Bare rooting junipers

Johnathan

Omono
Messages
1,009
Reaction score
1,073
Location
Oklahoma City, OK
@sorce @M. Frary the mugo didnt make it, the blue rug reverted to juvie foliage but its alive, the sea green had some health issues before this, but it seems to be holding on.

I partially did a blue spruce, nothing more than cutting 1/3rd off the bottom and fuzzing up the sides, I want it to keep on growing strong.

My ficus will be barerooted weekend of the 24th.

As far as the mugo not making it, I don't think it was the timing, pretty sure it was the amount of work done to it. It was an extreme on all of these besides the spruce.
 

BE.REAL

Mame
Messages
170
Reaction score
126
Location
Boston
USDA Zone
6a
Good stuff being shared!!
IMHO, I have learned and experienced that Bonsai must begin with the roots. So I now think the sooner I can get a look at them the better. I learned th hardway that "wait for spring" for repots, is not always correct. Esp. if/when trees are purchased from Box stores or nurseries that are not up to snuff.
So for me, and what I have seen smushed/forced/compacted into some of these pots, I want to inspect and decide from there.
I have pulled a 6inch pc of bark out from a dusty, no breathing room, dry as a witches ….., root ball.
I have even discussed with some employees and they admit, to just add fert. and more fert, and more bark soil on top to make the tree "sell"

So again, when to repot is dependant on mult. things, 1st. being where you got it?
I pretty much treat non-bonsai nursery purchases as yamadori.
again IMHO.
Be well, great moon this month, @sorce BTW. I repotted 4 trees under it till early morning. haha.
 

Trenthany

Chumono
Messages
868
Reaction score
674
Location
Arcadia, FL
USDA Zone
10A
I'm sorry but if I said something like that about something you were arguing about, you would not hesitate to call it Bull Shit. I keep trying to tell people around here that much of what we think and what we believe it nothing but scented Bull Shit.
I have to say you always give solid advice from your experience and never just from “the rules” and I for one appreciate that. Sometimes I look at what people are doing and I’m like wow that’s an amazingly creative way of doing that. Others I’m like why not accept more modern practices or try new ideas. I like old concepts and styles achieved in new ways using new current info as a concept in itself. Think about computers (hyperaccelerated timeline but the point works) every year they build in what they did the year before. Incremental improvements in technique and technology. 100 years ago we had stainless steel, not long after that stainless tools. How long did it take the bonsai community to use stainless steel after that? Too much tradition can be a bad thing but I also think we should never forget those traditions. What people achieved with inferior products, no scientific knowledge and decades of patience dwarfs whatever I accomplish with everything I have access to and can learn these days. I want to respect the past but I also want to move in a direction that is modern in its approach if that makes sense. A lot of people in this forum in particular are very forward thinking but there are some that are very hidebound as well it keeps things lively!
 

BunjaeKorea

Omono
Messages
1,214
Reaction score
1,909
Location
Korea
USDA Zone
7a
I have to say you always give solid advice from your experience and never just from “the rules” and I for one appreciate that. Sometimes I look at what people are doing and I’m like wow that’s an amazingly creative way of doing that. Others I’m like why not accept more modern practices or try new ideas. I like old concepts and styles achieved in new ways using new current info as a concept in itself. Think about computers (hyperaccelerated timeline but the point works) every year they build in what they did the year before. Incremental improvements in technique and technology. 100 years ago we had stainless steel, not long after that stainless tools. How long did it take the bonsai community to use stainless steel after that? Too much tradition can be a bad thing but I also think we should never forget those traditions. What people achieved with inferior products, no scientific knowledge and decades of patience dwarfs whatever I accomplish with everything I have access to and can learn these days. I want to respect the past but I also want to move in a direction that is modern in its approach if that makes sense. A lot of people in this forum in particular are very forward thinking but there are some that are very hidebound as well it keeps things lively!
True but those traditions are there to make sure you walk before you run.
 

BunjaeKorea

Omono
Messages
1,214
Reaction score
1,909
Location
Korea
USDA Zone
7a
Bare rooting is a bad idea for some species and most conifers don't like it. Actually, westerners repot conifers way too often. Pines in small posts around every 3 years, larger pines up to ten years between repots. Not joking., that's how we do it here. Except for the dead of winter you can repot any time but it will depend on your climate. If you are keeping trees in a non-native climate they are going to have a harder time. Heat also causes more stress to the tree when they are repotted during the summer months which may cause them to push juvenile growth in an attempt to survive. Would I repot in summer? Yes, I have especially when I bought trees at the market. Do I like it? NO! They need a lot of TLC and take longer to recover.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

The Professor
Messages
11,337
Reaction score
23,251
Location
on the IL-WI border, a mile from ''da Lake''
USDA Zone
5b
@BunjaeKorea - is on the mark. We do tend to repot too often. I blame reading too many gardening books.

There is a big difference between bare rooting a young nursery juniper, and an ancient collected juniper, and a different calculous when collecting an old landscape juniper or collecting a juniper from the wild. Same with pines.

Generally, younger, more vigorous trees survive bare rooting much more reliably. Older material, weaker material, will need more caution.

And timing for repotting, you need to experiment to learn what is optimal in your own climate. But do give the "bonsai traditions" due credit, they are the accumulated collection of what various masters had found to work for them. They are a reflection of others experience, they are not "fabricated". You can often get away with doing many things out of season, which is fine, until you "don't get away with it". Its one thing to accidentally kill cheap nursery stock. You want to know with certainty what will work when dealing with material that has many years of work in it or expensive material.
 

WNC Bonsai

Omono
Messages
1,865
Reaction score
2,031
Location
Western NC
USDA Zone
7b
Would I repot in summer? Yes, I have especially when I bought trees at the market. Do I like it? NO! They need a lot of TLC and take longer to recover.
You may get away with doing anything on occasion but after care is essential any time you do a radical procedure or out of season one for most species. Knowing what to do is the tricky part.
 

candin

Seedling
Messages
10
Reaction score
1
Location
Texas
USDA Zone
8b
I know this is an old thread but I am in the end of a waning moon and want to repot some junipers. The main issue is the summer heat right now. We are in the 100s daily with lots of humidity. I have nana and a pot-bound caked nursery soil Blue Point. Any more here had success with summer repots of beloved junipers over the last 5 years?
 

Esolin

Shohin
Messages
401
Reaction score
629
Location
So Cal
USDA Zone
10b
I know this is an old thread but I am in the end of a waning moon and want to repot some junipers. The main issue is the summer heat right now. We are in the 100s daily with lots of humidity. I have nana and a pot-bound caked nursery soil Blue Point. Any more here had success with summer repots of beloved junipers over the last 5 years?
I personally wouldn't risk a repot in that sort of heat. Wait until Fall, or better Spring, especially for your root bound Blue Point that you'll probably have to traumatize with heavy root loss. If you're concerned about the plants not getting enough water, soak the roots in a bucket of water for a day and/or give them afternoon shade until temps come down.
 

pandacular

Omono
Messages
1,610
Reaction score
2,724
Location
Seattle, WA
USDA Zone
9a
huh, I saw cjr make a comment about "waning moon people" in another thread... I was certain it was a joke.

guess not! but it's still funny
 
Top Bottom