Under what circumstances...

[HotAction]

would you attempt to repot a japanese black pine tommorow? Please, I need help stopping a mad man.

Dave

 

[BUBBAFRGA]

If I want it to die...... but then again thats what I do to Black Pine.

 

[greerhw]

would you attempt to repot a japanese black pine tommorow? Please, I need help stopping a mad man.

Dave

Tell him to leave it alone !

keep it green,
Harry

 

[HotAction]

I've tried. He travels during the winter and doesn't get home till april. He says the tree has been kept really cool and shaded, so it doesn't have much action, yet. BTW, this is a very impressive tree that he bought out in California in the 70's. At that time it was already an established designed show tree. It is too big for him to handle on his own, so I don't think it has been root-worked in a long time. I'm 99.9% sure I can't talk him out of it. What should i do?

Dave

 

[edro]

Tell him it's going to be 80 degrees for the next ~10 days so the tree needs undamaged roots to keep it supplied with water.

 

[R_F]

I've tried. He travels during the winter and doesn't get home till april. He says the tree has been kept really cool and shaded, so it doesn't have much action, yet. BTW, this is a very impressive tree that he bought out in California in the 70's. At that time it was already an established designed show tree. It is too big for him to handle on his own, so I don't think it has been root-worked in a long time. I'm 99.9% sure I can't talk him out of it. What should i do?

Dave

Steal it and hold it for ransom until he agrees to be sensible

 

[milehigh_7]

slap em like in the old movies when the leading lady is hysterical...

 

[HotAction]

I would put this tree in the 5K + range BTW. This same fella will be exhibiting in the national exhibit in June. I've been at bonsai less than 2 years. Who am I to tell him what to do. I will try to talk him out of it as best I can.

Dave

 

[R_F]

I would put this tree in the 5K + range BTW. This same fella will be exhibiting in the national exhibit in June. I've been at bonsai less than 2 years. Who am I to tell him what to do. I will try to talk him out of it as best I can.

Dave

I have heard of people successfully repotting JBP in summer. But I sure wouldn't risk it, especially with a 5K tree.

 

[greerhw]

I've slip potted JBP's in the summer, but I didn't disturb the roots.

keep it green,
Harry

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

I would assume he wants to repot it because of the show... I would advise that if he insists on doing it, that he only do as much as is required to get the tree into the other pot.

I would use a really sharp saw to cut away the bits to make it fit and refrain from using a root hook to reduce damage. Try to leave as many white root tips as possible.

Then he should plan on coming home early next year and doing it right... or give it into the care of someone over the winter who is qualified to do it...

However what one must also realize is that the man has owned the tree over 30 years... so he's no dumby either... and may be well acquainted with what it can tolerate... or he has the set up to provide it spectacular after care. Familiarity with the tree is the most important thing... one would hope after three decades that he has this.

Kindest regards,

Victrinia

 

[cquinn]

I would assume he wants to repot it because of the show... I would advise that if he insists on doing it, that he only do as much as is required to get the tree into the other pot.

I would use a really sharp saw to cut away the bits to make it fit and refrain from using a root hook to reduce damage. Try to leave as many white root tips as possible.

Then he should plan on coming home early next year and doing it right... or give it into the care of someone over the winter who is qualified to do it...

However what one must also realize is that the man has owned the tree over 30 years... so he's no dumby either... and may be well acquainted with what it can tolerate... or he has the set up to provide it spectacular after care. Familiarity with the tree is the most important thing... one would hope after three decades that he has this.

Kindest regards,

Victrinia

Yeah, I'm betting that fellow knows what the score is. Better than we actually. If he's like my teacher he's probably had the tree longer than his wife.

 

[mcpesq817]

However what one must also realize is that the man has owned the tree over 30 years... so he's no dumby either... and may be well acquainted with what it can tolerate... or he has the set up to provide it spectacular after care. Familiarity with the tree is the most important thing... one would hope after three decades that he has this.

That was my thought as well. He sounds like he knows what he is doing.

 

[HotAction]

Well, the deed is done. Vic, it is actually a different tree of his going into the show. He wanted to repot because it had been a long time since it had been done. We put it back into the container it was in, as containers that large are hard to come by. Based on the look of the buds, I'd say this wasn't an absoloutey crazy idea. All his trees are at least a month behind mine as far as new growth is concerned. He believes this work will restore some much needed vigor to the tree.

He repotted most of his other trees with the same method over the last couple weeks, and they have responded very well. He is keeping all of them in his shaded "infirmary" for a bit, before putting everything back in its home. Most of these trees have been in training about 30 years.

If it survives the root work and is nice and healthy, we are going to wire it all out next year. He took some pics, as I forgot my camera, and I'll post them after he e-mails them this way.

Thanks for all the replies.

Dave

 

[doooodickiebr]

I've slip potted JBP's in the summer, but I didn't disturb the roots.

keep it green,
Harry

i agree...slip pot only. it's too risky

 

[HotAction]

Well, I finally got the pics from the project in an e-mail, so here goes. The word is that the tree is doing just fine, and hopefully i can get some new pics before the year is over.

Dave