Updated 15/3/02

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Chinese Elm

Ulmus parvifolia

This is one of the two miniatures my lovely wife gave me for Christmas. I really should have taken a picture of it when I first got it to show what I've done to it. My wife knows me well as she found the two trees fairly untrained and wild- giving me the room to shape it to my liking.
With this tree, I had to do some major wiring as this tree grows in tight branch groups.
I have also found that this tree is great for shaping. The branches are far more malleable than a eucalypt and the leaves handle the treatment. I believe that this tree will be great to work with.

15/3/02

Oh how I the gods above!!
I had a really busy week a month ago. It was also a very hot week. I missed two nights of watering the elm and found all the leaves shrivelled up. I was in dismay.
While at an excellent Bonsai store in the Adelaide hills, the owner told me not to lose heart and continue to water the little tree- and NOT to fertilize it. Well what was the first thing that I had done when I saw it at a dead end? I fetilized it.
So as soon as I returned home I pruned back parts that were dead and continually dipped the little tree for the rest of the day in and out of the water to remove the fertilizer. Apparently, as the tree has no leaves, it will not take up the fertilizer and thus burns the roots from sitting in it.
So I've cared for it patiently since and today noticed that the little tree has tiny buds all over it!!
Needless to say, I'm over the moon!
SO HERE IS A MESSAGE TO ALL WHO LET THE CHINESE ELMS DRY-
DO NOT LOSE HEART, MY DEAR FRIENDS! WATER, DO NOT FERTILIZE.
CARE FOR THE TREE AND IT WILL COME BACK AS STRONG AS EVER!!!!

:o)