RobGA
Mame
Brought a Chinese Elm inside with low temps hitting below freezing. Tree has started to leaf out. Do I just leave it outside or am I left with having to bring it in whenever temps fall below freezing?
Chinese Elm Starting To Leaf Out
- Thread starter RobGA
- Start date
Mr.Dr.K
Sapling
If the buds have broke and you see green, I would bring it in overnight when you expect freezing Temps.
coachspinks
Chumono
In addition to what Mr.Dr.K said, add your location. It will help people trying to help you. Thanks!
RobGA
Mame
Thank you, I’m in the Atlanta metro, zone 7/8. Temps are forecasted to be low 30’s to high 20’s over the next week. My location is usually a couple degrees cooler than this according to my temp gauge.
coachspinks
Chumono
I'm very close to you. You will likely need to do what Mr.Dr.K said. If we see an extended period of below freezing temps, an unheated garage works well. Depending on where your elm came from, it could be confused but it will adapt. Two things important - don't keep it in a heated area if at all possible. Keep it outside as much as possible
Mr.Dr.K
Sapling
It seems you two are in a cooler area than I. Curiously, your potted Elms, do you leave them outside in Winter under cover? I'm curious on how cold tolerant they are. I leave mine outside year-round and move them under the patio to stay dry, however, cold temperatures for my area would be considered 30 F. It doesn't freeze often here. We infrequently get cold-snaps into the High 20's, which doesn't seem to bother them while they are dormant.
coachspinks
Chumono
I'm 8a/8b depend on how closely I zoom into the new map. There are pixels in my area that are 8b! I'm about 20 minutes south of the Atlanta airport. I've seen 25 degrees so far this winter. When things are slightly below freezing I just leave them on my benches. The night we had mid 20's, I set them in a grow bed I have. Basically, on the ground with a bit of protection from the wind.
We typically see freezes into the lower 20s each winter. Occasionally colder. Last year we had single digits. I covered everything in plastic for a couple of nights.
We typically see freezes into the lower 20s each winter. Occasionally colder. Last year we had single digits. I covered everything in plastic for a couple of nights.
Mr.Dr.K
Sapling
We're in the same zone, I'm in Southern Oregon 124 miles North of The Cali border. This winter has been warm so far, we may have our cold temps later closer to spring.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Please add this information to your profile so we don't have to repeatedly ask. There are over 1000 members here, we can't remember where everyone is located.
It will be listed under your name and will allow us to give you advice based on your location.
If the tree is leafing out, it's no longer dormant and is no longer prepared for cold.
Bringing it inside will cause it to do this. In the future, leave it outside, protected from wind and mulched in along your foundation if you can. Otherwise in a shed works too, you just need to water it once a week.
My Chinese elms have seen the same cold temperatures as yours. One that has so far refused to change color...while the other one has yellow leaves...lol.
They are tough trees.
coachspinks
Chumono
I think this may be one of the issues with zone charts. We will get cold snaps every few years that are well into the teens or lower. When I was younger they would happen every couple of years. Those cold snaps are much less frequent now but we still need to be prepared for them. I have several sago palms in my yard. An average year sees them get a few burnt fronds. Last year, with 6 degree overnight temps, they were bitten off to the ground. They have returned with vigor this year.
This week we will see 29/30 degrees most nights. I have an elm that is in a very small pot and is only 3" tall. It will be set it in the grow bed. I'll do the same with other small trees.
My Chinese Elms haven't lost their leaves yet and are still green.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
In Charlotte, I leave my Chinese elms out all year. However... they are strange trees. I have some cultivars that dropped all leaves two months ago. Others that still have green leaves even though we have seen 22F temps.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
I put mine in the cold frame a couple of weeks ago. I should try to go out next time I am home during daylight and see the one is still green or if it's given in yet.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Mine stay outside for winter. Right now, even after a week of frost, they are growing. Odd species. Next week we might see a real temperature dip and FINALLY the rain might stop.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
Though I'm in a much milder climate than most of you my Chinese elms are similar to @Bonsai Nut Some types routinely drop leaves early while others are almost evergreen and hold leaves all winter. Trees in the ground frequently keep growing all winter here while the same type trees in pots are more likely to go dormant.
Down here some Chinese elms start to shoot soon after mid winter. Frost and slightly below freezing temps don't seem to bother them, even with new green shoots so some level of cold is not always a problem.
Not sure how that translates to areas with colder winters or what temps would be a problem.
Down here some Chinese elms start to shoot soon after mid winter. Frost and slightly below freezing temps don't seem to bother them, even with new green shoots so some level of cold is not always a problem.
Not sure how that translates to areas with colder winters or what temps would be a problem.
Adamski77
Shohin
Once they are established in the pot almost nothing can kill them… I babied mine last winter because I potted them in November… once they are in the pot for at least a season the zones we are talking about here do absolutely no harm.
@RobGA … did your started to lead out before or after you brought them inside?
@RobGA … did your started to lead out before or after you brought them inside?
Maiden69
Masterpiece
Which cultivar? My seiju already dropped 90% of its leaves, but my yatsubusa is still holding on to more than 60% of them. Rarely enough all the yatsubusa root cuttings already dropped their leaves. My straight parviflora is around almost done dropping leaves as well, and I am in a zone 8b. They are sitting outside all year, including the few weeks that we had the ice storms the last 3 years with no ill effects.
Not sure. The "plain vanilla" Chinese elms still have their leaves. My Seijus lost them back in November.
RobGA
Mame
I had it outside and the leaves were still green into December. We had a few drops into the 20’s and the leaves quickly started to change. I did some reading that some Chinese elms may not tolerate the colder temps so brought it inside. The leaves ultimately all fell off and after a week or so, I I noticed some fresh green starting to show. As the temps have been fluctuating between above and below freezing I have been moving it inside and outside. The tree has continued to leaf out slowly. Next year, I’ll just leave it outside. Will a short dormancy impact it’s vigor?
Adamski77
Shohin
With temperature down to around 15-20F my Chinese elms are normally on the benches. Shanghai doesn’t get much colder than this but next step would be to put them on the ground if temperature below 15-20F.
I had exactly the same thing this year… they were caught green leaves with first frost and just lost all of the leaves. Don’t think there is major problem but spring will tell
To your question… I don’t think shorter dormancy in one year greatly impacts long term health of a tree… lesson learnt this year… move on and try to think how to prep your trees for winter “break”. There is tones of reading/watching on this topic.
I had exactly the same thing this year… they were caught green leaves with first frost and just lost all of the leaves. Don’t think there is major problem but spring will tell
To your question… I don’t think shorter dormancy in one year greatly impacts long term health of a tree… lesson learnt this year… move on and try to think how to prep your trees for winter “break”. There is tones of reading/watching on this topic.
