Chinese Elm Overwatering

[brianmm64]

Hi , I have a Chineese Elm that I think I'm overwatering. The gentleman at the local bonsai store told me to water the same as my Fukien Tea.
Is this correct or should I allow more time between watering. Temps are low 70s humidity 50. full to partial sun. I water every 3 to 4 days.
Moisture meter is around 4,5.

 

[Colorado]

What type of potting medium is it planted in?

Is it living inside permanently or just for photos?

I water mine every day. It’s potted in 1:1:1 akadama:lava: pumice with a sphagnum moss top dressing. Highs in the 70s, lows in the 40s, 6 hours of morning sun. Shoots have grown about 6” in the last couple weeks so I think it’s pretty happy.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Looks ok, but would benefit from being outside, and will eventually suffer inside. I’d say the FT would take more water, but pay attention to the soil moisture.

 

[Nanuk]

I water mine every day also.
It lives outside though.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I water all my Chinese elms twice daily, but they are outside. As long as the soil is good, I don't think it is possible to overwater them.

Your tree foliage is looking leggy and sparce, but otherwise looks very healthy. Moving it outside into brighter light will increase its strength and allow you to prune the foliage to get it to tighten up.

 

[AaronThomas]

Are those rocks glued down?
If yes best to pluck um and remove the glue....
If no... carry on!
Welcome!

 

[Tieball]

What type of potting medium is it planted in?

Is it living inside permanently or just for photos?

I water mine every day. It’s potted in 1:1:1 akadama:lava: pumice with a sphagnum moss top dressing. Highs in the 70s, lows in the 40s, 6 hours of morning sun. Shoots have grown about 6” in the last couple weeks so I think it’s pretty happy.

What does the Sphagnum moss do as a top dressing? Is it a thick layer? Just for looks.....or a function I don’t know about yet? Just wondering.....because I don’t know.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

What does the Sphagnum moss do as a top dressing? Is it a thick layer? Just for looks.....or a function I don’t know about yet? Just wondering.....because I don’t know.

Thin layer, ground up and sprinkled on, just to slow down evaporation from the top layer of soil until the roots begin to fill the pot. When first transplanted, trees with few roots can dry out quick if the roots can’t replenish what’s being lost through transpiration. Having a slower evaporation rate from the soil surface seems to help this. After a few weeks, it can be scraped off and replaced with a fresh top-dressing layer.

 

[brianmm64]

Are those rocks glued down?
If yes best to pluck um and remove the glue....
If no... carry on!
Welcome!

 

[brianmm64]

No glue.
I took them from my garden