willhopper
Shohin
So I’m collecting a giant podocarpus this weekend. It’s healthy. Any recommendations for the soil I first put it in?
Collecting a podocarpus
- Thread starter willhopper
- Start date
Victorim
Omono
willhopper
Shohin
What ever good soil you are usingpics!
Edit: podocarpus is tropical?...
The reason I ask is when I collected junipers this week I was told I shouldn’t have put them in a top soil-manure mix. So I wanted to be sure to use the right stuff this time.
No, it’s a conifer, I started the post in the wrong thread or category or whatever. If a mod could move it that’d be great.
willhopper
Shohin
I haven’t collected it yet, so I’ll get pics when I get it.
Victorim
Omono
Ah ok.. yes not top soil.. Someone else can advise you better, but you may need to look into substrates pal. Pumice, lava act..
willhopper
Shohin
I have my own soil for my bonsai, but these are collected trees so I wasn’t sure if they should go into my lava-pumice-DE soil immediately or if they should be in nursery soil until healthy.
Victorim
Omono
Your mix sounds perfect.
willhopper
Shohin
Ok, I’ll use it.
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
No, it is not Topical. I would call it Sub-Tropical. I leave mine out all year and in the winter temperatures can get in the low teens at times. It never skips a beat.What ever good soil you are using
Edit: podocarpus is tropical?...
Victorim
Omono
willhopper
Shohin
Yeah, I mentioned they are conifers. I was thinking I’m in a tropic region and just lost me head.
willhopper
Shohin
Here it is!
RobertB
Chumono
keep us updated on this one.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Victorim
Omono
willhopper
Shohin
It’s going to sit in a nice shady spot for a bit and I will love it for at least a year before I try anything. But my carving tools are itching to rip into it!!
MrFancyPlants
Omono
I’ve heard podocarpus have touchy roots.. I.e. remove only 10-20% of the roots at a time when repotting.
I’m hoping this pulls through for you, but you might give it even a couple years of unrestricted growth before you carve or style, just to be safe. Carving puts more stress on un-established roots than you would think. Ask around some more, but maybe even consider tenting to keep the humidity up. What kind of prep did you do before collecting?
I actually have collected one myself, but it was nowhere as beefy as yours so I had no problem getting plenty of roots. I got it from my Mom’s old house and gave it to her. She just told me she plans to plant it as a landscape plant at her new house.
I’m hoping this pulls through for you, but you might give it even a couple years of unrestricted growth before you carve or style, just to be safe. Carving puts more stress on un-established roots than you would think. Ask around some more, but maybe even consider tenting to keep the humidity up. What kind of prep did you do before collecting?
I actually have collected one myself, but it was nowhere as beefy as yours so I had no problem getting plenty of roots. I got it from my Mom’s old house and gave it to her. She just told me she plans to plant it as a landscape plant at her new house.
willhopper
Shohin
The main large roots were obviously cut, but we secured most of the fine roots. The ball was kept intact, the roots were misted and bagged up until I got it home, then I put it immediately in the tub with my bonsai soil mix. It’s in a shaded area and wired to the tub so it can’t move. I live in the most humid state in the country. But yeah, I’ll make a judgment call after a year. Maybe 18 months, thanks for the advice.
Shima
Omono
Oh good grief, they're tough as nails. No reason to coddle it. I planted 20 of them as a border by just sticking branches in the ground.
MrFancyPlants
Omono
Good deal; I stand corrected. I have read from multiple sources the roots are touchy, but if you got a mass of feeders, you are probably fine. The one I collected was in Gainesville, and you do have a point that there is plenty of humidity to go around.
