Hello!

I brought a bonsai tree (Chinese elm I think) from Asda recently Its the first bonsai I have ever owned so Im not too sure what Im doing wrong. But the soil seems to be very very dry! Ive watered it a few times maybe twice a week (have had it for just under a month) and let the water drain out and did this about twice in one go. I made sure the water was all drained before putting it back into the ceramic pot and made sure the plastic pot wasnt sitting in water.

But I've started to notice mould growing on the soil Ive scrapped the mould of twice now. Ive read this is usually due to over watering but looking at the soil it still seems very dry. Ive attached some photos.

Can someone please tell me whats going on cause I really don't want it to die


Armeet

Position of the plant is by the window and I usually get plenty of light coming in. I only moved it so I can take some pictures of it

Ghataora wrote:

But the soil seems to be very very dry!
Ive watered it a few times maybe twice a week

Do they sell bonsai in plastic pots now?

If the soil is very dry and you water twice a week... why don't you water more often?

Looking at that soil, I think you're going to have to repot it. Seems it has been very wet in the past, but has dried out and is now hydrophobe.

Unless it is the middle of winter where you are, you should place it outside.

The soil is supposed to let water through very easily. I normally water twice in a row to allow the soil to absorp water and then some. If you water twice a week, that might be too little. I cannot however see any fungus growing. Are you sure it is not calcium deposits?

Repot into any free draining mix - my CE's are in 50/50 peat compost and vermiculite. As Auk says, water when the plant needs it, at this time of year the few trees I have indoors need water most days. Your Elm will be happier outdoors, it may survive inside but it won't do really well.

Dave

I brought this one because it said Indoor Bonsai on the box it came in...

The water does drain through it but I thought I was over watering because of the mould... I scrapped it off this morning when I saw it. Its not calcium deposits because its more like a white fluff growing on the soil...

Is it ok to repot it now? Im in Essex so its summer here. Yes it came in a plastic pot which is in the ceramic pot.

'The ain't such thing as indoor trees'
Trees (And plants in general) may survive indoors, but typically only thrive outside. Naturally, people can create circumstanes indoors that mimic outdoors, but why would you, if outdoors is just a few metres away..

In summer I would keep this plant outside. Only when night time frost is around the corner bring it indoors, in an unheated room. (THat's what I would do).

I see no point in repotting at this time. I would wait untill after winter. In spring most species handle repotting better than in late summer.

That means you now received conflicting advice, as I said I would repot it now.
As the plant doesn't look unhealthy, I am going to agree with Leatherback - wait till spring.

I noticed today when watering the soil is infested with springtail

Ghataora wrote:

I noticed today when watering the soil is infested with springtail

The information you give is conflicting...
You tell us the soil is too dry and that you water only twice a week.
Also, you tell us there's a fungus. Springtails "Springtails normally live in damp soil. They eat mold and fungus"
(source: www.orkin.com/other/springtails/) - which indicates your soil is too wet.

I don't get it.

Does the ceramic pot have a drainage hole ?