First ever repot

PABonsai

Chumono
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My first ever repot! A J. Chinensis 'San Jose' I bought back in July. It has needed repotted since I got it but I've spent the last two months gathering information and materials. I practically bare rooted it and cut off about half the roots. It was a nightmare. Here is to hoping it doesn't die. 🤞
 

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penumbra

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It's getting late in the year for this but I'm hoping it does well.
 

PABonsai

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It's getting late in the year for this but I'm hoping it does well.
I just couldn't watch it go brown any longer. Three quarters of the pot volume turned out to be roots.

It was also my first attempt creating a soil mix. So if it dies I won't know what to blame.
 
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PABonsai

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Mist the foliage as often as you can.
Thanks for that bit of advise. Should I also water it like normal? I gave it a nice good dousing last night after I finished, but wasn't sure if I should begin the process of "daily" watering.
 

PABonsai

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Also, for the record I used a mixture of grit:bark:8822 in 4:2:1 proportions. It was literally a guess on my part. We will see how it goes.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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your mix sounds fine

Check to see if it needs water daily, stick your finger in deep into the mix. Water only if it needs it.

Initially, it will not use much water, you might only have to water every other, every 3rd day, maybe even less. BUT CHECK DAILY.

Once new roots begin to grow, the tree will begin taking up water more quickly, the mix will dry more quickly. You will have to water more frequently. This is the reason you need to check daily, but only water as needed.

Junipers can absorb water through their foliage, that is the reason for misting. I would not mist more than a couple times a day. Morning and late afternoon. If you are in a suburban or rural area where the dew at night is heavy, you won't need to mist as often.
 

PABonsai

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your mix sounds fine

Check to see if it needs water daily, stick your finger in deep into the mix. Water only if it needs it.

Initially, it will not use much water, you might only have to water every other, every 3rd day, maybe even less. BUT CHECK DAILY.

Once new roots begin to grow, the tree will begin taking up water more quickly, the mix will dry more quickly. You will have to water more frequently. This is the reason you need to check daily, but only water as needed.

Junipers can absorb water through their foliage, that is the reason for misting. I would not mist more than a couple times a day. Morning and late afternoon. If you are in a suburban or rural area where the dew at night is heavy, you won't need to mist as often.
Thank you Leo. I think in that case I may mist in the morning on the way out. I think with this kind of soil gauging water level will be a lot easier than with that nursery crap. This guy's pot was almost filled solid with roots. Makes me wonder why a bonsai nursery would let it get that bad.
 

coltranem

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Thank you Leo. I think in that case I may mist in the morning on the way out. I think with this kind of soil gauging water level will be a lot easier than with that nursery crap. This guy's pot was almost filled solid with roots. Makes me wonder why a bonsai nursery would let it get that bad.
Lack of time. Particularly because pieces like this they don't intend to pot up. They want to sell that at that size. So they go as long as they can. The nursery near me eventually pots them up into bonsai pots but then price increases too.
 

PABonsai

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Lack of time. Particularly because pieces like this they don't intend to pot up. They want to sell that at that size. So they go as long as they can. The nursery near me eventually pots them up into bonsai pots but then price increases too.
This nursery has pretty varied stock. Both big and little trees in a variety of grow or bonsai pots. I got this one the same day as that San Jose. Half the tree and three times the pot! Lol. You can see part of the San Jose next to it.
 

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