It seems over the last several years you have taken on a preference for slab pots. How often do you have to deal with the roots? I can't imagine pulling the tree off the slab so I would be curious as to how you renew the soil and roots?
Love it!No problem, shaking out nursery substrate, stuffing everything into a smaller pot and filling with bonsai substrate.
If the Nurseries have grown the plant in something long enough to grow it to market size, why the hurry, or even at all must we observe, "the nurseries use a very water-holding organic mix, and it's important to get the plant out of that substrate as soon as possible." ?Ok, I understand. Because here in the States, the nurseries use a very water-holding organic mix, and it's important to get the plant out of that substrate as soon as possible. Sometimes the mixture will have more pine bark in it, but there's no nursery substrate here that can be shaken out that I've ever seen. Sounds like the nurseries in Europe are a little more forward-thinking than here. Thanks for your comments.
If the Nurseries have grown the plant in something long enough to grow it to market size, why the hurry, or even at all must we observe, "the nurseries use a very water-holding organic mix, and it's important to get the plant out of that substrate as soon as possible." ?
Maybe that's what works on a commercial scale where they water acres grossly with overhead sprinklers, while bonsai people who water with dainty little cans constitute a minuscule portion of people growing plants and are the ones doing it wrong. If an outsider with no skin in the game heard both sides of the story and assigned some weight to each side of the question; "Hmmm... a few thousand people say grow in rocks and thousands of commercial growers say grow in wood chips..." Where would he put his money?
I understand that I'm too stupid to grasp the issue, but outside of acknowledging that and your superior record, got a list of facts, factoids, scientific principles, etc. to present in favor of rocks in much smaller pots? Like, for instance, field capacity of one verses the other?
OK I think I understand your reply, but what do you do when the tree gets to a point where you have to refresh the soil and make room for new roots? I am not asking this to be snarky I just want to know and you are the only artist that is doing this all of the time, even taking established masterpieces and making the transformation.never, only after 20 or more years.
OK I think I understand your reply, but what do you do when the tree gets to a point where you have to refresh the soil and make room for new roots? I am not asking this to be snarky I just want to know and you are the only artist that is doing this all of the time, even taking established masterpieces and making the transformation.
OK I think I understand your reply, but what do you do when the tree gets to a point where you have to refresh the soil and make room for new roots? I am not asking this to be snarky I just want to know and you are the only artist that is doing this all of the time, even taking established masterpieces and making the transformation.
Thank You, process is almost as important as ingredients.Well you pull the tree off the stone as you would in nature in the mountains. Shake out substrate, posibley cut some roots and plant it again.
That is my understanding as well. The only question I find my self having here is how old is an old Conifer?Old conifders do NOT need to be repotted very often whether in a pot or on a slab.
So you have an over 50 years old nursery pine? Does that nursery have more fantastic pines like this one?What a great tree this is! It looks so old, can hardly believe it is a nursery-tree. Would say it is at least 50 or 60 years old?
I've killed more trees than a typhoon by working a tree while it's still in nursery soil. What I do now is cut off the bottom off the pot and place it on the ground to help absorb excess water. Plus, I'm sure I was over watering.If the Nurseries have grown the plant in something long enough to grow it to market size, why the hurry, or even at all must we observe, "the nurseries use a very water-holding organic mix, and it's important to get the plant out of that substrate as soon as possible." ?
Maybe that's what works on a commercial scale where they water acres grossly with overhead sprinklers, while bonsai people who water with dainty little cans constitute a minuscule portion of people growing plants and are the ones doing it wrong. If an outsider with no skin in the game heard both sides of the story and assigned some weight to each side of the question; "Hmmm... a few thousand people say grow in rocks and thousands of commercial growers say grow in wood chips..." Where would he put his money?
I understand that I'm too stupid to grasp the issue, but outside of acknowledging that and your superior record, got a list of facts, factoids, scientific principles, etc. to present in favor of rocks in much smaller pots? Like, for instance, field capacity of one verses the other?
Ah Walter,
Lovely to see this wonderful tree again.
You do know we miss you at Natures Way--hope to see you soon?
Lynn