Brand new to bonsai, Chinese Elm questions (photos)

[nicksBonsai]

Hello everyone, I'm so glad i found this forum, so far it's already been so helpful.

I have a (what I believe to be) chinese elm tree that's almost four years old. Bought it at a festival from a vendor, and I have a few questions.
About 1 week after I brought it home my dog knocked it off it's shelf, so it was re-potted out of need.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Location Colorado

1) I just used a regular potting mix from the garden center. I've seem "bonsai soil" online, should I order some of this, if so what's the best brand/type?

2)After re-potting 90% of the leaves turned brown (over a week or so) and started to fall off. I found an earlier post with a similar issue that advice removing all leaves. So I removed all the leaves a few days ago, and now it's kept in direct sunlight. Already I see some new buds coming out. What this the right call?

3) I've read about the chopstick method for checking water needs. Is this just a standard take out chop stick?

4) I'm leaving for vacation for about 2 weeks, planning on just taking it with me. I'm in the military and do not know anyone well enough here that'd I'd trust to watch it. Is there any good way to leave it safely behind?

5) I'll be adding some small stones for look, and I'd like to add a small patch of grass. Will grass hurt the health of the tree? I know moss is an option as well, but is it not mostly for decoration and will not sustain in the same conditions as the tree?

Here is how it looks today:
And thank you for any help!

http://www.bonsainut.com/index.php?media/albums/nicks-bonsai-elm.649/

 

[jk_lewis]

Hello everyone, I'm so glad i found this forum, so far it's already been so helpful.

I have a (what I believe to be) chinese elm tree that's almost four years old. Bought it at a festival from a vendor, and I have a few questions.
About 1 week after I brought it home my dog knocked it off it's shelf, so it was re-potted out of need.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Location Colorado

1) I just used a regular potting mix from the garden center. I've seem "bonsai soil" online, should I order some of this, if so what's the best brand/type?

Better stick with what you have now. Too many repottings will kill an already weak tree. Next SPRING find some bonsai soil. Meanwhile, water carefully.

2)After re-potting 90% of the leaves turned brown (over a week or so) and started to fall off. I found an earlier post with a similar issue that advice removing all leaves. So I removed all the leaves a few days ago, and now it's kept in direct sunlight. Already I see some new buds coming out. What this the right call?

Well, the brown leaves would have come off on their own. I probably would have left the green ones on, but I doubt you did any major damage.

3) I've read about the chopstick method for checking water needs. Is this just a standard take out chop stick?

Yup. For about $5.00 you can get a package of 100 of them on Amazon.com.

4) I'm leaving for vacation for about 2 weeks, planning on just taking it with me. I'm in the military and do not know anyone well enough here that'd I'd trust to watch it. Is there any good way to leave it safely behind?

Oh my! Whether it will survive being carted along with you on vacation depends on what kind of vacation you are taking. If you are going some place and staying there, it may do OK. If you are going to be continuously on the move, there's a 90% chance it will die. It also can't be left on its own for 2 weeks in relatively arid Colorado.

Depending on where you are, you might find a local bonsai group and call its leadership to find someone who will care for the tree while you are gone. I'll list Colorado clubs at the bottom of this message.

5) I'll be adding some small stones for look, and I'd like to add a small patch of grass. Will grass hurt the health of the tree? I know moss is an option as well, but is it not mostly for decoration and will not sustain in the same conditions as the tree?

Grass roots will compete with the tree and grass will be disproportionately tall for the tree. Moss -- which has no real roots -- is the better option. Whether stones will improve the "look" depens on the stones and the eye of the beholder.

Colorado clubs (from the ABS website):

COLORADO
COLORADO - Colorado Springs
Pikes Peak Bonsai Society. Meets at the Senior Center (Ceramics Room),1514 N. Hancock, 10:00 am, second Saturday of each month. Website: http://www.phoenixbonsai.com/PikesPeakBonsai.html. E-mail: rjb@phoenixbonsai.com.

COLORADO - Denver
Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society. Meets at the Denver Botanic Gardens on the first Tuesdays of each month at 7:30 PM except in December. For more information go to our website www.rockymtnbonsai.org

COLORADO - Fort Collins
The Bonsai Society of Northern Colorado has meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm, and workshops on the second Saturday of each month, 1:00 to 3:00pm. We have shows in the spring and fall. All meetings, workshops and shows are at Fort Collins Nursery, 2121 E. Mulberry in Fort Collins. Contact: Barbara Rich, 970-663-3046.

COLORADO - Grand Jct
The Western Colorado Bonsai Society of Grand Junction. is available through e-mail: trehaus@excite.com we are a fairly new club but we have many informative and knowledgeable members. We have two shows a year and they are always in our newly installed (by us) Japanese garden at the WCCA in Grand Jct.

 

[nicksBonsai]

Outstanding, thank you so much!

 

[nicksBonsai]

Our trip will be just 2 weeks of fishing. So, one long drive there, then should be plenty of patio time for it.

I'll be checking out these clubs for sure though, thank you again

 

[jk_lewis]

Our trip will be just 2 weeks of fishing. So, one long drive there, then should be plenty of patio time for it.

That may be OK. Just don't let it sit for long in a closed-up, hot car.

 

[Cypress187]

Welcome man!

 

[ColinFraser]

Congratulations on getting a starter elm that isn't shaped like an "S." I'm amazed actually! Looks like its bouncing back already; good luck.
Welcome.

 

[Cypress187]

Shouldn't this tree have leaves btw? The date of the photo looks recent.

Edit: Oh, i didn't read everything sorry.