Bonsai Tree Care and Creation — Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree

That is why we prune the branches. If done properly, the tree remains the same size, but the trunk and primary branches get progressively thicker, while the foliage canopy stays the same size.

New to bonsai so I’m sure this is a dumb question, but how exactly do you keep them from getting taller/wider?

They are not fully indoor trees unless you have a sunroom that faces south. Chinese elms need a certain amount of sunlight, even in the winter. Although they go dormant, they never go completely dormant. They do retain a few leaves and photosynthesize at a very low level through the winter. I keep all of mine outdoors, and you should too, unless you get snow and heavy frost in the winter. They should be protected from subfreezing temperatures.

I have a chinese elm bonsai i recently purchased and some places i read they CAN be fully indoor bonsai and other books and people say that they need to go through a short dormancy since it is almost spring i have a while to worry about this problem but id like to know early on because it will effect how i treat the bonsai obviously ive had trouble with temperate bonsai before during their dormancy and i just need to know is a chinese elm INDOOR or OUTDOOR

@Bunzy98 You do have to be careful how much you remove from a juniper in winter because if the temp is above freezing, they are not completely dormant. They are still photosynthesizing and still putting on slow root growth. I never remove more than 30% of the foliage mass during a winter pruning, and if I get a freeze and the tree goes fully dormant, I do not prune until the tree starts to emerge from dormancy.

Alright. One of my trees. is about 7 years old and its a juniper. So your saying that when I prune it during winter i need to be careful with how much i prune?

It depends on the species of tree. Most deciduous trees can be pruned at any time during dormancy with no ill effect. With evergreens you must be very careful as to how much greenery you remove, as they need a certain amount of foliage mass even during dormancy in order to sustain necessary life activity.

If i were to prune my trees during the winter season would it effect the tree. or whenever its in dormancy does it matter?

beautiful stock. well done

Click on my screen name, and that takes you to my channel. In the upper right is a box labeled “uploads” — that is a list, in chronological order, of all my videos.

Wonderful workshop and just what I needed right when I needed it. Is there any easy way I can find a lit of ALL your bonsai videos?

i like your work Chas … i also really like chinese elms … i have a small one it grows like crazy .. may i ask where are you located ?

Stay tuned. I have some really big projects planned once the weather cools.

MY chinese elm comes tomorrow i cannot wait!

awesome as always