Diary of a Noob

[MSU JBoots]

Knee deep in repotting I finally managed to get my trees out of winter storage and back on the benches. Thus far outside of the bare root of the maple I’ve repotted 2 junipers utilizing a half bare root method. Tonight I called an audible and went with the top half bare root method I learned from a podcast. The post of mine that got dug up a couple weeks back reminded me of the technique.

I hadn’t planning on utilizing it but the hinoki was horribly root bound with circling roots. Here it was before I put it back in the nursery pot.

I put it back in the nursery can then filled the top with bonsai jack soil and chopsticked it to fill in voids. I likely botched the technique and I’m not sure putting it back in its original nursery can with such a tall water column was wise but it’s likely too late now. Fingers crossed this one survives my ham handed approach this evening. Here’s the final product although it doesn’t show much.

 

[Horsefeathers]

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Apologies for quoting such an old post, but I was curious if you'll have to dig up the tree to remove the raffia or does it just decompose over time? Any updates on this tree?

 

[MSU JBoots]

Apologies for quoting such an old post, but I was curious if you'll have to dig up the tree to remove the raffia or does it just decompose over time? Any updates on this tree?

It’s doing well. Just leafed out over the last few days. I haven’t done anything but fertilize and let it grow since that repot. The raffia should just decompose per my understanding. I have been considering a trunk chop as I want to keep this tree a shohin but perhaps I’ll let it grow another season.

 

[MSU JBoots]

I repotted my large JBP. I was a bit surprised at how root bound it was although I probably shouldn’t have been since it was in such a small pot. It was pretty much full of coarse circling roots with very few fine feeder roots at the bottom. As is my tendency I ended up being a bit more aggressive than I had planned on. I’m really hoping it responds well as it has a lot of promise compared to the rest of my bench. Here are a few pics of the process. This was the start.
Here it was post combing out the roots.

Here it is all said and done. I might add some guy wires just to hold it more secure as though I tightened down the wire in the pot it was still a little wiggly.

 

[MSU JBoots]

I’ve been relatively absent from the forum as I get used to life with 2 kids, now 4 years and 6 months old. This JBP really struggled after my repot. Perhaps I was too aggressive. Its candles took until nearly July to extend and make needles. My other JBP was so far in advance of that I feared this might be dead. I think I’ll be hands off for the rest of this year to let it recover.

I repotted my large JBP. I was a bit surprised at how root bound it was although I probably shouldn’t have been since it was in such a small pot. It was pretty much full of coarse circling roots with very few fine feeder roots at the bottom. As is my tendency I ended up being a bit more aggressive than I had planned on. I’m really hoping it responds well as it has a lot of promise compared to the rest of my bench. Here are a few pics of the process. This was the start.View attachment 540918
Here it was post combing out the roots.
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Here it is all said and done. I might add some guy wires just to hold it more secure as though I tightened down the wire in the pot it was still a little wiggly.
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ally

 

[MSU JBoots]

I bought another tropical in late April despite my better judgement. I wanted something that would flower so I picked up this lavender star from a bonsai shop across the state. I did nothing for a month then foolishly repotted in in late May. However it was in all organic soil and not draining well. Here it was before:

I don’t have much experience with deciduous but I did my standard bare root but I was likely too aggressive with the root prune. Here it was after I worked the roots.


After I repotted it I realized I unintentionally changed the planting angle. That will have to be remedied in the future as I don’t like the current planting angle at all.

All this likely would have been fine if I hadn’t forgotten about it hidden in the shade away from my other trees and not watered it for 5 days. It was horribly wilted and dropped most of its leaves. However, I’ve slowly nursed it back to health and it is now in partial sun after it began to leaf out again with much smaller leaves. Luckily it appears as though it will pull through. Here it is today.

 

[Carol 83]

I bought another tropical in late April despite my better judgement. I wanted something that would flower so I picked up this lavender star from a bonsai shop across the state. I did nothing for a month then foolishly repotted in in late May. However it was in all organic soil and not draining well. Here it was before:
View attachment 555817
I don’t have much experience with deciduous but I did my standard bare root but I was likely too aggressive with the root prune. Here it was after I worked the roots.
View attachment 555818
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After I repotted it I realized I unintentionally changed the planting angle. That will have to be remedied in the future as I don’t like the current planting angle at all.
View attachment 555820
All this likely would have been fine if I hadn’t forgotten about it hidden in the shade away from my other trees and not watered it for 5 days. It was horribly wilted and dropped most of its leaves. However, I’ve slowly nursed it back to health and it is now in partial sun after it began to leaf out again with much smaller leaves. Luckily it appears as though it will pull through. Here it is today.
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They are very resilient. Mine has had fits and dropped all of it's leaves just to be annoying. Just when I figured it was toast, it started popping new leaves.

 

[MSU JBoots]

A neighbor got too much rock so my bonsai benches got a little upgrade this weekend!

 

[MSU JBoots]

I figured the only chance this tree had to be something I wanted to continue to put effort into was to take my first attempt at an air layer and take the top off where I was able to put some movement into the trunk last year. Plus it would give me some practice before I try some Japanese maple air layers later this spring.View attachment 485296View attachment 485297View attachment 485298

After two attempts to air layer the top failed I had pretty much given up on this. It has been a total eye sore. The foliage has always long and leggy never building mass so I don’t think it has much promise. In a moment of boredom this afternoon I decided to just go to the extreme on this tree. I won’t be surprised if dies but at least it has some interest.

 

[Horsefeathers]

I like what you did there. Maybe it has a future as a literati...?