Winter is coming

[Omar123]

Hi,

My bonsai that was previously kept indoors and wilted away, has been nurtured now back to good health by spending the summer outdoors, as per the advice of you good people.

However, now that winter is on the horizon, it is going to start getting cold in the UK and therefore, should I now be bringing it back indoors?

It has more leaves on it than in the picture, as it is slightly out of date. But, I am posting it to help you identify the species etc.

Thank you in advance.

 

[SgtPilko]

Hi Omar, it looks to be a Chinese Elm which if correct means you can keep it outdoors all year round in the UK. It may lose it's leaves like a normal deciduous tree but mine don't here in London, they stay on. You can reduce watering from October to Feb/March as the tree will need less, and also our lovely weather means it rains a lot anyway.

 

[RODERLO]

This is a Chinese elm. They can stay outdoors all winter. Pretty hardy species.
Especially UK winters are pretty mild as well.

 

[SgtPilko]

P.s. you could make the tree look better and more "tree-like" by selecting some branches and removing the rest, you could search some beginner's pruning articles/videos for that.

 

[Omar123]

I was unsure, as the tree has always lived indoors, as opposed to this last 2 months outdoors. Hence, my concern for the shock of winter, as this one hasn't been accustomed to previous winters etc.

So, I guess the bottom line is, is it better to be outdoors or indoors during the winter?

If I kept it indoors, would it be more likely to keep its leaves?

 

[Paradox]

I was unsure, as the tree has always lived indoors, as opposed to this last 2 months outdoors. Hence, my concern for the shock of winter, as this one hasn't been accustomed to previous winters etc.

So, I guess the bottom line is, is it better to be outdoors or indoors during the winter?

If I kept it indoors, would it be more likely to keep its leaves?

It will be more healthy long term if you keep it outside. It might (probably?) Will lose it's leaves but that is what deciduous trees do in winter.

It will acclimatise to the upcoming winter from environmental cues it will experience outside (light and temperature changes). If you bring it back inside it is likely to start declining again.

If temperatures drop below freezing you'll have to provide it protection by placing it on the ground along the side of your house and placing mulch around the pot.

I have 3 Chinese elms. They stay outside all winter in my coldframe that I cover when it gets below freezing to provide protection from wind mainly.

 

[SgtPilko]

Outdoors is where the tree should if you want it to thrive. Your tree is already preparing for winter and will be more than ready when the time comes. Don't worry about the leaves, they'll probably stay but if they don't, thats just natural and allows you to even better see the structure and use the opportunity for pruning and wiring should you want to.

 

[Omar123]

I have a reasonably solid wooden shed at the back of my garden with a window in it.

Might this be a good option for the winter, should the temperatures drop below zero?

 

[rockm]

I was unsure, as the tree has always lived indoors, as opposed to this last 2 months outdoors. Hence, my concern for the shock of winter, as this one hasn't been accustomed to previous winters etc.

So, I guess the bottom line is, is it better to be outdoors or indoors during the winter?

If I kept it indoors, would it be more likely to keep its leaves?

Best outside ALWAYS. Put it outside, leave it outside. The tree needs to experience shortening daylengths and temperature changes into fall to go dormant.

It may or may not completely defoliate itself outside for the autumn and winter. It will be fine if you protect the roots from the worst cold. This is relative--I've got my Chinese elms outside all year and we get temps into the single digits F (-12 C). I put my trees on the ground and mulch the pots over up to 1-3 inches of their trunks. Make sure the pot drains though before mulching into a garden bed.

Inside, the tree will keep its leaves, but will weaken over time--yours is already doing that from the looks of the foliage. Inside Chinese Elms will continue to grow for a few years, until the lack of dormancy weakens them and they die off. There are no 'indoor' bonsai, only trees that can tolerate indoor conditions--and Chinese elm isn't one of those.

 

[SgtPilko]

I have a reasonably solid wooden shed at the back of my garden with a window in it.

Might this be a good option for the winter, should the temperatures drop below zero?

It doesn't need any protection, even if it freezes. Your cheap production pot might be in more danger just leave it out no worries

 

[Omar123]

Okay, great.

In summary:

-Outdoors all year round.

-Water less often in the colder months.

-Mulch around the base if it gets below zero.

Thanks a lot.

 

[stewarjm192]

Okay, great.

In summary:

-Outdoors all year round.

-Water less often in the colder months.

-Mulch around the base if it gets below zero.

Thanks a lot.

How about:

-mulch around the base regardless the temp


Your mulching won’t hurt it, and will only help when it needs it, and your father have it buried, than wake up one morning and realize it got real cold last night and your tree wasn’t protected.

A friend of mine has been putting his tree in a styrofoam crate, mulched over the pot, and placed on the floor of his shed….just have to keep an eye out for the critters

 

[Omar123]

These pics are from today

 

[Paradox]

These pics are from today

Looking much betterand Im glad it is doing better for you
Doesnt change the answers youve been given

 

[M. Frary]

just have to keep an eye out for the critters

All of mine now go in crates made of 1/4" hardware cloth to keep the V C out.
Bonsai jail.

 

[TomB]

Okay, great.

In summary:

-Outdoors all year round.

-Water less often in the colder months.

-Mulch around the base if it gets below zero.

Thanks a lot.

Forget about mulch. Nobody I know really does that in the UK (the Southeast at least). Well-intentioned suggestions but not really tailored to our climate (I am close to you).
You only need to worry about extended periods below -5c. If that looks likely to happen (and we're talking a week, not just the odd night) then put it in your shed.

 

[Omar123]

In case anyone wondered, this is a photo that was taken 3 months ago after having kept it indoors for 2 years from purchase from the garden centre.

 

[namnhi]

In case anyone wondered, this is a photo that was taken 3 months ago after having kept it indoors for 2 years from purchase from the garden centre.

Another season indoors and this tree would have been in the tree's heaven.

 

[Paradox]

I would definitely follow the advice of people in your area.
My advice was for my area. Your winters may be a bit milder than mine considering where you are.