Hello everyone,

Context:
I got a bonsai at my office, I forgot to wet it and after less than a week all leaves were dried. It was not in direct sun, temp about 20-22C..
I cleaned it of leaves and then I cut some of the branches, those which were not elastic so, clearly dried. After wetting it frequently + 1-2 months, I have 3-4 new/green branches this means it's not dead. Happy, happy, happy!

Questions:
1. What kind of species is this, according to photos attached? I asked some people and it seems I have an elm. I this correct?
2. I forgot to wet it for 3 days and the leaves were again in a bad shape but not completly dried. I wet it 2-3 days and now it's ok. It seems it needs much water.
3. Could you advise me on how to shape it?
- how to style the new/green branches; which ones to cut?
- what to do with the branches without leaves. Shall I cut them all from the main one?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read/reply.

Welcome.

First of all your tree isnt a bonsai, its a mallsai. Correctly it is a elm.

In my opinion. Because it is a mallsai and because half of the tree is dead. I would chop the trunk (look it up on YouTube and google). After that you get new growth and you can then reshape the tree.

But you need to study more. Then you will able to know how to chop the trunk and reshape your tree.

I would focus on health and explosive growth. This is an elm, and these can grow up to a metre in a growing season. your 10cm twigs are nothing but a start on the rod of recovery. Once the tree has spend a few months growing, then look into trimming. At that point it has replenished the reserves that were depleted because of your earlier mishaps, and the tree can respond again to trimming.

I beg to differ. That's not an elm but a ligustrum sinense (witht the typical mallsai shape and rust marks from iron wiring)

Auk wrote: I beg to differ. That's not an elm but a ligustrum sinense (witht the typical mallsai shape and rust marks from iron wiring)

You are absolutely right. I answered on my phone and mistakingly took it for an elm.

Auk wrote: I beg to differ. That's not an elm but a ligustrum sinense (with the typical mallsai shape and rust marks from iron wiring)

Thank you all for replies. Indeed, Auk, there are some rust marks because of those morons who let 2-3 iron wire parts.. (facepalm). I had to manually remove them.

I'll try to learn as much as I can to help this "little guy" half dead. Maybe I'll be able to transform it into something nice.

...if you really want to help it, get it out of that wooden container, give it some decent soil, and place it outside ( if and when temps are ok in your part of the world)

It seems that my little tree is better and better, it has several new buds all over the places but I want to move it on a proper pot. Now comes the hard part. What soil mixture shall I use:
- akadama + purnice + lava rock
...or...
- akadama + purnice + lava rock + organic soil
And what ratio ?

Dont do anything drastic, do avoid major root trimming at the time. Depending on your whereabouts, spring is still a bit away.

If you want this to become something, do NOT put it in a bonsai pot. That will stop the development of this plant.

Any substrate will do. I hate akadama because in my climate it falls apart in one to two years. This is what i do: www.growingbonsai.net/characteristics-of-good-bonsai-substrate/

"If you want this to become something, do NOT put it in a bonsai pot. That will stop the development of this plant."
The current pot is made from concrete and it has 10cm in diameter, maybe 10-13cm in depth and it contains only simple soil. My idea is to move it to a bonsai pot 15cm in diameter and 8cm in depth and to put it on a proper soil mixture.

Do you think this would be a problem having in consideration the new pot is wider than the actual one?