---
title: "I know I shouldn’t prune again till late fall, is the leggy growth up…"
description: "I know I shouldn’t prune again till late fall, is the leggy growth up top normal for Chinese Elms? Just got him last month… before he started to show off!"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/hB0M8pmURCqUK7zhKpIOTw/v20gllS9C9wKYcc69gplt3"
community: "Bonsai Matters"
author: "Mikel’s Plant Posse"
published: "2026-03-31T19:40:44.640431Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/p2JoTxsYMMu1I_M_-FU0kq3BTMZh6orYbGC2TXeoBEc/PO7GaP_OSaS09hZT7O5L-Q.webp?size=large"
---

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# I know I shouldn’t prune again till late fall, is the leggy growth up…

_Posted by Mikel’s Plant Posse on 2026-03-31_

I know I shouldn’t prune again till late fall, is the leggy growth up top normal for Chinese Elms? Just got him last month… before he started to show off!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/p2JoTxsYMMu1I_M_-FU0kq3BTMZh6orYbGC2TXeoBEc/PO7GaP_OSaS09hZT7O5L-Q.webp?size=large)

## 10 comments

### Mikel’s Plant Posse commented on 2026-03-31

I do use a grow light on Elmer a few hours each evening…could that be the culprit?

### Pepparonny commented on 2026-04-01

All that new growth is a good sign of health. Letting it grow out like that promotes thickening of the trunk. If you’ve pruned a lot already once this year then I would definitely wait til the fall, but I think Chinese elms can handle pruning pretty well.

#### Mikel’s Plant Posse replied on 2026-04-01

Yeah just a week b4 this new growth cycle I trimmed the branches, seems like he liked that…

#### Mikel’s Plant Posse replied on 2026-04-01

When would you suggest new soil/repot? Same timing as next prune?

### Pepparonny commented on 2026-04-01

The general rule is never repot and prune at the same time. It seems pretty happy, so if it isn’t pot-bound then I’d maybe leave it in there til next spring.

Bonsai Empire has really great information for SO many different species as bonsai :)

#### Mikel’s Plant Posse replied on 2026-04-01

Bonsaiempire.com?

#### Pepparonny replied on 2026-04-01

Yep!

### 9s commented on 2026-04-02

Hi,  
Elms are full sun plants and when they grow leggy like that, it’s not getting adequate sunlight. Long term, you’ll notice bottom leaves start to drop. :(

#### Mikel’s Plant Posse replied on 2026-04-02

Thx for the heads up…I’ll supplement with a better grow light than I got for him now. What spectrum or product do you recommend?

#### 9s replied on 2026-04-02

Most grow lights aren’t strong enough but you can definitely try anything in the mars hydro power range!

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