Chinese Elm Bonsai ~ Ulmus parvifolia
This one of my favourite indoor bonsai; it is easy to care for and has a naturally small proportioned leaves. It is a great bonsai to style. It forms a beautiful s-shaped flowing trunk and lovely twiggy branches when correctly styled. This would be my personal recommendation for an indoor bonsai tree. I hope that you love them as much as I do – Sarah.
The Chinese Elm makes a truly beautiful bonsai. The leaves are small, bright to deep green and are slightly serrated. The tree has excellent twig structure and has great character throughout, making it the perfect representation of a woodland tree. After time the silvery bark gently peels and reveals shades of red and tan. In our opinion it is the most perfectly proportioned, easy to care for and adaptable tree and makes a superb bonsai. The Chinese Elm can be grown as an indoor or outdoor bonsai but needs to be protected from frost.
Chinese Elm Bonsai Care Tips
- Your bonsai is a living tree and with the right care it will live for many years. We hope that your bonsai brings pleasure to your home.
- During winter place your bonsai in the brightest place possible, trying to avoid hot objects like radiators and televisions. Good daylight is essential to the trees health. In summer time beware of hot south facing windows, a little sunlight morning or evening is beneficial, but too much and your bonsai could over heat.
- To aid the health of your bonsai place it on a humidity tray. This will catch the water draining through the holes in the bottom of the bonsai pot. This water will create some humidity around your bonsai. Please take care that the tray does not overflow onto your furniture and make sure that your bonsai does not sit in the water.
- To maintain the artistic grace and beauty of your bonsai it will need to be pruned regularly. Once new shoots have grown to about 2-3cm, using a sharp pair bonsai scissors carefully cut back to the first pair of new leaves.
- To keep your bonsai strong and healthy we recommend the use of a good bonsai fertiliser. Bonsai fertiliser, informative videos and further advice are available from our website, www.bonsaidirect.co.uk
- Take a look at our advice pages for loads of care information.
- A bonsai is a living work of art and seasonal changes can sometimes be experienced.
Watering is the most important part of growing bonsai.
- Check your bonsai morning and evening to see if it needs watering. If the soil looks dark and feels wet then it will not require watering. Only when the soil looks light brown and feels damp will your bonsai require more water. Water thoroughly all over the soil until the water drains through into a tray or saucer. Never let your bonsai dry out and avoid keeping it constantly wet. The soil should go from wet to damp between watering. Remember the hotter the position the more water your bonsai will use. If the soil surface becomes hard during hot weather simply submerge your bonsai in water, to cover the soil surface, for about ten minutes.
Yellowing Leaves After Delivery
Please do not be concerned if, within 2 to 3 weeks of delivery, your bonsai shows signs of yellowing or falling leaves (normally the older leaves, not the new tips). Not all bonsai will exhibit these symptoms, but it is not uncommon. Your bonsai is simply acclimatizing to its new environment. A few leaves may drop, but within a few weeks you should notice new bright green buds starting to develop.
Chinese Elm Bonsai Meaning
All of our beautiful indoor bonsai trees have their very own special meanings. The Chinese Elm bonsai symbolises inner strength, intuition, wisdom, and love. This is such a lovely meaning, and adds another special dimension to the already incredible Chinese Elm bonsai tree.
Unique and Unusual Gifts
The Chinese Elm bonsai tree makes an amazing unusual gift, with its lovely meaning, incredible character and fantastic foliage. We also offer a huge range of gift wrap, accessories and personalisation options to allow you to create the perfect gift. Just add your bonsai to the basket to see all of our options. Don’t forget to add a complimentary gift message in the checkout.
Free Delivery Straight To Your Door
We offer free next-working day delivery available to most of the UK. Furthermore, you can choose your delivery date in the checkout, allowing you to have your special bonsai delivered whenever is best for you. Therefore, you can choose the perfect date to have your special gift delivered. We send all of our bonsai trees via DPD, who will provide you with a one-hour delivery slot on the day of delivery. Moreover, you can choose a safe-place to leave the bonsai, or choose from many other options on your notifications from DPD.
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paul maskew –
Help!
A friend of mine has left me his bonsai to look after whilst on holiday until February.
Which would be the best place to site the tree – on an east facing landing windowsill or south-east facing conservatory that is quite cool at night? The conservatory is brighter but cooler than in the main house. Would it be wise to mist daily or stand on damp gravel for humidity?
Any help welcome. I’m a keen outdoor gardener but never tried bonsai. I’m becoming more interested!
Bonsai Direct –
Dear Paul,
Thank you for your comments. The best place for the bonsai would be the windowsill at this time of year. I feel that if the conservatory goes very cool at night then the bonsai would revert to being deciduous and drop its leaves.
There will be plenty of natural daylight on a east-facing window sill and it will not get too hot during the winter months.
Misting the foliage daily is always great but this should be considered in addition to watering.
You need to check the bonsai daily for water. If the soil is wet then do not water the bonsai and check later in the day. When the soil feels barely damp then water well. ie pour a jug of water over the soil until water runs out of the drainage holes or stand the bonsai in water for a couple of minutes.
When you do water make sure all the soil is wet through.
A damp gravel tray is ideal but please avoid standing the bonsai in water becuase this could rot the roots.
I hope this helps and that you enjoy looking after your friends bonsai.
kind regards
Bonsai Direct
Mark Woodburn –
Hi I have recently bought my 1st bonsai and looks the same as the one you have pictured here with a straight trunk –
http://www.bonsaidirect.co.uk/item/3377/father-apos-s-day-beginners-baby-bonsai-gift-set
I was just wondering if there is a way that I could shape the trunk, so it is more like the others you have? eg –
Thanks
Bonsai Direct –
Hi Mark,
Thanks for your enquiry.
It is not possible to change the existing trunk but the bonsai can be re-grown and re-styled.
This takes many years and you would need some experience to do this.
My advice would be to grown and learn about the bonsai you have and then to purchase a twisty trunked bonsai at a later date.
Maybe an idea for your Christmas wish list!!,
Best wishes
LLoyd
Ps there are some videos on our website which may help:
http://www.bonsaidirect.co.uk/p/bonsai-care-dvd
Ryan –
I have recently bought my first bonsai and wondered what the best way to get rid of spider mites would be, thankyou
Bonsai Direct –
Hi Ryan,
Most good gardens centres or DIY stores will sell a pesticide to treat Red Spider Mite.
We use a plant invigorator (because it is organic) but you have to use it every 5 days.
https://www.bonsaidirect.co.uk/item/4582/sb-plant-invigorator—500ml-ready-to-use-trigger-spray
Whatever you use, please spray thoroughly (ensure you also spray under the leaves and the trunk and branches).
i hope this helps
kind regards
Sarah – Bonsai Direct
Archie Gouldsborough –
Hiya!
My parents recently bought me a Bonsai Tree for Christmas, with neither of us realizing the work that came with them. I don’t want to just chuck out a withered tree in 7 days, so could you lend some advice?
Would you suggest using a UV light for the plant, as it won’t get much sunlight this winter, and is in an unfavourable place?
Should I replace the organic soil with inorganic soil/gravelly material, and if so which one?
Any other general tips for somebody with no gardening background? [I got grit, but no smarts (: ]
Thanks!
Holly –
Hi Archie,
Without seeing the bonsai I cannot advice correctly.
I suspect if you have received it for Christmas it simply requires watering
Please stand the bonsai in water for 5 mins so that the water covers the whole pot.
Then allow to drain. This will evenly rewet the whole root ball.
Then check daily (whilst learning) an keep the soil damp (and not soaking wet).
It can only be lack of water as nothing else could happen so quickly.
Merry Christmas.
Sarah