it a possibility that after such a long growing season the trees are "tired" and just decided that it was time to go dormant?

Gerard