MrFancyPlants
Omono
This tree was healthy enough but just not showing the prodigious growth that it has shown in years past. I read a thread on here about a white pine that responded well to "soji" or replacing the surface soil and I decided to go for it. I took it one step further and went ahead with my plan to un wire the tree from the pot and lift it out so that I could place some fresh aggregate on the bottom of the pot as well as I want to reveal and start working on some of the surface roots. The soil mass was well colonized or a solid form that kept it;'s shape when lifting out of the pot, but just didn't have the same bursting with growing root tips sort of look that it had during it's last repotting. I did use a fair amount of organics when I previously repotted, and although it still seemingly drains well, there was not a lot of visible airspace in the older soil. In retrospect I would use the spaghnum in the mix, but probably not the vermi-compost. I might try some kanuma next time as I think it might be the acidity forom the organics that the tree likes as well as the breathability of aggregate.
It seemed like over night the tree started pumping out new growth after the soji operation as adding some fresh soil to the bottom. I'm really glad I took the chance to perform the operation as I am in need of more back budding having lost a couple branches to a wandering toddler. Actually she was running full steam away from the sprinkler they were playing in, without looking where she was going. My fault really for not having a bench to take this up off the ground, but I have some plans in the works.
It seemed like over night the tree started pumping out new growth after the soji operation as adding some fresh soil to the bottom. I'm really glad I took the chance to perform the operation as I am in need of more back budding having lost a couple branches to a wandering toddler. Actually she was running full steam away from the sprinkler they were playing in, without looking where she was going. My fault really for not having a bench to take this up off the ground, but I have some plans in the works.