soil and repotting

when one repots especially from nursery stock to smaller pots does one have to remove all the old soil or can a pocket of it under the trunk itself be left on till the next repotting?

another question I had was with some soil mixtures being up to 3/4 inorganic (as for junipers) and with the regular application of fertilizers, why would it be necessary to change the potting soil every repotting time? Does the inorganic portion get used up(I'm using granite grit). I'm not talking about the stuff which would fall down during the repotting process but to the bonsai mixture held within a rootball that had been reduced in size already. I haven't reached that stage yet. For all I know all the "soil" would fall from the roots if you give it a shake with the particles being large.
rob v.

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ripsgreentree

Here are some answers for you.
1. First when you repot from nursery stock the first goal should not be into a smaller pot but the correcting of the root ball for a better nebari. Remember that if you want to plant into a shallow pot or tray you are going to have to create a flat root spread with good radial roots and lots of feeder roots. To do this requires a drastic root pruning (refer to articles in bonsai today or the original Japanese magizines) to correct the effects of growing in one and five gallon pots.
2. Yes you should remove all field soil or old soil from nursery stock as it will keep feeder roots from growing close to the trees trunk. Also will prevent root rot under the trees trunk.
3. You will find that all organic material in your soil mix will decompose and break down to mud in three to four years. To recycle the inorganic material in your bonsai mix spread it out very thin on concrete slab or driveway in mid summer, when it is dry as dust resift it and wash it and it will be ready to reuse as a componet in your bonsai soil. Just reintroduce your organic material and your soil is again complete and ready to use.
ripsgreentree

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ripsgreentree

It requires an open hand to give and to recieve.

CurtisPetree

If you have a "finished" bonsai from a local grower, should you repot it immediately or leave it until spring? Several places seem to have differing opinions on when to repot.

Bonsainut

Curtis,
* As Rips said above there are reasons to repot a tree. You may need to correct a faulty nebari(surface roots). *Or you may have a tree that has used up all available space for root growth. *Or you may have a soil that you know is lousy and want to change it. *Or you may have root rot and need to clear out dead and diseased roots.
* Do you have one of these type of situations? *If not you may be allright without repotting till spring of 2003. *Either way I wouldn't do any thing untill what you consider to be spring in your area.

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Keep growing,---'Nut



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