Hinoki root bound help

[MattE]

Hello all.

I just purchased this hinoki from the garden center it has been neglected. Its very root bound. I knownots a bit latento do a repot. Should I leave it and wait till next year , up pot it or remove say 20 percent of the roots repot it and put it in shade for a couple weeks?

Any insight is appreciated

 

[stubmle]

I'd be careful. These are funny about root work in my experience, best to wait for Spring. On the plus side the roots do look decently healthy despite being tight.

Your call man. I've lost ones I was too aggressive with before, they take a long time to die so you might not know for a while. If this was mine I'd wait for Spring and do a half-bare-root, and I'd still pray it makes it.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I would just take a 1/2” drill and make vertical holes in the rootmass. That will improve drainage and get you to spring. Then you can tear into it.

 

[Coppersdad]

The advice to open the root mass with a drill or even an ice pick is very good. Do that for certain. Certainly, I'd wait until next year before doing any root work. However, your can "slip pot" this tree at any time. Just put it in a larger nursery pot with a porous soil mix all around and below your current root ball. (I'd use 50-70% medium pumice with your favorite water absorbing soil component {pine bark?}) You will encourage an amazing amount of fine root growth and be ready to go at your next repotting season.

 

[Matt3839]

I’d slip pot it for now and then do a proper repot at the appropriate time.

Personally regarding soil mix, I potted my hinokis in 2:1 pine bark : pumice mix and they’re happy.