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Zelkova serrata - Japanese Elm - 30 Seeds

Zelkova serrata - Japanese Elm - 30 Seeds

SKU: ZELSERR
$3.30Price

Zelkova serrata, commonly known as the Japanese Elm is a genus of about 6 species of deciduous, semi-evergreen trees occurring in woodland, thickets and hedgerows in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iran and Asia.  Zelkova have alternate, ovate to elliptic toothed leaves.  Most species display good Autumn colour of yellows and orange-browns.  This one can be trained as a Bonsai or used as a feature tree.

Japanese Elms are often sold as indoor Bonsai and as such are acclimatised to indoor growing conditions.  Those sold as outdoor Bonsai and all other species of Zelkova should be cultivated outdoors.  Those grown indoors (or in climates with very mild winters) will remain evergreen where as outdoor cultivation results in a deciduous tree.  Ensure indoor trees do not become too cold in their first winter outside, Zelkovas should be able to cope with the adverse growing conditions indoors though they are never as vigorous as their outdoor counterparts. 


Position 

Indoors - Well lit, cool position on a sunny windowsill during the winter, keep up humidity levels and place outside from late Autumn onwards after last frosts have finished.  Try to keep outside until after Autumn when the leaves can be allowed to fall naturally before bringing indoors.
Outdoors - Acclimatised Zelkovas are hardy to frost though temperatures below -5°C and can result in fine branches dying back and root damage so should be afforded some protection.  Frost protection can include placement in darkened outhouses and garages as when out of leaf Zelkovas do not require light.

Watering
Indoors - Never allow compost to dry out, keep the compost evenly moist, check the compost daily but only water when necessary.  Watering daily as a routine results in sodden compost, leading to lack of vigour, rootrot and eventually death.  Mist daily and use a humidity tray.
Outdoors - As with indoor watering though during periods of strong sun, high temperatures or strong growth in the Spring, trees can need far more frequent watering.

Feeding
Indoors - Balanced feed weekly through Spring and Summer. Monthly through the winter and do not feed when out of leaf.
Outdoors - Once buds open in Spring, feed weekly with high nitrogen for first month then every two weeks until late Summer with balanced feed.

Repotting - In Spring as buds extend annually until around 10 years old or more and then repot as required.  Trees overwintered indoors can be repotted in Autumn when brought indoors after leaf drop.  Repot in basic soil mix.

Pruning - Allow shoots to extend 3 or 4 nodes then prune back to 1 or 2 leaves as required.  Larger leaved Zelkovas respond well to leaf cutting in Summer.

Wiring - In mid Summer though indoor trees can be wired mid-winter particularly if out of leaf.  Care should be taken as bark marks easily.

Propagation - Sow seed outdoors in Autumn or Spring.  Greenwood cuttings in Summer and hardwood cuttings in Winter or air layering after Spring growth has hardened.

Pests and diseases - Zelkova Bonsai as with all Elm Bonsai are not affected by Dutch Elm Disease as the beetle requires the volume of wood only available to it in fully grown mature trees.  An attack (if it were to happen) would easily be dealt with by systemic insecticides and fungicides on a potted tree in comparison to the problems associated with eradicating Dutch Elm Disease on a fully grown tree in the ground.

30 premium quality seeds shipped on receipt of cleared funds. 

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