Experienced grower's notes on Chinese Elm Bonsai

I've been growing plants seriously for over fifteen years and Chinese Elm Bonsai remains a reliable favourite. For anyone starting out: the most critical thing is watering daily in summer as bonsai pots dry out fast. Everything else follows from that.

drying out and death from missing a day's watering in summer is the challenge that trips up most beginners and some experienced growers too. I've been growing mine in a dedicated display stand at eye level for appreciation for three seasons now and the results are consistently good. seasonal change including blossom, foliage colour, and bare winter silhouette is what makes it worth coming back to year after year. vigorous growing season requiring wiring and pinching is when I show it off — it earns its place fully then.