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Problems and Tips for Repotting, its time.
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Author:  Goztek [ 26 Feb 2010, 21:17 ]
Post subject:  Problems and Tips for Repotting, its time.
Hi all, This will be my 2nd year in bonsai and i am doing my best at least not to kill to many trees. This year i repotted almost all my trees in bonsai pots with akadama, grit mix. As it is my 2nd spring in bonsai all my trees where coming from nursury pots so i had to remove plenty of roots to put in pots. But i think i am loosing some trees, thats what showing anyway, and i want to know some tricks and read between the lines as many people do. So here is what i did.

1. Find a proper pot for the tree.
2. Wash the pot.
3. Put in mesh.
4. Make wire for holding down the trees and make holes if it doesn't have.
5. Cut almost half the roots and put it in the pot to see how it looks.
6. Remove excessive old soil.
7. Try to untangle the roots and cut some more root.
8. Put some soil mix in the bottom.
9. I bought some magic mushrooms for the roots and wire the tree in the pot.
10. *I do not know the term* doing the stick thing so the soil will settle between the roots.
11. Remove excessive soil and cut of some roots showing on the top.
12. Put in a bucket of water or water excessivily for some minutes.
13. Put off direct sunlight for some days.

I done all that on the top but i am still not happy with the end result. Here is what is happening.
1. 1 Casuarina lost all its winter growth but have some new.
2. Hibiscus lost the leaves but i think it is still alive.
3. 4 white cedars i am concerned if they are dead or alive waiting for proper spring to see if there is any growth.
4. Myrtle lost all its winter growth.
5. Carob has some growth and its kinda stopped but the buds are still red :S

Now some other trees didn't twitch a bit and more still growth. I remind you that in Malta decidious trees lost the leaves for only 1 week, i also remind you that we just had a week with no rain and around 25 degrees already. My ash trees never lost leaves and still growing hehe.

So is there something i should be doing wrong? are there any tips? For example i have heard to leave the trees loosing the leaves without water so the roots can try to go deeper? Cover the pot with plastic for more moisture? leave some old soil in the mix?
Author:  Jerry Norbury [ 26 Feb 2010, 23:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Problems and Tips for Repotting, its time.
That first potting from nursery plastic to small bonsai pot is the hardest...which is why I first go into oversized bonsai pot then the following year into smaller bonsai pot.

Humidity - you need to provide increased humidity - like in a plastic tent/greenhouse. It greatly increases your trees chances.

Water - plenty and often.
Author:  Goztek [ 27 Feb 2010, 07:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Problems and Tips for Repotting, its time.
humitidity is 86% so i don't know if it is really that
Author:  Jerry Norbury [ 27 Feb 2010, 08:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Problems and Tips for Repotting, its time.
Goztek wrote:
humitidity is 86% so i don't know if it is really that

I'm talking about 95%+
Author:  keithmart [ 27 Feb 2010, 09:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Problems and Tips for Repotting, its time.
Hi

If you remove roots, you must also trim back foliage. The root system can only supply so much.

Quote:
. *I do not know the term* doing the stick thing so the soil will settle between the roots


Use a thin stick (chopstick) to poke the soil in between the roots, keep topping up until no more soil will go into the roots.

Trees that were potted last year will not need to be potted again this year, unless they are rootbound.

One more thing, when repotting keep the roots wet. Use a spray bottle.
Author:  John Farnan [ 27 Feb 2010, 20:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Problems and Tips for Repotting, its time.
Just picked up this thread

I agree fully with all the advice already given

Jeremy got it right on the nail with the problems when you go from nursery pot to bonsai pot trees really find this one a hard move likely due to the root balance with foliage that keith noted

I always try to go slowly at that move like jeremy putting them in an oversized pot first then working down
Author:  Steve [ 27 Feb 2010, 20:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Problems and Tips for Repotting, its time.
I avoid pots until they can go into the proper pot. If it were me, the next step after a nursery can would be a grow box or pond basket/colander.
Author:  John Farnan [ 27 Feb 2010, 20:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Problems and Tips for Repotting, its time.
Steve wrote:
I avoid pots until they can go into the proper pot. If it were me, the next step after a nursery can would be a grow box or pond basket/colander.


i think i remember you saying once before Steve that 90% of the trees should be in the ground or in big boxes?
not sure of the percentages but that sounds about right :D
Author:  Steve [ 27 Feb 2010, 21:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Problems and Tips for Repotting, its time.
Yeah that's about the percentage. But that is refering to those who have been at this a while and have trees that are in the "maintain" stage. For beginners I'd say that numer should be closer to 100% :shock: I've got a bunch of huge old black cherries that the city pulled up during renovation. Hopefully tomorrow I can show what I mean. Right now I'm off to go clam digging.
Author:  John Farnan [ 27 Feb 2010, 21:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Problems and Tips for Repotting, its time.
Steve wrote:
Yeah that's about the percentage. But that is refering to those who have been at this a while and have trees that are in the "maintain" stage. For beginners I'd say that numer should be closer to 100% :shock: I've got a bunch of huge old black cherries that the city pulled up during renovation. Hopefully tomorrow I can show what I mean. Right now I'm off to go clam digging.


Enjoy :)
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