Hello!

I was gifted my Chinese elm in January and it’s been growing really well and was seemingly perfectly healthy. A few weeks ago I noticed some very very small insects in the soil (nothing on the Bonsai itself). I took the tree out of its pot, put new soil in the pot and bought some pesticide and these insects have now gone. During these few weeks the Bonsai has been dropping leaves, it may have lost about 40% now. The new growth doesn’t look quite like normal either which is worrying but new buds are appearing constantly. I’ve been trimming off sections that don’t look too well, but it is only a young tree so there’s not much to trim. It gets plenty of light, enough (but not too much) water and fertiliser. Is the tree just adjusting to the new soil, damaged by the insects or is there something else I have missed??

Very worried about my little friend! I have attached photos.

Any advice for a beginner would be great, thank you.

Stop playng around with it. This is a bad time to repot. And insects are part of life. You did not have any problems, but you caused the problems by handling it. Just let it grow.

Why do you nt have it outside? Is it winter in your whereabouts?

Apologies, I forgot to mention that it is an indoor Bonsai. When I noticed the insects I did a lot of searching online to see if they might be harming the tree and many forum posts advised to use pesticide as they may have been feeding on the roots etc. I didn’t anticipate any insects being on the tree considering it lives inside.

I didn’t realise repotting was seasonal, and I have indeed ‘stopped playing around with it’. The leaves started dropping before I noticed the insects.

I am hoping it will stop dropping it’s leaves soon but just wanted some advice and to see where I’ve gone wrong so thanks for letting me know about the repotting!

kelseyannejane wrote:

Apologies, I forgot to mention that it is an indoor Bonsai.

It is not.

It was advertised as an indoor Bonsai and it does not get particularly warm where I live, even in the summer. It has thrived inside up until now.

kelseyannejane wrote:

It was advertised as an indoor Bonsai.

thats what they will advertise to get the sale.

kelseyannejane wrote:

It has thrived inside up until now.

that is what Auk is trying to tell you. because trees belong outside that may or may not be the reason your tree is dropping leaves (most likely has something to do with it). it will not thrive indoors and eventually die..

Thanks for the more helpful response. Fairly confusing for a beginner when lots of info about ‘indoor Bonsai care’ is available online. Do I continue seeing how it progresses or should I move the tree outside?

kelseyannejane wrote:

Fairly confusing for a beginner when lots of info about ‘indoor Bonsai care’ is available online. Do I continue seeing how it progresses or should I move the tree outside?

yes it can be confusing and believe me your not the only one. if it were me i would place the tree outside and water as needed. do not fertilize until your certain the tree is healthy.

Thanks for the advice!

kelseyannejane wrote:

Thanks for the more helpful response.?

Questions about elms being kept indoors dropping leaves are asked so frequently that it is not funny anymore.

Try the search option.