This is actually my first post in here... I just repotted my Chinese Elm, maybe a week ago and it has been drying out ever since.
I have been watering regularly (I am actually using a chopstick to find out if the soil needs watering or not). I want to mention that I cut a lot of its roots and I had it placed under the sun for at least 6 hours a day.
Its leaves are now completely dried out, not falling off the tree though and its trunk and branches also seem kind of dry and wrinkly.
Can you please advise if it can be saved and what do I need to do?
Looking forward to your insights and thank you in advance for your help!
I’m wondering if you may have reported it a little late. Normally you would repot deciduous trees just as the buds begin to swell and are about to open(early spring).
I don’t know if that holds true for all species. Maybe the combination of a late repotting and root pruning has stressed it out a bit.
I’m sure the more experienced members can put you right.
As mentioned above.. Repotting with extensive work on the roots is better not done in the midddle of summer, but at the end of winter. Just as the tree starts to wake up from winter dormancy. So as soon as you see the buds turn glossy, and you see the first siigns of green peaking out of the buds. That is when you do this sort of work. And afterwards to keep the plants sheltered a bit. With very littly functioning roots the tree is very ineffective in taking up water.
Keep this plant now in the shade. Water when it gets dry. Do NOT overwater. And wait. IF you are lucky it is just leafdrop. Nt much else you can do at the moment.
I repotted the tree because the soil it came in was really bad, it didn't absorb any water and it got dry very quickly. The tree seemed that it was starting to die anyway so I took the risk.
I was wondering if I could use some kind of root hormone to help the roots grow faster and better and increase my tree's chances of surviving.
I was wondering if I could use some kind of root hormone to help the roots grow faster and better and increase my tree's chances of surviving.
What are your thoughts on that?
Xaric!
You could research “Rhizotonic” which is used in hydroponics for weak or struggling plants. Not sure of its proven efficacy in bonsai, but some say it helps. Good luck.
Offline
