The Best Chinese Elm Bonsais To Buy Online
About the company
Chinese Elm bonsais are stunning miniature trees that will liven up your home and be a welcome sight for your visitors. While they’re native to China and most of Asia, enthusiasts are growing them worldwide, including the United States. They need lots of care and maintenance, as they have specific requirements for each season.
In this article, we'll investigate the best Chinese Elm bonsais and which factors to consider when choosing one
Table of Contents
Top Three Chinese Elm Bonsais for Beginners
Brussel's Bonsai Live Chinese Elm Outdoor Bonsai Tree PIY Bundle
Brussel's Live Chinese Elm Outdoor Bonsai Tree - 5 Years Old
9GreenBox - 10 Year Old Chinese Elm Bonsai with 8" Ceramic Vase
Reviews Of The Best Chinese Elm Bonsais
When we look at these bonsai trees, we study them for style, beauty, color, and versatility. While we may not have the product in hand, we’ll give you a good idea if there’s real value in owning the item.
Brussel's Bonsai Live Chinese Elm
Outdoor Bonsai Tree PIY Bundle-
Age: 8 years
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Style: Informal upright
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Hardiness zone: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
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Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 15 inches
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Warranty: 30 days upon receipt
Review of the Unique Qualities
While you can buy any of the best Chinese Elm bonsais as a single item, it always helps to have extra components. Thie product is sold in a plastic container, while it also has a ceramic pot so you can perform safe transplanting. There’s new soil for you to place it in to give the roots new life.
This bonsai package is ideal for beginners who want to learn how to transplant. There’s a guide for how to care for it, and you’ll have some wires to hold the roots down. It’s an excellent PIY (pot it yourself) kit with everything you need to get started.
Pros
- 30-day warranty for poor deliveries or development
- PIY kit for learning how to transplant
- Healthy Chinese elm bonsai specimens
- Easy to style and prune
- Includes care guide
Cons
- Some items show wire marks from previous owners
- Transplanting isn’t always successful
Summary
If you’re a beginner, we can understand wanting a bonsai in a ready-made pot and setting, so you don’t worry about the tree dying. However, these kits are ideal if you want the full bonsai experience. Just make sure you read our species guide to ensure that you transplant correctly in the right season.
Brussel's Bonsai Live Chinese Elm
Outdoor Bonsai Tree-
Age: 5 years
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Style: Informal upright
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Hardiness zone: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
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Dimensions: 14.5 x 11 x 22 inches
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Warranty: 30 days upon receipt
Review of the Unique Qualities
If you’re not keen on buying an entire kit and just want the bonsai, you can opt for this option. You’ll receive one of the best Chinese Elms bonsais inside a small ceramic bowl, which is available in several colors. There are also deco rocks to cover the soil to prevent it from burning or losing moisture through evaporation.
What makes this product stand out is the humidity tray underneath. It helps maintain air moisture levels if you don’t want to spend too much time misting the leaves. There are also care instructions so that you can be sure to look after it properly.
Pros
- Includes a bonsai care guide
- Humidity tray for added moisture
- Decorative rocks for appearance and protection
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Extra care needed to settle it after delivery
- Doesn’t include tools
Summary
This Chinese Elm product will be an excellent addition to any home. It’s already set up for you, and you’ll have the added moisture from the humidity tray. Remember to check the leaves and bark daily for any signs that it still needs misting. You’ll also need to give it a few weeks to settle in at your home, so don’t worry if a few leaves fall off at first.
9GreenBox - 10 Year Old Chinese Elm
Bonsai with 8" Ceramic Vase-
Age: 10 years
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Style: Informal upright
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Hardiness zone: 8
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Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 12 inches
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Warranty: None indicated
Review of the Unique Qualities
9GreenBox is a well-known brand for selling exceptional bonsais. You’ll receive an 8” ceramic pot, but the color will vary depending on what’s in stock. While the image may show some moss at the base, you shouldn’t expect yours to be the same.
The distributor sends the bonsai to you in a box filled with packing peanuts so that no harm will come to it. Depending on the season, the leaves are rich green, while the bark has a beautiful red-brown tinge. The tree is small enough that you can play around with ideas of how you want to develop it further.
Pros
- Small design for further improvement
- Includes a ceramic pot for that authentic bonsai appearance
- Ten years of age provides an excellent girth
Cons
- No warranty for the first 30 days
- Doesn’t include extra items, like soil or tools
Summary
We’ve selected this item as one of the best Chinese Elm bonsais due to the simplistic design and the opportunity to cultivate it further. While the one drawback is that it doesn’t include a toolset for beginners, it’s nevertheless a fantastic choice if you’re starting on this incredible journey.
What Sets These Chinese Elm Bonsais Apart From Others
The internet is rife with claims of the best Chinese Elm bonsais available. While there are hundreds of these trees available online, a few factors set them apart from the competition.
Style
As you can tell from our product reviews, we’re particularly fond of the informal style for the Chinese Elm. It has an elegant design, while you can work with tiers on various levels leading to the top. Of course, there are other styles you can develop, but we believe this one is the easiest for beginners to use.
Visuals
A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. Well, it also gives an impression of what your tree will potentially look like when you receive it. While you may find some dings or wiring, we prefer products that stand out in appearance. If the bonsai looks like it’s busy dying, there’s no way we can recommend it.
Containers
It’s essential to have a suitable container for your bonsai. Even the best Chinese Elm bonsais need a shallow pot for root development, which you’ll need to transplant in a few years. If you purchase one with a deep pot, it’s better to move it over to a shallow one as soon as possible.
How We Picked Our Top Selection
So how did we determine which are the best Chinese Elm bonsais to hit our list? Here’s a quick guide for what we looked at for our top picks.
Customer Reviews
While the product page may have pretty visuals, we prefer to look at the customer reviews. Most buyers post pictures of how the bonsais appeared when they arrived, which gives you an indication of whether it’s worth purchasing. If clients are complaining of deformed branches and broken pots, we suggest you look elsewhere.
Accessories
Some manufacturers don’t merely sell bonsais. You can get starter kits with tools, food, and ceramic containers to do your own transplanting. While these extras aren’t absolutely necessary, it does add to the enjoyment and experience
Price
The cost doesn’t always reflect the quality, and you can get away with buying a cheaper bonsai instead of paying a fortune for one that’s the same. However, we also check to see if the price matches the value of what you’ll receive.
Local vs. Import
It’s no secret that imported Chinese Elm bonsais will cost you more. The other problem is that they aren’t used to your local climate and might die within a few months. Therefore, it’s better if you purchase ones that are homegrown and have adapted to your region.
What Factors to Consider When Buying One of the Best Chinese Elm Bonsais
We may have our ways of selecting the best Chinese Elm bonsais here at Bonsai Alchemist, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be suitable for your home. Here are the aspects you should look at when shopping around online.
Dimensions
You might not think size doesn’t matter, but you’ll have a different opinion when the bonsai arrives. You’ll need to ensure you have adequate space available for the tree to enjoy, as it doesn’t like anything encroaching in the area or stealing sunlight. You’ll also want a short height so you can grow it further.
Hardiness Zone
Chinese Elms can’t withstand severe temperatures and dry areas. There are charts available for which zones are best to maintain and keep it alive. Also, it’s good practice to see in which zone the bonsai was grown so that it doesn’t suffer too much by moving it to a different one.
Age
An older bonsai has a better chance at survival. It’s been through so much to become strong and sturdy, while a youngling is still learning to adapt. You’ll also have excellent girth, and trees that have lived longer tend to have a more beautiful form.
Pets
We can’t explain this point enough: please reconsider growing a Chinese Elm bonsai if you can’t protect it from your pets at home. We’ve seen 20-year-old miniature trees demolished by dogs and cats that have no regard for your stunning specimen. You need to shelter it as much as possible, preferably in a gorgeous display.
FAQ About Chinese Elm Bonsais
An older bonsai has a better chance at survival. It’s been through so much to become strong and sturdy, while a youngling is still learning to adapt. You’ll also have excellent girth, and trees that have lived longer tend to have a more beautiful form.
While they love to be outdoors, it’s one of the bonsais you can grow indoors. You’ll need to ensure that there’s sufficient light and water for it to thrive, though. Also, check to see if the product you buy was held indoors by the previous owner.
This stunning tree needs some love and attention, and it differs for every season. Watering, sunlight, humidity, and placement are all critical factors in keeping your bonsai alive. You can read our detailed Chinese Elm care guide for more information.
These trees love direct sunlight. However, it’s best to give a few hours of light in the morning and provide shade in the afternoon. If you place it in the correct location, this effect can occur naturally.
