Help please am unsure what to do

[kevin martin]

This is a Chinese elm.In the winter I brought it inside for a while but while the plant was inside it started to grow again so I put it back outside leading to all it's foliage dying.I live in the UK and it's nearly mid spring and none of the buds have produces leafs.The plant is still alive as when I scratch the bark in different places there was a clear green layer.
Please help been working on this plant for a while and wouldn't want it to die.

 

[stubmle]

Elms are tough, this could recover. I would not give up on it yet.
My 2 cents: Continue to keep outside, but under cover, maybe in light shade. It has no leaves & cannot transpire water from the roots, so water only when the soil is almost dry. Leave a chopstick stuck in the soil as a moisture gauge, preferably angled so it's in or near the center of the pot. I know much of the UK has a very wet climate so you don't want this to get rained on excessively until it has leaves & can take up the water.

 

[bwaynef]

That soil looks very dry.

 

[rockm]

Did it freeze after you put it outside? If it did, it may have damage. Once a deciduous tree begins growing in the spring its roots’ resistance to freezing is 95 percent gone. Its roots are no longer able to protect themselves from freezing and can die back.
Even if it didn’t freeze this looks like it’s had some kind of shock. Put it in a semi shaded area outside. (NEVER BRING IT INSIDE you live where this species should be entirely winter hardy). Keep the soil moist not dry not soggy and wait. Wait six weeks. See what happens. I’d bet it pushes new leaves this summer. If it hasn’t by the beginning of July, it’s dead

 

[kevin martin]

Did it freeze after you put it outside? If it did, it may have damage. Once a deciduous tree begins growing in the spring its roots’ resistance to freezing is 95 percent gone. Its roots are no longer able to protect themselves from freezing and can die back.
Even if it didn’t freeze this looks like it’s had some kind of shock. Put it in a semi shaded area outside. (NEVER BRING IT INSIDE you live where this species should be entirely winter hardy). Keep the soil moist not dry not soggy and wait. Wait six weeks. See what happens. I’d bet it pushes new leaves this summer. If it hasn’t by the beginning of July, it’s dead

It didn't freeze as it wasn't cold enough but I do think there is some sort of damge

 

[kevin martin]

That soil looks very dry.

It's only the very top layer that's dry the rest is wet

 

[rockm]

That soil looks very dry.

I’d agree. Looks like it might be too inorganic elms like a bit of organic content in the soil. Did it dry out?

 

[kevin martin]

I’d agree. Looks like it might be too inorganic elms like a bit of organic content in the soil. Did it dry out?

Pretty sure it didn't dry out.When I repot next spring I think I will add some compost into the akadama.

 

[bwaynef]

That soil looks very dry.

Pretty sure it didn't dry out.When I repot next spring I think I will add some compost into the akadama.

At the point my soil looks like your picture, I'm RUNNING with a hose to take care of it. That looks like a heavily-akadama-based soil. Once akadama looks like that, its pretty dry. I'd consider submerging this one. If you do, let me know if you see bubbles.