Zack-- if you have fairly uniform, deep soil that is not sandy, water moves up from the deeper zones by capillary attraction to replace water being taken from the upper zone by the roots. In clay soil, this process could likely produce a better balance of air and water in the topsoil than too-frequent lighter watering. Roses use the same amount of water regardless of soil type. But in lighter soils or shallow soils it may be better to give this amount in more frequent, lighter doses. In clay or muck soils that drain slowly, heavier weekly watering might work better. But roses do take most of their water from the topsoil, moreso than typical plants, according to the limited research that has been done.

Now i am really confused. I had been convinced on an earlier thread not to water but at this stage i dont have much to lose. I have cranked up the heat since i started having problems so it may be i was using too much water relative to the growth rate. I will start to water half to keep damp and see how that goes. Next winter for sure any bananas are going to sleep for a few months. I just put on the predator mites today, man can they move, i was covered in them before i realized what was going on. Also just received my new seeds so 3rd times a charm right?? I have been to Texas and to Norway and one thing in common was really nice people, so thanks to you guys and to all that have spent time helping me. I will make you a very nice cup of tea if you ever come to ireland! Ronaldo,

Well ! There are many so called Chinese Elms. Many are Zelkova species. However I have been caring for these since 1972. That was when I was told it was an inside tree. It does not like overwintering inside : it gets dried out for one. This tree likes light as do most Bonsai , and plenty of it. I always keep these trees as normal outside trees, over wintering outside with a small bubble wrap cover. They need to lose their leaves just like any other broadleaf tree. Since I used this approach , I have never lost one. All my bonsai get a daily watering or two in a hot summer. Best is one early morning and another late afternoon. The Chinese Elm is just the same and loves this. I live in England near Warwick Castle. I prune these trees quite often and feed with Bio Gold solid blocks--2-3 each. This is a natural feed and you should never lose these to over feeding. These trees also need Oxygen for their roots so a fairly loose soil based on Akadama and Lava with a little compost and bark flakes.. Hydrogen Peroxide is excellent to improve Oxygenation is your soil is too soggy (repot ). You will need to dilute 3% HO2O as it can burn your roots if too strong mixture is used. I use a table spoon per 1/2 pint jug.. Most deciduous trees are hardy in my climate. So don't overdo the cocooning during winter.....during this time they don't need light at all , but should be kept just moist and no feed !!! or you will encourage growth during the winter , not what you want. So good luck . I hope this helps.

Thanks Carol and SJN. Yes, it was getting very little sun, and I think it was TOO wet (if that's possible, because they love wet spots). My other one up on the hill doesn't get enough sun either, but it isn't dying back, so all I can think of is it was kept too wet. Neither have bloomed, so I definitely have to find a sunnier spot this year. My fall-blooming hibiscus (H. acetosella, H. radiatus) are doing great and I can't wait for them to bloom. Funny that it says they only go dormant in z8. That must be old info before they changed the zones, because my friend has one in Z9b (he sent me the seeds) and his goes dormant as well. Even when I was in Z10a, my perennial hibiscus went dormant in the winter, and some didn't come back if we had a freeze, but the Texas Star always did. I had it in z7a in SC, and it came back every year and bloomed like mad all summer long.