Collected American Larch repot.

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I bought this at our All state show last year & was told it was in this pot for 3 years at the time. So, four years total, would you repot it now? It's been a little slow draining and I don't want problems in the next 12 months. If I do, my question is since it's in organic soil and only 30% of root removal is recommended, can I change all the soil to inorganic without removing more than 30% of the roots? Can I root wash?

Currently the buds are ready to pop and I wanted to get it better soil. I'm planning on putting it back into the same pot.

Pic from when I bought and styled it. May 2024 just to show the soil it's in. I don't have any recent pics.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Crap wrong "Other" forum. @Bonsai Nut can you move this to Other Conifers?

 

[Eckhoffw]

If it’s been in there for four years, I’d think it could handle being repotted.
If you’re sure that the tree is in good health I would say go for it.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

If it’s been in there for four years, I’d think it could handle being repotted.
If you’re sure that the tree is in good health I would say go for it.

Thanks. It's real healty and happy. Any advice on repot root reduction? percentage wise? It's in organic soil and I've read that only 30% of root removal is recommended, can I change all the soil to inorganic?

 

[Eckhoffw]

Thanks. It's real healty and happy. Any advice on repot root reduction? percentage wise? It's in organic soil and I've read that only 30% of root removal is recommended, can I change all the soil to inorganic?

No expert but I generally let the state of root ball Tell me how much reduction I will be doing. If the can is full of find feeder roots, then reducing it by half should be no problem. If there are still a lot of thick messy, meandering roots that need to be straightened out, I would cut them back hard
And perhaps do less reduction on the fine roots.
I would remove as much old organic soil as possible without to being overly aggressive.

Not sure what your new mix will be, but I like using pumice and some sphagnum moss.

Good luck!