Can I Repot Now?

RWillieK

I got a ficus bemjamina a few months ago from a florist. They had been growing it for a few years, 3.5 to 4, in a standard ceramic/clay pot.

I am growing it outdoors right now on the back deck. It seems to be doing pretty well, new leaves everywhere in semi shade.

Could I repot it into a nicer pot this time of year. The volume of the pots is pretty much equal, but the bonsai pot is obviously shallower. This is a transition pot though. I hope in a year or two to get it into a shallow (1" or less), oval pot.


Robbie

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

Should be no problem at this time of year.

Summer is the best time. Just give it about a month of shade after potting.

D3rutat

Bart Thomas: Do you find keeping a tree in shade after repotting really necessary? I have experimented, and i have repotted carmona,ficus, serissa, ligustrum,sageretia and have let them sit in full sun afterwards and they were fine(err, i must mention that it's not true full sun, i mean they live in a greenhouse, but they have full greenhouse sun all day ).

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

I have been taught this by my sensei, and have lost trees when I fail to do this. I would give any tree at least 2 weeks in open shade, gradually increasing sun exposure to acclimatize the tree.

With some species and climates you may not need to do this, but it is the cautious path.

TreeBay

In my experience, the aftercare really depends on how radical the root treatment was, particularly in relation to the plant species, how the foliage load was balanced, and when the repotting took place.

If you're talking about a deciduous tree repotted just before dormancy break, I really think the "time in the shade" is unnecessary, and perhaps detrimental, as it is the warmth of the pot that promotes root development.

Now if you're repotting out of season, cut back a large amount of roots on an evergreen, or have that "Did I do too much?" feeling, some kid gloves treatment might be a good idea.

Regards,

Matt

DISCLAIMER - Matt doesn't grow many tropicals!

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D3rutat

lol Treebay: Why don't you grow tropicals?
I should've specified that what i was talking about was mainly tropicals, which are natural sun lovers, so there isn't any high risk of leaf burn.

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