Just can't give up...

I collected this a year ago last March from down in Tulsa Oklahoma. It grew like crazy last summer and I overwintered it outdoors for most of the winter, and in the little shed you see behind it in the photos for the really hard part of the winter. Maybe not the best idea. You can see by the pictures below that I probably should have had it a little more protected.
I just cant throw in the towel yet though. This tree means too much to me. Just in the last two weeks I started seeing new growth. I'm hopeful, but realistically don't see this tree making it through another winter. I'm unsure just how much life is in there, but I'll continue to feed it and hope for the best.

I don't think the weather is your problem. A collected tree should be in the ground for at least two years, not a pot. If you wanted to use a training pot, it should have been much bigger. Get it in the ground at once, then feed & water heavily.

The training pot looks plenty big enough for a collected Elm to me and I've never had to put a tree in the ground after collecting. What is the substate Chris?

I agree with will. I have collected hundreds of trees and never once returned them to the ground. I think this is due to the tree drying out at some point in the over wintering process that damaged the roots. However I had a few I collected this past winter that took 3 weeks later to fully leaf out than the rest and one (A chinese elm) 6 weeks later to explode with growth. Keep the faith and what does sprout is what the tree wanted to be so work with it and move forth.

will baddeley wrote:The training pot looks plenty big enough for a collected Elm to me and I've never had to put a tree in the ground after collecting. What is the substate Chris?

Looks like turface or haydite to me ..

Seth Ellwood wrote:

will baddeley wrote:The training pot looks plenty big enough for a collected Elm to me and I've never had to put a tree in the ground after collecting. What is the substate Chris?

Looks like turface or haydite to me ..

Is that super absorbent like Molar cat litter?

I've collected a fair number of these trees myself, in fact Chris made the trip to visit me in Tulsa and dig this tree. When we collected the tree it had many roots, and no tap root. Once collected a tree needs to be in a pot so that a person can control its environment & related variables. A winged elm recently collected in Oklahoma would have died for certain if put in the ground in Central Illinois.... I'd bet my paycheck.

Seth, The soil is haydite, like turface and lava mixed in one product, they make it in Tulsa and its almost free...greatest stuff ever.

The issue with the tree is likely in the overwintering, but it sounds like Chris has that under control for next winter. The fact that its now July and this tree is pushing adventitious growth is a testament to the tough nature of native elm species.

Chris,
You will probably loose most of the branches. I have seen this with one that I collected this spring and brought back to Illinois. Glad you kept it. Looking forward to a visit with you soon brother. So glad the elm is living. Lots of sun and feed!!!!

Here's the tree and the happy Chappy when it was out of the ground.

By all means do not give up!! your tree looks really nice and can be a good bonsai.. really nice trunk already!! how tall is it now and will you keek it that height?? do what you are doing and maybe keep it a little warmer in winter..it has a good root system so it will make it ...good luck take care john

Yeah. What Neil said.
Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I'm feeding it a little heavier than normal, using a Dyna-Gro liquid product that's analysis = 7%-9%-5% and has all 6 macronutrients along with trace elements included. Feeding once a week. Also there is a little Miracle grow slow release fertilizer sprinkled on top of the soil.
The haydite is high fired shale that is a by product of coal mining sometimes.

Good for you Chris!!

One of the things I miss about Ok besides the elms, was that they made the haydite 9 miles from my house and it was $25 for 2000 pounds. The good ol days, eh?

You should check with midwest material (name?)..west washington st. in Bloomington I think. They may have the gray colored haydite cheap.

Just went and picked up my 2nd load this year Neil.
Cost me $13 for about 100 lbs.
Now I'll loose about 1/3 of that when I sift it but the balance is really good stuff.
I just add composted bark in amounts varying to species of tree and have had pretty good luck.
Gotta catch up soon Neil. We may need to plan a trip back to Tulsa!

I too use haydite we ordered it in a 30 yard semi only way we could get it . Now after the last 4 years we still have tons left.