Hello everyone, I have a Chinese Elm, kept indoors in the UK. I recently noticed some white bugs in the soil (see images below). When taking these pictures I also spotted (for a the first time) a little brown bug too. These all seem to be just in the soil, and not on the trunk or leaves. Any suggesitons as to what they might be?

Context Shot



Close-up (brown bug highlighted only as others are more obvious

Perhaps springtails? Google that and you can compair them.
If you try to touch them, do they jump away?

Thanks for the suggestion. I did see them on another help page after posting my original comment, but I don't that's what they are. I can't see any pincers at the back. I have agitated a fair few of them now, and there's no sign of jumping (or any other attempt to avoid my poking for that matter!) they just seem to carry on foraging (as it seems), oblivious to my interuption!

Thats springtails and soil mites. None of them is a threat to your plant, but they are sign of overwatering.

The biggest threat to your tree is keeping it indoors, a leathal environment for elms.

Thanks, I will ease up a little on the watering. Presumably if I wait until the top layer is slightly dry before re-watering that is what's needed (rather than keeping it moist constantly). I can repot at some time to replace the soil which should help too I guess.

Interesting though as I have yet to see any sign of jumping - is it using quite obvious? Or is it a subtle jump?

And the plant is inside when it should not be.

Fair enough. I appreciate that it's best for any bonsai to be outside if conditions permit - but of those considered suitable for indoor growing I thought Chinese Elm was one?

Spud in Disguise wrote:

Fair enough. I appreciate that it's best for any bonsai to be outside if conditions permit - but of those considered suitable for indoor growing I thought Chinese Elm was one?

Hmmm, indoors generally means a controlled environment, like a greenhouse for example, or a porch, at maximum a really bright window, Elms are deciduous, so they need a temperature and light gradient tru' the year so it can go dormant propperly... Indoors for a plant, doesn't mean an human indoor room...

Ficuses are suitable for it's slightly bigger leaves, however, I don't see "indoor" ficuses thriving... I see them surviving, so Idk... The idea of training a Bonsai propperly on room conditions seems impossible to me.

However, sellers can sell much more if they tell that it's ok to have it inside your house, because many people who wants to own a Bonsai, don't have an outdoor spot for it...

And well, no tree has evolved for room conditions...

For an elm to be indoors, I would say just if your winter is very very cold, and just tru' that moment.

Chinese Elms do need to be outside if you want to keep it longer then a year, it energy will decrease the longer it is inside.

Ficusses do much beter indoors. Even in darkest periode of the winter now, my ficusses are all pushing out new leaves. All but one in southfacing window.
But be aware, don't put them above a radiator, or near a fireplace. Keep the rooms cool where they stand.
Mine are in my living room. I keep my house at 18.5/19c during the day. Between 50/55% humidity. If i heat my house to much my plants will suffer duo to decreased humidity.