Grape vine question

[Catagonia]

Hi, first time posting, six month newbie. I live in Sacramento, CA (Zone 9b), so mild winters.

We dug a grape vine up as part of a larger project and I thought I would try to save it as a bonsai.

I put it in a large plastic container with a mix of potting soil and cactus soil below it and cactus soil around the root ball (it's what I had on hand). There are definitely some roots, not a ton.

Questions:

Is there any chance it will survive or should I save time and toss it?

Would chopping it partially or fully hurt survival chances, or should I leave it alone till spring?

Is there a type of container or medium that would be better for its survival?

Any other tips?

Thanks!

(sorry if this is a double post, I don't see my first one as going through.)

 

[Colorado]

That’s a pretty sweet grape vine. I definitely think you could have chopped it much lower, maybe it’s too late now but I don’t know your climate.

I would have used pumice. Dennis Vojtilla discusses collecting/rooting grape vines on the Mirai podcast. Perhaps worth a listen.

 

[Shogun610]

Good luck w that, Grape Vine is certainly on my collection list for next spring.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Grapevines can bleed to death if it has open wounds in spring. So don't forget to seal those cuts!

 

[Shibui]

Grapes are VERY easy to transplant. Need very few roots and can be chopped almost to the ground and still survive. I would certainly have chopped lower if the view was for bonsai. Chopping now (your fall) should be safe as the cuts will be sealed come spring sap flow.

 

[Catagonia]

Thanks!

I took off a horizontal branches but left the whole trunk, because I thought that might be less harmful than the necessary trauma of ripping it out of our miserable clay soil.

Eventually I will chop it all the way below the lowest knobby bit and try rooting some of the other bits for experimental purposes. I am fond of that plant (which I planted as a nursery start when we moved here 15 years ago), so keeping a few bits would be great.

I’ll definitely find the podcast @Colorado mentioned.