That doesn't look like zelkova or japanese elm, are you sure it isn't some kind of fig?

is there any drainage in that pot??

trees prefer a sip of water.. and then pretty dry.. please stop watering it.. if you think humjidity is an issuel.. get a tray under it.. with some rocks.. and pool some water under its pot ....

where are you.. and did it get an cold damage carrying it around outside ...

with 35 odd years of gardening and house plant experience.. the one thing i refuse to mess with.. is bonsai ... its simply too hard .... its a tree.. indoors [where trees dont live].. in a pot that doesnt drain.. in less than optimal light for a tree .... crikey ....

you sound like you are a newbie .. and frankly.. I SUSPECT .... you are starting on the VERY HARD end of the spectrum ...

its not that it cant be done.. there are a lot of books an online sources for such..

but the problem.. for me anyway.. is the very thin line of tolerance for anything other than a perfect environment ...

good luck

ken

ps: i just killed one.. that MIL gave me for xmas .... and the guilt sux ....

Thanks for your help. Yes, the pot does drain. I know from watering it that water came out of the bottom.

I have just popped back into work to see it and it looks much better than it did yesterday. Slightly wilted but nothing like yesterday. Either the watering was much needed or it got scorched.
The soil looked very dry on top and I soaked it through and it may have got a blast from the sun, which I thought was ok, but apparently isn't.

I thought bonsai would be easy. I thought it was the art of it that was the tricky thing.

It did say Zelkova on the note I received with it. Hmm. Not sure now.

I strongly suggest that you re-post in the Bonsai Forum. Bonsai culture is pretty specific.

I believe that your plant is Ehretia buxifolia, called Fukien Tea. It's a very common bonsai specimen, especially for indoor culture. Not an ideal office plant....it needs more specialized care than you think.

Ken, bonsai container always have large drainage holes. Being able to water frequently and copiously is a key to success. I grew bonsai for around 30 years...it's not hard, it's different, that's for sure. People that succeed at it really, really want to grow them. :-)

I had a friend who was the manager of a big hunting preserve on one of the old plantation properties in coastal SC. He used to wrestle 'gators as a 'hobby' and when questioned about his motives (sanity), he just said, "It's easy....you just have to really, really want to wrestle an alligator."

This post was edited by rhizo_1 on Sat, Apr 27, 13 at 8:47

Ah, I see, a lot of dedication then. Thanks for your help.