So I ordered a repotting kit that I thought would come by March (early spring)
It actually only came today ( April 27th) . Can I still repot my Chinese elm as its in a very compact not-bonsai soil however it's has just started to give out new growth .

Chinese elm is tough as nails in most places, so it will probably be OK. However, if you do not know anything about repotting, I would not risk it anymore. Ask someone close by to have a look too.

With the right aftercar, and minimal damge to roots (Besides trimming!) you should be ok though.

just be careful.. and study the how-to by watching videos first

when i started i repotted a chinese elm mid summer.. it still lives and thanked me for the repotting with lush growth..

just be careful..

take it out of the pot..
try and take out as much of the bad soil as possible in the most gentle way
if needed rince out some of the bad soil.

you don't have to get it all..

try and untangle all the potbound roots (the ones going in circles around the tree at the edge of the pot)

cut those off
cut of some of the downward growing longer roots

gently repot with the new soil (what did you get?)
use a chopstick to much the new soil in between the roots, since air pockets may cause root problems later

once you are done, water until clear water comes out at the bottom..

keep in a shady place out of the wind and out of any eventual late frost..
you should see result soon after..

don't fertelize for at about a month after repotting..

good luck..

your tree is more likely to survive the late repotting than the bad soil..

Thank you guys this is very useful. Dominion my bonsai soil is the one sold by Growth Technology ...something like bonsai focus.It contains peat, fine grit, sand and fine bark.

Also Bonsai Empire is saying that I should place my bonsai in the middle of the pot when repotting but I have this composition in my mind in which the actual tree in on the left hand side of the pot. Does this affect the bonsai in any way if I choose to have it on left hand side?


A bit like this picture but on the left .

PandarenBonsai wrote:

Also Bonsai Empire is saying that I should place my bonsai in the middle of the pot when repotting

Not sure what you mean. Can you tell me where you read that? Bonsai are rarely put in the middle of the pot, on the contrary.

but I have this composition in my mind in which the actual tree in on the left hand side of the pot. Does this affect the bonsai in any way if I choose to have it on left hand side?

Depends. It shouldn't be an issue if the roots have enough room. Did you post a picture of your elm yet?

(after googling)

I think I found it. It actually says:

"Place the tree, slightly out of the middle of the pot"

But it doesn't even have to be slightly - it depends on the shape and form of your tree.

If you may, could you show a picture of your tree, then maybe we can give you a better guess. If you can give an estimate, on what it's in, you know, bare roots packed in peat moss, or something to keep them moist, or packed in a neat little pot, that will keep it for months.

But then, elms can take a lot. If you grown and transplanted bunches of plants all your life, don't worry. If you've never had a plant, then study and, dive in, join us.

This is my Chinese Elm Bonsai. Today I'm going to do a repot and prune. I'm repotting it into the same pot as I only bought it one week ago but the soil was compact therefore the repotting. I think I'm going to remove the rock. Also I'd be grateful if you could look at these leaves. This morning there a few leaves with black spots on them and white specks. Are these pest?

PandarenBonsai wrote:

This is my Chinese Elm Bonsai.

A mallsai. For this type of tree rules of where to place it are hardly relevant.

Get a bigger pot, the weather looks nice outside the window. It would do much better out there. And, yes toss the rock.