Nursery Hinoki cypress "fern spray gold"

[Mikea454]

chamaecyparis obtusa 'fernspray gold'
Found this one today, Got it for half price, the whole batch was a little beat up but looks recoverable. The soil is dramatically root bound and the pot is super light - suspect underwatered and too root bound to have any spil hold the rain water. Fine roots everywhere, can't even get a chopstick in the soil.
How much root trimming can I do this time of year?
Can I rake out the top and cut the bottom third off and plant back in some fresh soil?
Can I also cop a top leader or two, this is a little.twll for me to keep?

Pics of tree, trunk, foliage, and soil.

Thank you, appreciate any tips on how to turn this guy around and start bonsai training.

 

[TrimmyWhimmy]

I haven't root pruned mine yet, so can't advise on that. ...Likely sensitive like other Hinokis. I can tell you that they don't like a lot of sun though. That is likely what caused the browning. You can't let them dry out either of they will die.

 

[Mikea454]

i might still do a half soil repot and cut the top leader, unless anyone strongly recommends it.

 

[Mikea454]

trimmed branches and thinned roots. mostly there was a mat of encircling fin roots in the top 2 inches, the rest of the pot wasnt so badly matted.

 

[Matt3839]

I’ve always done either roots OR foliage and my Hinokis have been happy. It’s also what Ryan Neil advised.

Either heavy root work and let foliage regenerate it, or heavy foliage trimming and leave roots alone.

Generally from what I’ve read, it’s advised to repot/trim roots as tips start to grow. Which is usually in March/april. So maybe just let the tree recover now? Again I’m no expert, just parroting advice I’ve heard from various sources.

As for browning, interior pieces will brown over time due to lack of sunlight, and if you go through a dry spell it can exacerbate it. I’m in coastal Los Angeles so I don’t have a lot of heat but I do have a lot of wind here so I give mine a lot of water. I’ve got all mine in either 2:1 bark pumice mix or 3:1:1 APL mixes. They’re definitely thirsty trees. Also it could definitely be sun damage as well

 

[TrimmyWhimmy]

I’ve always done either roots OR foliage and my Hinokis have been happy. It’s also what Ryan Neil advised.

Either heavy root work and let foliage regenerate it, or heavy foliage trimming and leave roots alone.

Generally from what I’ve read, it’s advised to repot/trim roots as tips start to grow. Which is usually in March/april. So maybe just let the tree recover now? Again I’m no expert, just parroting advice I’ve heard from various sources.

As for browning, interior pieces will brown over time due to lack of sunlight, and if you go through a dry spell it can exacerbate it. I’m in coastal Los Angeles so I don’t have a lot of heat but I do have a lot of wind here so I give mine a lot of water. I’ve got all mine in either 2:1 bark pumice mix or 3:1:1 APL mixes. They’re definitely thirsty trees. Also it could definitely be sun damage as well

Most Hinokis are like Japanese maples in that they can handle a lot of sun if you give them a lot of water. This particular cultivar of Hinoki, in my experience just does not like much sun. Thankfully, it will still grow a lot in the shade.

 

[jaycraig]

Hey, any updates on this tree? Just got one myself that looks similar to yours and I’d like to know your experience so far. Pics would be appreciated.