This jbp was growing in a one-gallon nursery container for several years. The mix, which had broken down considerably, was composed of pine bark and perlite. I decided to put it in a bonsai container on March 15th. The new mix is the standard a/p/l. As I was getting into the root ball, I noticed that much of it was black and dead. I didn't go with the Boon method of half bare rooting. Instead, I tried Ryan Neal's method of leaving the root ball and soil under the trunk untouched. I teased out roots as best I could and surrounded the root ball with the new mix. Although it probably isn't advised, I've always left my jbps out on the ground covere with leaves during the winter. This year we had searing cold temps and one night saw -7 F. Is there anything I can do that might help improve survival chances? I considered taking it back out of the pot and planting in pure pumice. The needles have started drooping a bit and the shiny look that most jbp needles have is dulling. I fear the worst.
Best Next Step For Sick Pine
- Thread starter mrcasey
- Start date
pandacular
Masterpiece
It seems there is some confusion about the application of these techniques. They are entirely separate scopes of work, the former for trees being transitioned to aggregate substrate and the latter for well established old rootballs.
A greenhouse + careful watering is your best bet.
Wulfskaar
Omono
Why are you worried? It doesn't look too bad from the picture.
Ryan does not use the half bare root method at all and doesn't agree with that procedure. He uses his "ring" method for transitioning all his trees into aggregate substrate. Once the trees have been transitioned out of field soil, nursery mix, or what have you, Boon and Ryan seem to do similar root work on repotting established trees.
I hope you're right, but I've looked at a lot of jbp prebonsai. The picture isn't great, and the needles look a bit dull and droopy. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Wulfskaar
Omono
Hopefully the outer roots will dive into the good soil and it'll be fine.
