Repotting Bonsai - When, Why, and How
-------------------------------------------------
One of the most common questions I get asked on a daily basis is;
"When do I need to Repot my Bonsai?"
The answer is, of course, largely dependent on the type of bonsai
you're cultivating. As a general rule however, conifers need to
be repotted every 3 to five years, deciduous trees every two to
three years, fruit trees every one to two years, and most
tropical indoor bonsai every two to three years.
Of course, repotting times will vary for some of the unusually
fast or slow growing species of bonsai. In addition, be on the
lookout for disease or poor development at all times.
Before you being your repotting regimen, insure you have all the
supplies you need (see checklist below) BEFORE you remove the
tree for its' current pot. In addition, having several different
sizes of pots available will be helpful in case the necessary
root pruning is heavier or lighter than expected.
Prepare your soil in advance, and have any and all additional
tools at hand you'll require for root trimming, etc.
Work quickly, but efficiently...keeping your bonsai's root hairs
moist using frequent mistings using a spray bottle. A bonsai's
white root hairs only need a minute or so of dryness to die. If
it takes you two hours to repot a bonsai - YOU ARE DOING IT
WRONG. More than one beginner has accidentally killed their
bonsai due to excessive love and attention to detail by slowly
selecting each and every root to prune. repotting should take you
20 minutes MAX.
-------------------------------------------------
Easy Checklist for Repotting Bonsai
-------------------------------------------------
- Several pots of varying sizes
- prescreened soil (suitable for your bonsai species)
- screen to cover the drain holes of your pot
- wire to secure above screen
- twine to secure bonsai in pot
- chopsticks (or similar) for tamping down soil
- spray bottle
- turntable (optional, but very helpful)
- root hook
=================
SIDEBAR
=================
If you need a inexpensive set of bonsai tools, check out
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=AHSL3&m=9N7X1f1uFhLV1&b=YjTTsVDVkVlFsBWzyTaBXQ
-------------------------------------------------
Ready to Repot? - let's Go!
-------------------------------------------------
OK....you've got your tools, your pots, your soil, and everything
else you need, right?
Alrighty then, let's repot that bonsai!
Remove the root ball from its container and lightly mist the
exposed roots (again - keeping these roots moist is a MUST).
Tease the root ball gently apart, removing any stale soil pockets
(you'll easily recognize these by the smell). Check under the
trunk of the plant for any signs of insect infestation or root
rot. Clean this area very well.
***MIST ROOTS***
Place the tree in it's nee pot to evaluate how much root material
will need to be extracted ,using common sense to keep as much as
necessary to maintain the health of the tree - keeping slightly
more root area than foliage is a good rule of thumb. Although it
may seem a delicate balance, keeping less rootage than foliage
may cause your tree to shed important foliage (and even a branch
or two), whereas having too much root area can encourage root rot
as the unutilized roots decay.
Trim your roots until the specimen is positioned properly in the
pot, Observe your tree from the side to insure that its apex is
over the center of the pot - triple checking from all angles.
Exposed roots should be visible just above the rim.
Add small amounts of bonsai soil a little bit at a time, tamping
as you go (with chopsticks) to insure soil particles are packed
in around all the roots. Spend a generous amount of time tamping
to remove any air pockets and get the soil into all the crevices
of the root system. Keep on adding/tamping until no more soil can
be added into the new pot.
Now all that's ;left is to carefully brush the soils' surface to
create the type of landscape you want. Your soil level should be
roughly a quarter inch or so below the rim of the pot.
Secure it all with twine as necessary.
-------------------------------------------------
One of the most common questions I get asked on a daily basis is;
"When do I need to Repot my Bonsai?"
The answer is, of course, largely dependent on the type of bonsai
you're cultivating. As a general rule however, conifers need to
be repotted every 3 to five years, deciduous trees every two to
three years, fruit trees every one to two years, and most
tropical indoor bonsai every two to three years.
Of course, repotting times will vary for some of the unusually
fast or slow growing species of bonsai. In addition, be on the
lookout for disease or poor development at all times.
Before you being your repotting regimen, insure you have all the
supplies you need (see checklist below) BEFORE you remove the
tree for its' current pot. In addition, having several different
sizes of pots available will be helpful in case the necessary
root pruning is heavier or lighter than expected.
Prepare your soil in advance, and have any and all additional
tools at hand you'll require for root trimming, etc.
Work quickly, but efficiently...keeping your bonsai's root hairs
moist using frequent mistings using a spray bottle. A bonsai's
white root hairs only need a minute or so of dryness to die. If
it takes you two hours to repot a bonsai - YOU ARE DOING IT
WRONG. More than one beginner has accidentally killed their
bonsai due to excessive love and attention to detail by slowly
selecting each and every root to prune. repotting should take you
20 minutes MAX.
-------------------------------------------------
Easy Checklist for Repotting Bonsai
-------------------------------------------------
- Several pots of varying sizes
- prescreened soil (suitable for your bonsai species)
- screen to cover the drain holes of your pot
- wire to secure above screen
- twine to secure bonsai in pot
- chopsticks (or similar) for tamping down soil
- spray bottle
- turntable (optional, but very helpful)
- root hook
=================
SIDEBAR
=================
If you need a inexpensive set of bonsai tools, check out
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=AHSL3&m=9N7X1f1uFhLV1&b=YjTTsVDVkVlFsBWzyTaBXQ
-------------------------------------------------
Ready to Repot? - let's Go!
-------------------------------------------------
OK....you've got your tools, your pots, your soil, and everything
else you need, right?
Alrighty then, let's repot that bonsai!
Remove the root ball from its container and lightly mist the
exposed roots (again - keeping these roots moist is a MUST).
Tease the root ball gently apart, removing any stale soil pockets
(you'll easily recognize these by the smell). Check under the
trunk of the plant for any signs of insect infestation or root
rot. Clean this area very well.
***MIST ROOTS***
Place the tree in it's nee pot to evaluate how much root material
will need to be extracted ,using common sense to keep as much as
necessary to maintain the health of the tree - keeping slightly
more root area than foliage is a good rule of thumb. Although it
may seem a delicate balance, keeping less rootage than foliage
may cause your tree to shed important foliage (and even a branch
or two), whereas having too much root area can encourage root rot
as the unutilized roots decay.
Trim your roots until the specimen is positioned properly in the
pot, Observe your tree from the side to insure that its apex is
over the center of the pot - triple checking from all angles.
Exposed roots should be visible just above the rim.
Add small amounts of bonsai soil a little bit at a time, tamping
as you go (with chopsticks) to insure soil particles are packed
in around all the roots. Spend a generous amount of time tamping
to remove any air pockets and get the soil into all the crevices
of the root system. Keep on adding/tamping until no more soil can
be added into the new pot.
Now all that's ;left is to carefully brush the soils' surface to
create the type of landscape you want. Your soil level should be
roughly a quarter inch or so below the rim of the pot.
Secure it all with twine as necessary.
