Repotting Cork Bark Pine

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Reduce the root ball and comb it out laterally, being careful not to break any of the roots, which you will find are succulent and easy to snap. White root tips are a good sign.

Using a pair of ashinaga shears, trim back the root tips to promote branching and growth. How much root you remove depends on the health of the tree. Err on the side of being too conservative and removing too little root, rather than too much! We typically remove about a third of the existing root volume.

Remember to be careful when trimming because the root you cut may originate somewhere else! Over successive repottings, the root system will become more ordered, and this will become simpler.

Keep misting the root system lightly with your spray bottle to keep the roots moist. If you allow them to dry out, they will die. Some people like to add some B-1 or superthrive to the bottle too.

Use the brass brush or toothbrush to scrub away surface moss and remove any weed roots you notice among the tree roots - they're easy to see because they're usually a different color - white and very fibrous!

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Prepare the pot by cleaning it. If the existing soil screens are clogged with roots, you'll want to replace those too.

Measure out two lengths of #16 wire long enough to wrap three sides of the container. For deep containers, make the wire equal to the circumference of the tree.

Thread those up through wire holes, if provided in the container, if not, you can use the drainage holes, being careful not to dislodge the screens.

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Fill the container with a volcano mound of soil mix, about 1/2 the volume of the pot, piled steeply in the center.

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Spray the roots one more time, then position the tree right over the top of the soil and push it down firmly, screwing it into the soil. This drives soil up into the root system and helps to eliminate air gaps.

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Check the position of the trunk in the container. We'll usually offset it a bit towards the side of the primary branch, and a bit towards the back of the pot, but placement often varies based on the shape of the root system and the trunk.

Eyeball it now and make sure you are satisfied with the level of the trunk. Expect it to sink just a bit as it is tied in

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Now we have four wires coming out of the side faces of the pot at the compass directions North, South, East and West
Pull up on the South wire to seat it, then pull it across in the direction of the East wire. Pull up on the East wire firmly to seat it. Twist the South and East wire together at the Southeast corner of the pot.

Pull up sharply on the two wires. Then turn counterclockwise and decrease the pressure as the wires is tightened. Pull back on the two wires again and repeat.

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Taking the longer, EAST wire, length, repeat the above process, securing East to North wires in the Northeast corner.

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Repeat again, taking the longer of the two (NORTH) wire ends and securing it with the West wire. Remember to pull up on both wires in the direction of teh Northwest corner where they will be secured.

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Now we have a length of West wire with nowhere to secure it. No problem.

Slip another short length of wire under the wire in the Southeast corner and draw it back towards its north end. Secure it in place with a couple of twists

Pull up on it sharply and over in the direction of the Southeast corner

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