How to tell the right timing for repotting Atlas Cedar?

[starleaf]

I just bought an Atlas Cedar “Sapphire Nymph”. I am thinking of trying to get it into a basket, to allow for aeration and airpruning. The Bonsai Mirai species guide says timing for repotting Blue Atlas Cedars is crucial:

“The tree should be actively opening its buds and beginning to elongate before beginning the repotting process.

Once these markers take place, you have a 7-day window to reduce the tree’s root mass. To successfully create a bonsai root system, new growth needs to be evident, and temperatures need to be relatively warm.

Attempting to repot a blue atlas cedar bonsai any time before or after the 7-day window will cause problems with the root's ability to transport water to the foliage.”

But I am not familiar with what new growth or opening buds look should loook like on an Atlas Cedar. Can someone tell me based on the photos posted, if the safe window is now, past, or not here yet?

I see some small growth tips or possibly opening buds but lots of buds that are still fully closed (if I’m interpreting it correctly), so I’m not really sure.

Also, a separate issue on the same tree, as you can see in a couple of the pics, there was some damage to the trunk when I got it from the nursery (they gave me a discount for it). Is this something the tree should recover from? It’s a bit deep, almost half the trunk is missing. Causes by branch that got ripped off. The wound doesn’t look fresh, maybe already sealed over with sap. There are a couple of other limp branches that probably got damaged at the same time but the tree overall looks like it might be fine. The apex is very rigid and strong. I’ll try to get a better photo of the profile of the trunk tomorrow.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

When you see stuff popping out of the buds, it should be the right time.
I see that the buds are active, but not opening yet.
If you want, you can log it with pictures for us.

In my own experience: anytime in spring after the frost is fine. But I have only worked with 4 adult-stage plants and about 30 seedlings.

 

[caffeinated]

Don't freak out when, after repotting and it starts getting warm, you see all or a bunch of needles yellowing and falling off. Any of mine, the first time out of a nursery container, have done that, but they grew back within a couple months. Take less off the roots than you might with other trees. Blue Atlas can be temperamental. Or look up Boon's 1/2 bare root repot, or Tom Fincel's top down repots if you want to play it safer.