Question
Hi Will
Yes it is an Indoor Elm.
The first time i noticed anything they were just white dots all over the underside of the leaves.
Then i found a single spider about a couple of mm in size, this got flattened and i haven't seen one that big since. White dots may have been eggs from this spider.
I don't have a digital camera however after looking at some pictures, the offspring look similar to mealy bug, but only just visible.

Is it possible that my tree is loosing leaves because of a lack of sun then? He gets as much daylight as there is during the day but not much direct sun light.
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Followup To

Question -
Hi Will
I have a Chinese Elm about five years old, although i have had him for about six months.

At first he grew really well but over the last two weeks he has started loosing alot of leaves.

I have repotted him so he has some fresh soil and a better sized pot.

I noticed that the leaves falling have lighter marks/spots all over them, and when i looked closer there is a pest/s alive under the leaves.
They look a bit like tiny white spiders.

I tried a fatty acid and sulpher pesticide, but it looks terrible and all the pesticides i looked at say use before pests have developed. Not much help now.

I thought of picking all the affected leaves so it can't spread but this would leave very few leaves.

Is there any chance my tree can fight it if given time.

Thanks for any ideas, about what they are? how dangerous to the tree they are? and what kind of pesticide i should be using?

Thanks again,

Chris

Answer -
Hi Chris,

Chinese elm is rarely grown successfully as an indoor potted plant as it requires a lot of direct sun and cold temps in the winter.

Is yours indoors or outdoors?

If indoors, can you please provide a more detailed description of the pests you have observed. How large are they? What makes them look like spiders? Can you send a photo of them to me at [email protected]?

Will Creed

Answer
Hi Chris,

Spider mites are small enough to put several on the head on a pin. They look like specks of white dust and you see lots of them together. It is hard to see them move with just the naked eye. They leave a mottled appearance on the leaves where they suck out the chlorophyll.

Mealybugs are much larger than a pinhead and they have a soft, cotton-like covering.

I am not sure from your description what you are seeing. I suggest that you spray the plant throughly with a solution of 6 parts water and 1 part rubbing alcohol with a squirt of liquid soap. This will kill either pest.

Indirect light will not be adequate for long-term health and survival of a Chinese elm. It is lack of light, not the pests, that is the reason for leaf drop.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please take the time to give me a rating and nomination.

   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com