Chinese Elm

Chinese Elm Care

Chinese Elm Bonsai

What is the plant

Native to East Asia the Chinese Elm is one of the most popular bonsai trees, especially among beginners. These lovely semi-evergreen trees can grow up to 65 feet tall in their native habitat, but have been cultivated in miniature form for Bonsai for generations. It is an ideal choice for those just starting out because it is slow-growing and tolerant, the Chinese Elm allows beginners plenty of time and forgiveness to grow accustomed to bonsai care making it one of the most loved and most undemanding of miniature trees.

If you’ve recognized any mistakes feel free to notify us about it. This would help us to provide only the best-quality information.

Lighting

Full Sun

Hardiness zone

5b - 9b

Difficulty

Easy

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Chinese Elms prefer their soil to be slightly moist and allowed to dry out a little between watering sessions making it a practical choice for the frequent traveler. To get familiar with when to water the Chinese Elm Bonsai, stick your finger a half-inch it on the soil: If you do not feel much moisture, then it is likely time to water. Never let the soil become completely dry for long.
Pruning
Pruning is necessary to maintain the right shape of your bonsai and also to encourage new growth. That means removing small branches, buds, and new shoots.. Chinese Elm trees are ideal for beginners because their branches can be pruned all year and doing well when new shoots are allowed to develop eight leaf pairs, and then trimmed back to two or three. Check out our TinyRoots 4 Piece Tool Set which comes with a 101 Tips book.
Fertilizer
Fertilize your Chinese Elm bonsai once every two weeks during the growing season (spring through fall) with a bonsai-specific or organic fertilizer. Water your tree well before fertilizing and try our Neptune's Seaweed (0-0-1) - an organic supplement which provides over 60 naturally occurring major and minor nutrients and amino acids.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

Ease your plant care routine with PlantIn's personalized system.

Sunlight
Like most bonsai, Chinese Elms need a lot of light. Direct morning sunlight is great for almost all bonsai because of its low intensity, so choose a room that gets the most light during the day. Keep in mind that, during warm months, the direct afternoon sun through a standard household window can burn delicate leaves.
Temperature
Though generally tolerant, the Chinese Elm does not like drafts or a lot of variation in temperature. Most indoor tropical bonsai trees prefer temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summer, Chinese Elm trees can be kept outdoors. However, you must remember to bring your bonsai tree indoors when the temperature drops below 60 degrees.
Popularity
359 people already have this plant 107 people have added this plant to their wishlists