Chinese Elm Tips and Dormancy

Hello all, I am brand new to maintaining and keeping bonsai. That said, for my birthday, I have received a Chinese Elm. I live in an apartment, and the relative that has gifted me this bonsai does not realize that it’s best to keep bonsai outside. With that in mind, I have several questions about maintaining a healthy bonsai indoors.

I know my bonsai won’t thrive as best as it could inside compared to outside, but I simply want it to survive and be relatively happy indoors. I have a west facing window, and I’m hoping this is enough sun for the elm.
Also, I hear that the Chinese Elm is semi-deciduous, so it technically does not need a dormant period. I have heard online that it can go without a dormant period every year, but it ultimately needs to undergo a dormant period at some point to live. Is this actually true?

Thanks for all the help!

Welcome

chanduell said:

Hello all, I am brand new to maintaining and keeping bonsai. That said, for my birthday, I have received a Chinese Elm. I live in an apartment, and the relative that has gifted me this bonsai does not realize that it’s best to keep bonsai outside. With that in mind, I have several questions about maintaining a healthy bonsai indoors.

I know my bonsai won’t thrive as best as it could inside compared to outside, but I simply want it to survive and be relatively happy indoors. I have a west facing window, and I’m hoping this is enough sun for the elm.
Also, I hear that the Chinese Elm is semi-deciduous, so it technically does not need a dormant period. I have heard online that it can go without a dormant period every year, but it ultimately needs to undergo a dormant period at some point to live. Is this actually true?

Thanks for all the help!

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Yes Chinese elm does best when it has a dormancy period or at least a period out of active growth. Indoors that isn't possible. It may survive, but it will limp along for a few years looking more and more bedraggled until it kicks off.

If you can only accommodate indoor trees, get a ficus or schefflera. Both are capable of growing inside and can weather the inhospitable conditions there.

Surviving indoors and dormancy are separate issues.
Chinese elms grow well in warm, sub-tropical climates where they do not drop leaves. They do that indefinitely showing that dormancy is not necessary for Chinese elm.
Surviving indoor conditions is different. Lack of light, humidity, air movement are just 3 of the more obvious factors. It may be possible to modify indoor conditions to provide the correct conditions is possible but probably more trouble than it's worth.
A west facing window may provide enough sun to one side of the tree but, unless it is rotated every few days, the other side of the tree does not get sufficient light. Be aware that what appears to us as good light levels is nowhere near enough light for a tree adapted to full sun outdoors.
West facing window may also overheat at certain times of the year, depending on your location.

rockm said:

Yes Chinese elm does best when it has a dormancy period or at least a period out of active growth. Indoors that isn't possible. It may survive, but it will limp along for a few years looking more and more bedraggled until it kicks off.

If you can only accommodate indoor trees, get a ficus or schefflera. Both are capable of growing inside and can weather the inhospitable conditions there.

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Thank you so very much for the help!
The fact of the matter is that the Chinese Elm was already bought as a present for me, and that I am stuck in my apartment for at least a year or two. In that case, there is not much I can do! Would it be possible to not let it go into dormancy for one year and re-evaluate next year?

Shibui said:

Surviving indoors and dormancy are separate issues.
Chinese elms grow well in warm, sub-tropical climates where they do not drop leaves. They do that indefinitely showing that dormancy is not necessary for Chinese elm.
Surviving indoor conditions is different. Lack of light, humidity, air movement are just 3 of the more obvious factors. It may be possible to modify indoor conditions to provide the correct conditions is possible but probably more trouble than it's worth.
A west facing window may provide enough sun to one side of the tree but, unless it is rotated every few days, the other side of the tree does not get sufficient light. Be aware that what appears to us as good light levels is nowhere near enough light for a tree adapted to full sun outdoors.
West facing window may also overheat at certain times of the year, depending on your location.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the help!
I am located in the United States in the state of Indiana. We have decently strong summers, quick autumn time, and a somewhat cold winter. Could this Chinese Elm survive in these conditions for at least a year before re-adjusting and seeing if I can accommodate for it being outdoors? I do not have many options, and I don't want to give it up either.

If you absolutely cannot keep it outdoors, then give it the best indoor conditions possible as described above. It may survive a year. When you move, put it outside but protect it from freezing weather if during winter. Water and fertilize correctly for a full year outside so that it can recover and regain health. Don't do anything to it until it is vigorous, then check back with us. In the meantime, get a ficus or two so that you have something to work on/play with. Good luck!

chanduell said:

Thank you so very much for the help!
The fact of the matter is that the Chinese Elm was already bought as a present for me, and that I am stuck in my apartment for at least a year or two. In that case, there is not much I can do! Would it be possible to not let it go into dormancy for one year and re-evaluate next year?

Click to expand...

It’s possible but don’t expect a perfect looking tree. It can survive as long as you learn how to take care of it. Overwatering and over care are the two biggest killers of ANY bonsai. Indoors both of those are intensified.

Get an artificial supplemental light for the tree as strong and robust as you can afford. Don’t keep the tree on a windowsill ton”get light”. It won’t make much difference as sunlight is pretty well blocked by the glass (at least that the way your tree will see it) indoor sunlight is less than half of what direct outdoor sunlight is even in a window. Window sills are murder on bonsai. They are drafty in winter and dry in summer

Humidity levels indoors with AC and heat are lower than a desert. Supplemental humidity indoors is extremely beneficial for a bonsai (not occasional misting but entire room humidification with a humidifier. Misting will do no good and do more harm than good. It doesn’t provide enough humidity for long enough to help. What it does do is keep soil soggy and promote root rot

Good luck