When to repot JBP

[Toraidento]

Ok posted some pics back in November of 4 JBP I want to make literati. Here is one of em. My question is are those small needles new growth and if so is it time to report. My elms and maples are budding like crazy over the last couple of days. Just wondering if these pines are doing the same. Should I report now? The pines in question have been stuck in one to one n a half gallon pots for no telling how long, and were seriously root bound. I slip potted them back in November. I want to turn em into literati what should I put em in when I repot? Pond baskets, clay bonsai pots?I have to do a lot of work to em. I know root work and get styling going next fall. have a few Ideas in mind just not exactly sure how to get there ATM. Any suggestions are welcome

 

[Anthony]

@Adair M and @markyscott ,

please advise Sifus.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Adair M]

It looks like th buds are swelling. So, yes, you could repot now. You could plant them in a colander, but it might be unstable since they’re so tall. Maybe use a pond basket instead. You don’t have to fill the pond basket to the rim.

These are young trees. Literati are supposed to depict old, ancient trees. Good thing, though, JBP produces mature bark pretty easily, so it won’t take too many years.

Yes, it looks like you are getting back budding! Careful, they’re extremely delicate!

The trunks need some movement. They look like they’re easily bendable with copper wire. Google “literati bonsai” and look the “images” to get an idea of the movement you’ll want to have. One thing: if you wire the trunk (which I recommend you do) watch the wire carefully, and remove it if it starts to cut in. On a literati, you don’t want wire scars on the trunk.

 

[Toraidento]

It looks like th buds are swelling. So, yes, you could repot now. You could plant them in a colander, but it might be unstable since they’re so tall. Maybe use a pond basket instead. You don’t have to fill the pond basket to the rim.

These are young trees. Literati are supposed to depict old, ancient trees. Good thing, though, JBP produces mature bark pretty easily, so it won’t take too many years.

Yes, it looks like you are getting back budding! Careful, they’re extremely delicate!

The trunks need some movement. They look like they’re easily bendable with copper wire. Google “literati bonsai” and look the “images” to get an idea of the movement you’ll want to have. One thing: if you wire the trunk (which I recommend you do) watch the wire carefully, and remove it if it starts to cut in. On a literati, you don’t want wire scars on the trunk.

These are old trees they have been in 1 to 2 gallon nursery pots since 1995 is what I was told. Here are also some ideas I'm leaning toward for the styling. I just wasn't sure about pots thinking Pond baskets for roots, but I need something I can anchor wires to. So I was thing maybe wooden boxes would allow me to use screws and guy wire to get the movement in the trunks. I know putting them in the ground would be the best place. I could use rebar and other methods to bend them but I don't have room to put them in the ground so my options are sorta limited

 

[Toraidento]

I do have a few of these pond baskets I can use. But will they hold up for a year if I tie guy wire thru them and pull tight or will they break and release the bend?

 

[Adair M]

Guy wiring isn’t going to do it. You won’t be able to put the bend where you really want it.

Another approach is to use rebar. You can tie the trunk to the rebar, put a block of wood where you want the bend, and use a jack to pull the trunk back. You can secure it with a guy wire.

But pulling down with a guy wire to put curves in the trunk? It won’t give you satisfactory results.

1995? That puts them at 22 to 23 years old. Hmm... the bark doesn’t look it. You’ve got a hot mess of roots to fix.

 

[Toraidento]

Yeah don't know about the age. Got them from Bonsai Beginnings here in Savannah he says JBP are too much work. He had planted them to use them as trees on his property. They ended up using for wiring practice, when they had a club here in Savannah. Then they got set aside, and just watered I believe. I'm not sure what is true, when they have been repotted, or when anything was done to them. Just wanted some BPs to learn on and thought they might turn out to be ok Literati. Although they don't have much taper if any at all, they don't have much movement and they are really bad as far being root bound. They are back budding, so that is a good sign I think. So what would you do if you had them? I'm guessing you wouldn't have them. How would you proceed?

 

[Anthony]

Ask someone if they could send you copies of Bonsai Today 12 and 20 - J.B.pine section.

Or you could take lessons from Adair.

Your avatar, looks to be a young face. so if time does not bother you, just get them
healthy.
Learn how to grow them well.

Why not join the 6 year J.B.pine contest here.
Best of Growing
Anthony

 

[Adair M]

Yeah don't know about the age. Got them from Bonsai Beginnings here in Savannah he says JBP are too much work. He had planted them to use them as trees on his property. They ended up using for wiring practice, when they had a club here in Savannah. Then they got set aside, and just watered I believe. I'm not sure what is true, when they have been repotted, or when anything was done to them. Just wanted some BPs to learn on and thought they might turn out to be ok Literati. Although they don't have much taper if any at all, they don't have much movement and they are really bad as far being root bound. They are back budding, so that is a good sign I think. So what would you do if you had them? I'm guessing you wouldn't have them. How would you proceed?

First off, get them into good soil. I prefer an inorganic Mix of equal parts akadama, pumice and lava. Do you know about the “half bare root” repot? If not search this forum for it, or “HBR repot”.

If they grow strongly this spring after doing the HBR, you might be able to decandle them this summer.

Then, in the fall, you can style them.

Health first.

 

[Adair M]

Meanwhile, if you are new to JBP, I think it would be a good idea to watch Boon’s JBP videos. You can rent them from www.bonsaiboon.com.

 

[Toraidento]

Meanwhile, if you are new to JBP, I think it would be a good idea to watch Boon’s JBP videos. You can rent them from www.bonsaiboon.com.

K I'll find the video, and check out Bonsai tonight 12 and 20. I have watched a couple videos on JBP and repotting but most only say 1/3 the root ball when repotting. I just didn't want to put them in pond baskets this time and need them to be in wooden boxes come late fall or winter. When I try to start styling them and need to put screws or anchors somewhere and not have it cause I put em in the wrong pots. That was all I was trying to find out if I needed them in something specific to help bending /styling them come winter.

 

[Adair M]

K I'll find the video, and check out Bonsai tonight 12 and 20. I have watched a couple videos on JBP and repotting but most only say 1/3 the root ball when repotting. I just didn't want to put them in pond baskets this time and need them to be in wooden boxes come late fall or winter. When I try to start styling them and need to put screws or anchors somewhere and not have it cause I put em in the wrong pots. That was all I was trying to find out if I needed them in something specific to help bending /styling them come winter.

Since you are not going to be styling until next fall/winter, you have plenty of time to figure out how you’re going to bend them.

The best way is to not have to depend on attaching anything to the container. Wires can be screwed into the trunk in inconspicuous places. Or from a piece of deadwood. Bracing with rebar. That way, the tree is independent of the the pot. Especially if you want to use something like a colander or pond basket.

 

[Toraidento]

Just so I can keep up with for later here they are again repot. A couple seems to have ok nebari. Well kinda funky and crazy like me!