Peter's Bonsai Blog
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Repotting Tips -Tree placement & securing the tree |
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This slanting style Chinese Juniper presents a few challenges when repotting. Because of it’s shape, placing the tree to the left of centre of the pot helps keep the image in balance, but this also creates a difficulty in securing the tree into the pot and ensuring that it doesn’t topple over. One solution is to secure a bamboo cane (in this case a chop stick from Ikea) across the surface of the roots. The chop stick is then securely tied into the pot in the usual way and the whole thing covered with soil. When complete you would never know what has been done. |
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If you don’t have enough holes in the pot, or they are in the wrong position, carefully drill some additional wiring holes using a standard “tile drill”; the type used for drilling holes through ceramic tiles in your bathroom. The following pictures show the use of chop sticks used to secure a maple which has an exceptionally wide nebari. This technique avoids having wires crossing over the nebari.
The following images show a typical sequence of repotting a well established maple;-
Having removed the tree from the pot, it's clear that there is a good strong root system. To remove the old compacted soil, I decided to completely bare root the tree by washing out all the soil with a hose pipe. You should only do this when there is strong vigorous root growth.
The old soil is then replaced with my preferred mix of 50 /50 cat litter and Akadama, carefully worked into the roots
The next images show the amount of root growth developed by may favorite escallonia.
The picture below shows the amount of root development on a collected hawthorn 3 years after collection. - Plenty of roots to ensure healthy growth after repotting.
This picture shows a root ball in need of repotting. This particular tree is the one I inherited from Joe Baillie in 2018
It looks much happier in its new pot and free draining soil.
Click here for the next bonsai tip If you would you are not clear on any of the points made or would like assistance in any other aspect of the hobby please contact me and I shall be pleased to help. Peter Thorne Tel:01294 273085 |
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