Mugo repotting

lauere85

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Mcspeed

Might have, turns out the best time to work a mughos root system is more of a mid summer thing, when the roots are more actively growing. Older trees tend to react more to somethings a younger tree takes in stride(go figure), now you need to leave it alone, for up to 3 years, if it makes it you will know, then again if it doesn't you'll know too.

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Vance Wood

Actually your question should be "How long will it take to recover?" 75% of the root mass eliminated is pretty extreme especially in the early spring. If this tree survives here is what I suspect will happen. The rest of this year it will only kind of sit there and pout. It wont look good and many may say it is dead but don't believe them. Just let it alone and water only when it needs water. Next spring you will be lucky if it puts out any new growth, it might not do anything other than look like it did this year. Many will tell you it is dead; don't believe them, keep it around for another season. The next season if it is going to survive it should pop some buds. I have had Mugos do this exactly as I have described.

Here I feel compelled to make a couple of judgements. First of all if you are contemplating doing something drastic beyond your experience it is best to ask questions before the event not after, and hope for a miracle suggestion. Second major root work in my experience on Mugos is best done in the summer once the tree has gotten into high gear to use a metaphor.

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The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa

JGamby713

Hi Vance...


I know you are a advocate for summer work on mugos and given your description above it sounds like you have had bad luck with spring work. In the NW we are just the opposite of what you preach... I reduced a mugo, the roots by atleast 75% and the foliage by atleast that as well and it has responded with a great deal of candle growth this spring about 6 weeks after the work was done. This isn't the first time I have done this either.
Would you say this has to do with my climate vs. yours, my timing has been just right or? I am curious as to your thoughts on this.

Thanks, Jason

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lauere85

I'm in the NW as well, and I have been noticing some candle growth on the pine...

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I'll just keep watering it and hope for the best, and not believe people when they tell me it's dead

tachigi

This should not be a surprise .... we humans react the same way.

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Shady Side Bonsai
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Vance Wood

Don't know. All I know for sure I have had problems working Mugos in the spring and none in the summer.

__________________
The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa

JGamby713

Hi Lauere,
It is dead if all the needles turn color and fall off the branch. That branch is dead. It is dead if you scratch the bark and there is no moist cambuim underneath, it is dead if you barely move or bend a branch it snaps. Anytime those things happen it is time to recylce the tree... no point in holding out hope, as my teacher Walter Pall tells us, "Hope is the last thing to die" This is very true!!!
If it is pushing buds then you are probably in the clear.....


Thanks Vance for the reply.

Jason

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Jason's Bonsai Fun!
www.oregonbonsai.com
USDA Zone 8, NW Oregon

Vance Wood

If it is not pushing buds you still may be OK as long as it does not snap crackle or pop.

__________________
The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa