Want to wait a couple weeks to repot but buds are bustin'.

Kazoo

I had hoped to wait 2-3 weeks to start repotting, but today I see my Elm is budding green blobs. It usually speeds up VERY rapidly.

What think? Start now? Awfully warm today. And the wet winter has been warmer than usual. High 30's nights.

Repots needed on Campestre, Ulmus, Juniper, Pomegranate.....possibly a Mugho.

??

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Ashbarns9999

At first i was quite astounded that someone with 15 years experience would seek advice such as you have asked. It then dawned on me that you were merely seeking comment on behalf of newer bonsaiists which i think is a very commendable thought.

The trees tell us when it is the right time to re-pot and if your elm is at that point of leaf burst the time is now. It is advisable to place the newly re-potted tree in dappled shade to avoid direct sunlight which can dry the trees roots quickly therefore killing all those new little feeder roots. Just make sure the tree is watered sufficiently to allow the tree to get on with producing all this new growth. Gradually over the next three weeks or so introduce the tree to more sunlight which will 'harden' it to its natural environment.

With regard to junipers when new buds start to appear they can be re-potted but you have certain leeway with them of around a couple of months depending on your local environment.

Vance Wood (our Mugo expert) tells us this species is best left until summer before re-potting. I would seek further information by doing a search for Vance's thoughts on this.

I hope this has been helpful for our members.

Regards Ash

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Joanie

Yes, that is helpful, and the same problem is happening here. The elms are budding. We may have cold nights, though, between now and March. Will that matter? (Cold, in this instance, being in the low 40's) If some root pruning needs to be done, can we do it now safely?

Joanie

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Aaron_K

Hi Kazoo,

As Ash said, if the elm tree is budding then its time to repot - that's if the tree needs repotting. One thing you might have to watch out for is late frosts afterwards, as it is still pretty early in the year.

All the best,

Aaron

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Ashbarns9999

Joanie providing that you do not anticipate frost then then i would say proceed as the tree tells you. Low 40's is not very cold and the tree will adjust accordingly. Err on the side of caution and place the re-potted tree under cover say below the house eaves or a shelter of some description at night. I would even suggest placing the tree in a styrene box. Elms are pretty tough especially the common variety. If leaf burst is about to happen then it is time. A bit like the birth of a baby nature takes its course.

Regards Ash

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Joanie

Ash, that makes the point very well.

Thank you!

Joanie

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susieq

The winter has been warmer than normal here on the Gulf Coast of Florida also. I normally start root pruning and repotting the end of January through the end of Feb and just maybe ....into March a little bit, depending on the temperatures. This season the window of opportunity will be shorter than usual, I fear. Luckily, I did lots of root pruning on the junipers and elms last season and there isn't much that needs done in that respect again this year. It is always a race to get it all done even when the season is a normal one.
It has been near 80 degrees here the last few days and I am hoping for a cold front to make it down this far. But, I am doing mostly styling and trimming this year, not such a big deal as messing with the roots.....
susieq

Kazoo

Thanks, Ash. My "15 years of experience" has been a motley stagger through trial and error and converting projects into mulch. Some things work for me and some don't.

My question wasn't quite as altruistic in nature as you may have thought.

I go dumb from year to year. In the past FIFTEEN YEARS, I have potted ALL at once. An error that I learned today.

Thanks again.

zen

How about repotting tropicals, I have a ficus benji. that needs to be put into a freer-draining soil, so when can I repot that? Also will boiling sand from a creek bed that plants are growing happily in now, be enough to sterilize it? Or does it even HAVE to be sterilized if, like aford mentioned, plants are currently growing in this sand and look VERY healthy and happy?

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