Hinoki Cypress Repot Question

[p_anova]

Hello All,

I have a hinoki cypress "Elwood's Pilar" that I want to repot into a proper bonsai pot. I am happy with the trunk and would like to start the refinement process. I assumed that I missed my window because early Spring had passed and was going to wait till next year. I was on Bjorn's site poking around and he recommended late Spring as a good time to repot hinoki's, which is right now! Can I get a confirmation on this? Also, if I do the repot, I assume place it in the shade, no fertilizer, for a couple of weeks

 

[Hartinez]

Hello All,

I have a hinoki cypress "Elwood's Pilar" that I want to repot into a proper bonsai pot. I am happy with the trunk and would like to start the refinement process. I assumed that I missed my window because early Spring had passed and was going to wait till next year. I was on Bjorn's site poking around and he recommended late Spring as a good time to repot hinoki's, which is right now! Can I get a confirmation on this? Also, if I do the repot, I assume place it in the shade, no fertilizer, for a couple of weeksView attachment 438471View attachment 438472

This is an excellent little formal upright hinoki! Now is a good time, maybe a touch late but I bet it’ll be fine. I started one last year that I actually fully barerooted and potted up in 100% pumice right around this time of year. Mine was a Ball and burlap though and needed the pumice for recovery. It didn’t skip a beat from the repot and I did an initial styling last summer as it was doing so well. They can take some sun, but afternoon shade probably wouldn’t hurt. I’d start your fertilizer regimen back up once you see active growth.

 

[Lorax7]

This is an excellent little formal upright hinoki! Now is a good time, maybe a touch late but I bet it’ll be fine. I started one last year that I actually fully barerooted and potted up in 100% pumice right around this time of year. Mine was a Ball and burlap though and needed the pumice for recovery. It didn’t skip a beat from the repot and I did an initial styling last summer as it was doing so well. They can take some sun, but afternoon shade probably wouldn’t hurt. I’d start your fertilizer regimen back up once you see active growth.

I agree that it’s probably not too late to repot a hinoki now, although the window is closing soon. I just repotted one last weekend. However, I would not bareroot a hinoki in the vast majority of circumstances. Too risky. Learned that lesson the hard way (rest in peace, my deceased hinokis). The only circumstance I can think of in which I would bareroot a hinoki is to create a root-over-rock composition (because, AFAIK, there just isn’t a good way to make a root-over-rock without barerooting the tree).

 

[Kanorin]

If I had to repot a Hinoki now, I’d remove closer to 20-25% of the roots. If it was April, I’d feel comfortable removing more.
Nice tree! It’s not easy to find ones that have a decent amount of foliage near the trunk.

 

[p_anova]

Awesome! I believe I just slip pot this guy into the current green container so I am not sure of the root ball condition. I know it is not in clay since I got it at Meehan's but I will update after I do the repot tomorrow. I think a round pot will look nice but we will see what they have at Meehan's tomorrow! Here is the original tree March of last year! So skinny.

 

[p_anova]

If I had to repot a Hinoki now, I’d remove closer to 20-25% of the roots. If it was April, I’d feel comfortable removing more.
Nice tree! It’s not easy to find ones that have a decent amount of foliage near the trunk.

I have religiously been rewiring to keep light on the inside and rotating this guy to make sure the inner foliage stays healthy. BTW, this is my gf's tree and she did the initial styling! I just water, fertilize, wire, prune, spray.........