Got a lovely Chinese Elm (my first ever Bonsai) for Christmas from a Garden Center in the UK.  This was advertised as indoor or outdoor.  The more research I do. the more it sounds like Indoor has been misrepresented and after 3 week the leaves are already turning brown and dropping but new growth is also showing.  It placed in a conservatory but the avg temp during the day is 20c dropping to about 15 overnight with household heating.

Initially I think I was overwatering.  Have bought a moisture reader which helps me understand when watering is necessary.

I would love to keep indoors but I think this is going to damage the tree so today purchased a small "greenhouse" so that I could put outside.  My question is, can I just put the tree in the "greenhouse", it is currently -1/-2c in the UK with frost or is there any other way we can keep in doors perhaps to the spring where we can the put outdoors?

Any recommendations warmly welcomed.

Any advice will be 

   

15-20C is far too high, that is probably part of the reason for leaf drop. The other part is change of environment, and I would not worry too much. If you can move it to somewhere cooler. Then once it gets milder put it in your greenhouse, but if it is one of the small ones the be very careful as sun can push the temperature very high. Keep checking for drying out, that could be every two days if it is that hot, but water when the surface is just dry. No fertiliser yet. Do not re pot it looks a reasonable plant. Once you get it outside leave it there.

 

It’s actually warmed up in the south UK.. temps today up to 10c and the next 10 days overnight mins of 1c.  They are forecast to drop again and 100% will between now and March.

Pic of “greenhouse” attached so would now be a good time to introduce the tree to the outside.  Tree still has new growth and is still dropping leaves but still looks healthy. 

As you can see, the little greenhouse does open so can leave roof slightly open to stop it getting too hot.  I feel this is as good as time as any. 

Looks ok, but as I said the problem with tiny structures like this is the temperatures can vary wildly, a bit on sun and the temperature can shoot up far too high. By that I mean it will start growth which you do not want. I would only put trees inside if it gets well below freezing, and take them out daytime. especially if the sun comes out. At the moment, yes it is mild. The vast majority of tree species are hardy, very few need any protection from frost, I only protect some of mine from rain not frost. That way I can control the amount of water they get in the winter. Hope that all makes sense to you,
I don't know where you are in UK, I am in Dorset so milder than further north,
Geoff

Thanks Geoff.  I’m in Hampshire. ☺️. Do you think as it’s milder for now just leave everything open.  I need to add something to garden so it has somewhere permanent to live so right now, just the shelving inside this small cabinet is all I have.  If it does get cold overnight I will definitely shut it up or bring it back inside temporarily.

With your experience would the tree still drop now and rest, start new growth March April time?

Ok, well it is unlikely to get so cold you need to take it inside. I would open it as wide as possible, most of the growers I know have benches and if needed they can put trees under the benches and cover them but not often these days Chinese Elms are hardy, I had one some years ago and we had -12C for a couple of nights and it was fine. The only plant I have in a cod room is a Premna which is only just hardy so -1C is too much. It is deciduous so I can keep it inside as cold as possible so not much below 10C the problem now is it is in full leaf, so I am having to try to get as much light as possible to it. I may soon have to put it outside, but what I don't want to keep moving it.
 

Amazing… ok so outside now… and for ever and everything open.  Looking forward to the spring.

The elm as you see if full leaf but starting  to drop so I guess in a few weeks will have dropped and be able to rest for at least a few months.

For my next read… permanent placement outside, position, direct sunlight, partial etc and then finding the right place to add shelving or benches as you mention. 

Thank you again for all your advice.

No problem, there is a very good beginners' course on here, well worth the money, I have most of the other courses and they are all good.

 The vast majority of tree species are hardy, very few need any protection from frost.

what do you count as the vast majority?

I guess not all species in the world is included?

I am quite sure that there are more tree species in the tropics than in the temperate zones. That makes the vast majority of trees in the world not hardy.

I just do not understand the new quoting function. Sorry for the bad looking post.

I meant that we use, of course there are many more species that we do not use for various reasons. In UK I don't know anyone that grows non hardy species, and I have never seen on on display, and I am not counting Olive as not hardy.