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Please review the discussion concerning "emergency repotting procedures" above.

NORMAL REPOTTING OPERATIONS

A. GET THE MATERIALS READY

Nothing is worse than leaving your tree unearthed while you search for the right pot, soil and materials. Before you begin ensure that you have the following items:

1. Chopsticks
2. Root Pruning Shears
3. Root cutters, small or large
4. Root Saw
5. Pot (cleaned and ready)
6. Drainage screen installed
7. Wire for tying the tree into place and securing drainage screen
8. Wire cutters for trimming wire
9. Wire pliers for tightening the tie wires
10. Prepare soil for repotting. The preparation of soil is the subject of a separate article, but you will want to be sure you have plenty of soil on hand before you begin the repotting operation. The soil should be dry, but not "bone dry." The soil should be screened with a sifter to remove fines and dust that could clog container and obstruct drainage.
11. Watering nozzle and hose
12. Tub or container for soaking the tree
13. Spray bottle filled with water
14. Long fiber sphagnum moss, (use "Canadian long-fiber moss." NOT ground peat moss)
15. Soil Scoops for distributing soil
16. Moss spores or collected moss, if desired

B. PREPARE THE NEW CONTAINER
If the tree is going back into the same container you will need to remove it from the container first, then return to this step before proceeding.

1. Wash the old container. Scrub out any old soil with a vegetable brush. If the previous occupant of this pot met an untimely death, it might be sensible to wash out the container with a solution containing a 5% Clorox solution to disinfect it. Be sure to rinse the container thoroughly to remove the bleach residue.

2. Identify the "front" of the container. Some pots have defects, cracks or warping that makes the front easy to find. If you can't see any difference, don't worry about it.

3. Replace the drainage screen. The screen should completely cover the drainage holes and it may be secured with a staple-shaped piece of wire that pokes through the drainage holes and is bent outward on the opposite side.

4. Add tie-in wires. These will be used to secure the tree. Tie-in arrangements for group plantings and cascade trees can be the most complex. In general you will want to have a minimum of four wire ends for tying, which means two wires. Make the wires about 3/4 of the circumference of the pot. A little longer for a cascade pot. A little deeper for a tray - 1/2 the circumference.

5. From the bottom of the pot, pass the wires through the drainage holes and distribute the wire ends by tucking them over the four corners of the pot, or approximate that position on hex or round pots.

B. REMOVE THE TREE FROM THE CONTAINER
The general procedure for repotting is to cut any tie wires with a wire cutter and remove the tree from its container. If the tree is well established, it may have compacted itself against the walls of the container and it may be necessary to run a knife or root hook around the circumference of the pot in order to extract the tree.

If the container has a lip that turns in at the top, it may be even more difficult to extract the tree. You'll likely have to take a sharp knife and cut the root ball around the container about 1/2 inch in from the container's edge.

Roots sometimes work their way out through the drainage holes. You'll need to check here and cut away any roots.

If the tree is particularly stubborn and you're sure that you have taken the steps described above. Get some help. Have an assistant support the pot on its side. You can use a dowel and a mallet, if necessary, to push the tree out of the pot through the drainage holes. Be especially careful if this is an aged tree or delicate tree.

<CONTINUED IN REPLY>

Content ©2001 TreeBay.com, All Rights Reserved

27-Aug-2001	#3
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,742	How To Repot Please review the discussion concerning "emergency repotting procedures" above. NORMAL REPOTTING OPERATIONS A. GET THE MATERIALS READY Nothing is worse than leaving your tree unearthed while you search for the right pot, soil and materials. Before you begin ensure that you have the following items: 1. Chopsticks 2. Root Pruning Shears 3. Root cutters, small or large 4. Root Saw 5. Pot (cleaned and ready) 6. Drainage screen installed 7. Wire for tying the tree into place and securing drainage screen 8. Wire cutters for trimming wire 9. Wire pliers for tightening the tie wires 10. Prepare soil for repotting. The preparation of soil is the subject of a separate article, but you will want to be sure you have plenty of soil on hand before you begin the repotting operation. The soil should be dry, but not "bone dry." The soil should be screened with a sifter to remove fines and dust that could clog container and obstruct drainage. 11. Watering nozzle and hose 12. Tub or container for soaking the tree 13. Spray bottle filled with water 14. Long fiber sphagnum moss, (use "Canadian long-fiber moss." NOT ground peat moss) 15. Soil Scoops for distributing soil 16. Moss spores or collected moss, if desired B. PREPARE THE NEW CONTAINER If the tree is going back into the same container you will need to remove it from the container first, then return to this step before proceeding. 1. Wash the old container. Scrub out any old soil with a vegetable brush. If the previous occupant of this pot met an untimely death, it might be sensible to wash out the container with a solution containing a 5% Clorox solution to disinfect it. Be sure to rinse the container thoroughly to remove the bleach residue. 2. Identify the "front" of the container. Some pots have defects, cracks or warping that makes the front easy to find. If you can't see any difference, don't worry about it. 3. Replace the drainage screen. The screen should completely cover the drainage holes and it may be secured with a staple-shaped piece of wire that pokes through the drainage holes and is bent outward on the opposite side. 4. Add tie-in wires. These will be used to secure the tree. Tie-in arrangements for group plantings and cascade trees can be the most complex. In general you will want to have a minimum of four wire ends for tying, which means two wires. Make the wires about 3/4 of the circumference of the pot. A little longer for a cascade pot. A little deeper for a tray - 1/2 the circumference. 5. From the bottom of the pot, pass the wires through the drainage holes and distribute the wire ends by tucking them over the four corners of the pot, or approximate that position on hex or round pots. B. REMOVE THE TREE FROM THE CONTAINER The general procedure for repotting is to cut any tie wires with a wire cutter and remove the tree from its container. If the tree is well established, it may have compacted itself against the walls of the container and it may be necessary to run a knife or root hook around the circumference of the pot in order to extract the tree. If the container has a lip that turns in at the top, it may be even more difficult to extract the tree. You'll likely have to take a sharp knife and cut the root ball around the container about 1/2 inch in from the container's edge. Roots sometimes work their way out through the drainage holes. You'll need to check here and cut away any roots. If the tree is particularly stubborn and you're sure that you have taken the steps described above. Get some help. Have an assistant support the pot on its side. You can use a dowel and a mallet, if necessary, to push the tree out of the pot through the drainage holes. Be especially careful if this is an aged tree or delicate tree. <CONTINUED IN REPLY> Content ©2001 TreeBay.com, All Rights Reserved __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today! bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!