A favorite tree for creating bonsai is the Chinese elm(Ulmus parvifolia). Year after year the Chinese elm is among the top trees for making bonsai. Seasoned bonsai artists frequently suggest this particular plant to beginners in the hobby. The growth pattern of the Chinese elm is reasonably predictable which is one of the reasons it is a very good tree for the novice. It is a slow growing tree and as a consequence it allows the rookie to become familiar with looking after it and training it.

In it's native environment the Chinese elm tree can grow up to 60 feet tall. The smaller leaves of the Chinese elm are ideal for bonsai. The leaves have a dull serrated edge, and they are dark green and kind of leathery in appearance. The Chinese elm is adaptable to either an indoor environment or an outdoor environment. It is a hardy deciduous tree and will drop its leaves in the fall and spend the wintertime in a state of dormancy. If grown indoors it is going to stay green all year round.

Fortunately the Chinese Elm bonsai is not prone to Dutch elm disease. For all of these factors the Chinese elm is really a great tree for the beginner bonsai grower.

Properly Watering Your Chinese Elm

Since most bonsai pots are quite shallow, and the potting soil used is relatively coarse, the soil may dry up fairly quickly. It could be necessary to water your Chinese elm every day if the soil gets to be too dried out. Put your finger a half inch roughly into the dirt; water the plant if the top 1 / 2 in . of soil feels dry. The easiest method to water your Chinese elm bonsai is to fill your sink with just enough water to come up to just beneath the pot's rim. Let it stay in the water for a few minutes soaking up water from the drain openings in the bottom of the pot. After it has been soaking for 5-10 minutes get it out from the sink and place it wherever it can drain totally of any excess water.

Make certain that you never let your bonsai plant become totally dry. This is a sure method to kill it quickly. It's easy to know when to water your bonsai - simply check the soil on a frequent basis. You must check the moisture level every day. If the top half inch of soil feels damp then you don't need to water yet. However, in case your bonsai is in a very small pot and/or it's a hot or breezy day, or if your bonsai is pot-bound, you may then need to water. If one part is dried out, then you need to water that part.

Getting the Right Amount of Sunlight

The Chinese elm tree is a really adaptable tree. The Chinese Elm can be grown successfully indoors if it is adapted properly. As soon as they are acclimated, the Chinese elm will thrive in full sun—and a lot of sun helps as well to keep the leaves smaller sized. In case your tree isn't accustomed to all day full sun you can get it accustomed to it by setting it in the sun for a short time initially, and then steadily increasing the amount of time you expose it to full sun. If you expose it to an excessive amount of sun too soon you run the risk of sun burning the leaves. Your Chinese elm bonsai also requires very good air circulation. If you are growing your Chinese elm bonsai indoors then you definitely must ensure it is kept in a very well ventilated area.

If your Chinese elm came from a warm environment it may not be accustomed to cold areas. It could be dangerous to keep these Elms too cold the very first year or two. Even if grown in the house your Chinese elm may drop leaves through the winter months and this is due to the decrease in natural sunlight because the days are shorter. Don't be concerned, this really is normal. As with many bonsai trees, your Chinese elm bonsai should be protected from severe winter conditions like cold and wind.