Should I put this in a smaller pot to develop the branches?

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I started this Schefflera bayan project a little over two years ago. I brought it to a workshop recently, and the instructor said I should put it in a shallower pot. What do you think?

I'm still working on the trunks/base and want to start developing the branches (clip & grow) . It grows really fast in the grow tent (winter) and outside for 5ish months. It's in a 5" deep pot. Should I put it in a 2" pot to develop it in?

March 2023



May 2025. I use two of the above



Pot in question.

 

[nuttiest]

I like your idea of continuing working trunks. Will it even reduce that much in one go? Maybe just reduce some roots in the same pot.

 

[Ininaatigoons]

It depends on the final design in mind. If your ready for refinement then yes go shallow.

 

[Shibui]

I'd be tempted to go to the shallow pot now.
Schefflera are almost unkillable so will probably still survive transplant and big root reduction with a full canopy but adding even more ramification and foliage mass that you won't want to remove for downsizing will put extra stress on the tree when you do the drastic root reduction. I certainly prefer to do larger initial root reduction well before developing a full canopy.
Not sure if Schefflera develop like some of the Ficus but many Ficus I grow here keep thickening even in a tiny pot and trimmed regularly. You may still get your extra trunk thickness in the smaller pot. You will definitely get better ramification when you prune in a smaller pot. larger pot and fast growth tends to give coarse growth with longer internodes so it's much harder to develop good ramification and twigginess.

Those trees have come a long way in just 2 years.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Check out Nigel Saunders Bonsai Zone YouTube channel. He grows a lot of these in Canada and has a number of videos on his progressions.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I like your idea of continuing working trunks. Will it even reduce that much in one go? Maybe just reduce some roots in the same pot.

Based on my initial work with the roots, "Yes" the roots reduce rather well. I attached pics of last year.

I'd be tempted to go to the shallow pot now.
Schefflera are almost unkillable so will probably still survive transplant and big root reduction with a full canopy but adding even more ramification and foliage mass that you won't want to remove for downsizing will put extra stress on the tree when you do the drastic root reduction. I certainly prefer to do larger initial root reduction well before developing a full canopy.
Not sure if Schefflera develop like some of the Ficus but many Ficus I grow here keep thickening even in a tiny pot and trimmed regularly. You may still get your extra trunk thickness in the smaller pot. You will definitely get better ramification when you prune in a smaller pot. larger pot and fast growth tends to give coarse growth with longer internodes so it's much harder to develop good ramification and twigginess.

Those trees have come a long way in just 2 years.

Sounds like I picked the right species. I think it'll survive the root reduction. I potted these two schefflera last summer and attached pics of one of them. There's a progression thread of this tree in tropicals if anyone is curious. After the repot the plant got really strong growth, and when I had it in the grow tent this winter it went nuts with growth. Roots growing out of the bottom, top, & side of the pot and 100+ aerial roots. I think I'll give it try in the coming days.

Check out Nigel Saunders Bonsai Zone YouTube channel. He grows a lot of these in Canada and has a number of videos on his progressions.

I've watched a few of his videos but not all of them so maybe he does cover this transition to a smaller pot.

 

[It's Kev]

I'm here to take notes

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Based on my initial work with the roots, "Yes" the roots reduce rather well. I attached pics of last year.


Sounds like I picked the right species. I think it'll survive the root reduction. I potted these two schefflera last summer and attached pics of one of them. There's a progression thread of this tree in tropicals if anyone is curious. After the repot the plant got really strong growth, and when I had it in the grow tent this winter it went nuts with growth. Roots growing out of the bottom, top, & side of the pot and 100+ aerial roots. I think I'll give it try in the coming days.


I've watched a few of his videos but not all of them so maybe he does cover this transition to a smaller pot.

Here’s a link to his schefflera playlist—42 videos.

Schefflera Banyan style progression

I'm training my Schefflera arboricola in a Banyan style, a spreading tree with aerial roots. This tree has been trained using clip and grow only. All the wor...

youtube.com

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Check out Nigel Saunders Bonsai Zone YouTube channel. He grows a lot of these in Canada and has a number of videos on his progressions.

Thanks, I found the repot.
He had it in a small pot the whole time like an experienced smart person.