frozen rootball???

TinyTree

Hello to all, this is my first post and I want to say that I'm very happy that someone started a forum like this for all 'us' who enjoy these miniature trees. I've been caring and training bonsai now for 3 years. I've recently bought a nice twin trunk japanese maple. This past weekend was frigid and when I went out to check on my bonsai in the cold frame, the rootball was frozen solid!!! I've never expierenced this before.

Is this OK? I moved my trees to the inside of my garage where the temp doesn't drop below freezing.

What do I do? Should I just let the tree do its thing or is it a gonner?

Thanks in advance for the help.

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EarthgirlOK

First of all, welcome! You are already a little ahead of many new members in that you've more than likely had a chance to kill a few trees and keep a few alive in three years.

Please click on "User CP" up on the menu bar and update your profile as to where you live and what zone you are in. But for the most part, your trees should be fine. I live in Oklahoma and we are in a hard freeze right now. All of my trees are outside and lightly mulched in.

Main thing is to watch your watering schedule. Cut way back on watering during frigid temps, but don't let them dry out completely.

I expect you'll get some more science-based answers from other members, but I just wanted to say welcome to the madness!

Michelle

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Sonlight NurseryGreen Country Bonsai Society

soonami

Welcome to bT.

The soil being frozen is not too big of a deal it's bound to happen considering its winter. But the roots as long as they were given a chance to accomodate to cooling temperatures, the roots should've lignified (hardened) and should be fine. The roots have a higher concentration of ions, and dissolved substances in them, so they freeze at a lower temperature. That's the reason why you salt roads to "melt" ice. The ice isn't melted, but that once the salt dissolves, it lowers the freezing temperature of water, so that the salt water solution won't freeze at the same temperature that pure water would.

Roots naturally have salts dissolved in them, that's how water is pulled into them. And in the wintertime, starches and sugars are stored in the roots for sustaining the tree over the winter. So all these substanes dissolved in the water of the roots, protect them from being frozen and damaged. Trees like japanese maple originally were found in the mountains of japan, korea and china so they are very well suited for places with cold winters. That said, you should still be careful because if the temperature gets too cold the roots could still freeze. But if you are storing your trees away in a cold frame then they should be adaquately protected and the frozen root ball should not be of much concern

TinyTree

Awesome, thanks for telling me my little tree will make it I have to admit, I was a bit worried there.

I'm just going to stop worrying now and let it do its thing :- )


these little tree dudes are cool!!

TinyTree

I started thinking about it a little more......

Here's a run down on the events...


I recieved my tree from a local store last Tuesday. It had not gone into dormancy yet. I put it in a styrofoam cooler with mulch. Put it outside(in cold frame) on Thursday. This weekend was frigid. Probobly froze on Saturday night. It's wednesday now and it's still frozen solid. I hope by just throwing it to the wolves(the freezing temps) so soon it didn't cause damage to the roots. Its in my garage now and I moved the mulch away from around the pot.

Any thoughts?

Also, the leaves have shriveled up, should I remove them?
Thanks