Urgent. Slip pot Larch forest

[Driver170]

One of my trees in the forest grouping leafs are starting to go pale green/yellow and falling off when touched or brushed.

My Bonsai teacher said it will be a root problem. The soil its in is basically broken down and just a big clunk of mud now. I unfortunately missed the repotting window this spring

Hes advised to slip pot it into a bigger pot and use Akadama, pumice.

Whats your thoughts guys?

 

[SilverioSan]

Lost for lost I would repot the tree by just taking it as he is and put in a proper soil, place it in a shaded area and add to the watering a dose of Superthrive - I know I am a newbie so take it as you wish but if it was my tree this is what I would do.

 

[Driver170]

If you repot a larch now you will kill it

 

[SilverioSan]

If you repot a larch now you will kill it

I don't really want to be the one and I kind of agree with you but if he doesn't do anything the tree will be dead anyway.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Maybe it would suffice to lift it up and add a bottom layer of course inorganics. That way aeration would increase, the mud can be washed out a little, and roots would have a safe place to go.
It would be the safest 'meet in the middle' option, i think.

 

[Soldano666]

Slip/up pot them in some good draining soil as instructed by your teacher. keep in full sun, and cut your feed in half. If you put it in the shade the whole tree will become weak. Lanky growth, and long internodes. Larch can take all the sun you can give em. lots of inner branch buds will weaken and die back as a result of shade.

 

[Potawatomi13]

If substrate is broken down kakadama how is using again a good idea? Yes to pumice but repotting now is RISKY. How can "slip pot" forest in shallow pot without break down? Good Luck.

 

[Driver170]

If substrate is broken down kakadama how is using again a good idea? Yes to pumice but repotting now is RISKY. How can "slip pot" forest in shallow pot without break down? Good Luck.

The previous owner did not use akadama.

Me and my teacher are doing this slip pot help it through the year until we can repot it.

 

[M. Frary]

The previous owner did not use akadama

I wouldn't either.

 

[Driver170]

Why?

 

[Paulpash]

Pumice + DE = Happy Larch.

 

[M. Frary]

Why?

Because you'll be going through the same thing in a year or two.
Akadama breaks down. Into clay.
It's one of those Japanese things.
If they use it ,why it must be the best.
I don't want do soil wars or maybe I do but using akadama in my opinion puts certain trees at risk. Like conifers. They don't lime having roots messed with but people do that half bare root thing to them every so often in order to get old akadama out.
Doesn't it seem better to use substrates that don't break down? That way you can leave the core of roots alone and just trim the outer edge. Putting way less strain on the tred.

 

[Driver170]

Operation done!

Akadama and pumice

 

[butlern]

All of those trees in that grouping looked pretty damn happy to me... as did the new growth in the first photos in the first post... not sure why this was categorized as an emergency!

I guess pictures are not doing justice to the dire state of the planting.

Hope they recover soon!

 

[Driver170]

Hi its not an emergency repot.

Just took the whool root ball and placed it in Akadama and pumice to get the balance of water and oxygen.

The far second right tree is turning yellow foliage.