Puget Sound spring in January?

[Dysfunctional Vet]

So we had a hard freeze right before Xmas followed by temps in the 50’s and rain ever since. My Birches, mountain ash and red alders all have buds swelling. Even the birch in the ground has green swelling buds. I haven’t experienced this yet. A lot of those trees need to be re potted this year, do I do it now and risk future cold weather? Wait till actual spring? Do I need to protect these trees more now? Just trying to get some thoughts on this. Anyone else experiencing the same thing?

 

[Srt8madness]

Two of my crepe myrtles have swelling buds.

Often Crepes won't leaf out until JUNE!!

 

[Cruiser]

Same experience here. My lonicera buds are pushing. Another hard freeze could cause some damage.

I don’t know the correct answer for what to do, but plan on putting early bloomers into the garage if it gets too cold.

 

[Dysfunctional Vet]

Same experience here. My lonicera buds are pushing. Another hard freeze could cause some damage.

I don’t know the correct answer for what to do, but plan on putting early bloomers into the garage if it gets too cold.

Shelter the potted ones, got it. Thanks
The ones in the ground that are popping will just have to sort themselves out. It will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

My temperature data loggers, placed in the shin of 10 bonsai, have been reading from 40-45F for at least three weeks!

Pot at normal time windows if at all possible. Yet if the tree tells you it’s time, go for it, do so ….yet protect thereafter.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Dysfunctional Vet]

My temperature data loggers, placed in the shin of 10 bonsai, have been reading from 40-45F for at least three weeks!

Pot at normal time windows if at all possible. Yet if the tree tells you it’s time, go for it, do so ….yet protect thereafter.

Cheers
DSD sends

Thanks for the reply. I don’t really have anything in place to shelter them so I’m thinking it’s better to wait and see how it plays out. As I’ve just been growing trees in pots I never really paid that much attention to them during this time. But, after 15 years of that I’m trying to make some of them “bonsai” so I’m watching them a lot more.
Never worried about the trees in pots, but with bonsai on the mind, cue the cold sweats and stress. Lol

 

[Bavarian Raven]

I’m north of you up near Vancouver BC. Another week or ten days like this and our cherries will be flowering.

 

[Dysfunctional Vet]

I’m north of you up near Vancouver BC. Another week or ten days like this and our cherries will be flowering.

Wouldn’t that be something. My red flowering currant is thinking about it.

 

[Cruiser]

It seems too early in the year to repot, but the tree looks ready…



.
So I went for it. Time will tell if it was the right decision.

 

[Dysfunctional Vet]

It seems too early in the year to repot, but the tree looks ready.

Nice tree! I sure hope it works out for you.

 

[RaginCajun]

Pines, junipers, maples, elm's, all awake down here in north central Louisiana. If the trees are telling you they are ready to go, do what you have to do. Protect from frost, dappled shade for a bit. Just as you would normally do. What's the big deal?

 

[Bavarian Raven]

Pines, junipers, maples, elm's, all awake down here in north central Louisiana. If the trees are telling you they are ready to go, do what you have to do. Protect from frost, dappled shade for a bit. Just as you would normally do. What's the big deal?

That we can still easily get minus five to minus ten C here, and that there should still be another 6 weeks of winter.

 

[Dysfunctional Vet]

Exactly! It’s supposed to drop below 0 C next week

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Snapshot of rootball temperature trends over two weeks in my location. 24/7 data loggers placed in shin of bonsai

Location. Jan 9. Jan 23
On Bench. 44F. 34F
Cold Frame. 45. 39
Open, mulched in gnd. 42 36
Sheltered mulched in gnd. 43. 38

Data talks..

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Dysfunctional Vet]

Snapshot of rootball temperature trends over two weeks in my location. 24/7 data loggers placed in shin of bonsai

Location. Jan 9. Jan 23
On Bench. 44F. 34F
Cold Frame. 45. 39
Open, mulched in gnd. 42 36
Sheltered mulched in gnd. 43. 38

Data talks..

Cheers
DSD sends

Thanks for the data. I noticed the small trees in small pots that are buried are not pushing growth. Temp must have stayed more consistent. I need to get some data loggers. Get all experimental on the side of my house. Lol

 

[Kanorin]

Snapshot of rootball temperature trends over two weeks in my location. 24/7 data loggers placed in shin of bonsai

Location. Jan 9. Jan 23
On Bench. 44F. 34F
Cold Frame. 45. 39
Open, mulched in gnd. 42 36
Sheltered mulched in gnd. 43. 38

Data talks..

Cheers
DSD sends

I'm curious what kind of temperature sensors you are using. I got some this year, but discovered they are not very water resistant.

 

[PowerTap]

I was at point defiance yesterday and saw new growth maybe an inch or two long on a coast redwood.

Also watching my magnolia think about flowering.

 

[Dysfunctional Vet]

I was at point defiance yesterday and saw new growth maybe an inch or two long on a coast redwood.

Also watching my magnolia think about flowering.

I’m right next to point defiance. All my bulbs have sprouted now.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

I use Elitech RC-5+ TE PDF USB Temperature Data Logger Reusable Recorder 32000 Points High Accuracy (w/Extra External Sensor)…. run about 29.00 each. Run 10 of these. Matching datasets in excel can be a bit cumbersome, so be sure you are computer savvy or just use one. I found it is best to start all sensors at once… use the delay function, go around quickly and start all at once all are placed helps. These were the sensors I used to gather the supporting data used for the Overwintering Bonsai … resource I posted here. ​

These are sometimes placed in ziploc bags to keep them less exposed. A couple times the bag got very wet inside …. Sensors still kept ticking.

cheers
DSD sends

 

[RaginCajun]

That we can still easily get minus five to minus ten C here, and that there should still be another 6 weeks of winter.

Our trees are waking up 2-3 weeks ahead of normal. I usually don't repot this early, because we will surely get another cold snap in February. But I have no problems protecting my trees briefly. If I waited to repot in February and March like i normally would this year my pines would already be opening candles at the rate they are going.