English Elm Bonsai Care Guide

Ulmus procera

English Elm Bonsai

This species of the Ulmus genus gives a magisterial aesthetic from its graceful canopy. Like many of its genus, it has a wise and forgiving temperature tolerance. English Elm Bonsai are rarified species as their parent form has been in decline since the 1970s. 

English Elm Bonsai Care Tips

Choose an outdoor location where your English Elm Bonsai can receive considerable sunlight for the majority of the day. 

Watering must be done consistently throughout the growing season. The soil must be kept moist but far from overly saturated. Allow the soil top layer to dry between waterings. Frequence should be adjusted according to the season and plant’s needs. Less in winter, more in summer. 

During the growing season use a balanced, slow-release feed to give your English Elm its essential nutrients. Consider using a lower nitrogen feed at a reduced rate from the mid-summer into late. 

Pruning your bonsai is important not only to create or maintain an aesthetic style but to also ensure optimal health. Regular pruning of your English Elm is advised to keep its desired shape and prompt its health. New growth should be trimmed back and pinched out across the growing season. 

Elms can be wired at any time across the year. However, the majority of their shaping is done through pruning or carried in the form naturally. If you are to wire, we recommend using wires with a thickness that matches the thickness of the branch: if the wire you choose is too thick you will damage the bark. If it is too thin, it won’t be effective.

Repotting your tree is an important way to provide a fresh and suitable soil mix and ensure appropriate root health. Repot your English Elm bonsai every two to three years at the start of Spring. 

Trees that are ready for repotting will require root pruning, a suitable new pot and appropriate soil mix.

When repotting, do not cut back the root mass by a large amount, and choose a well-draining soil mix that has a neutral or slightly higher PH value of 5-6 but not over 7. We tend to use a mixture of different speciality bonsai soils on our trees. Every species is different so please contact us for free soil-mix advice or to take advantage of our repotting service.

Bonsai trees aren’t only magnificent additions to an indoor oasis, they are more than capable of standing out in any garden. Many Bonsai species are incredibly hardy and withstand nature’s colder and damper turns with aplomb making them worthwhile outdoor plants. We have an extensive library of care guides for outdoor bonsai trees. It’s not about selecting the perfect bonsai, it’s about selecting the perfect bonsai for you. 

English Elm Bonsai - Typical Queries

English Elm bonsai can be propagated with seeds, cuttings and layering. Seeds should sown in Autumn outdoors. Winter is the window to use hardwood cuttings. Summer is the window for greenwood cuttings. After the Spring growth has hardened air layering can take place. 

Luckily, Elm bonsai are not attacked by Dutch Elm Disease. This bonsai species however can fall prey to aphids, leafhoppers and gall mites. Gall mites can be addressed with a mixture of water and lime sulphur sprayed in the winter. 

An English Elm bonsai can be kept indoors with conditions. A cool windowsill that is well-lit and sunny with good humidity levels is appropriate in the winter. However, it will need to be placed outdoors from around May after the last of the frosts has ended. Furthermore, it will need to be kept outside until Autumn before bringing back in again.