juniper parsonii

[tlynchjr]

Can I repot my juniper parsonii from garden soil to bonsai soil this time of year?

 

[0soyoung]

yes

 

[Vin]

Not the ideal time though.

 

[bonsaichile]

If you want to play it safe, overwinter it in its current soil and repot in early spring. I have done that with my junipers, and they survived fine. Just watch that the soil is not waterlogged until winter time, and then reduce waterings.

 

[0soyoung]

If you want to play it safe, overwinter it in its current soil and repot in early spring. I have done that with my junipers, and they survived fine. Just watch that the soil is not waterlogged until winter time, and then reduce waterings.

Right now is a fabulous time to repot junipers (and most all conifers for that matter) as this is a 'rainy season' - relative humidity is high. Lots of new foliage and warm temperatures to power rapid root recovery.

 

[bonsaichile]

I guess it depends where you are, Osoyoung. This time of the year it is usually dry for us here in Denver (although with climate change, every year is becoming harder to predict). Our wet season tends to be March/April, with lots of snow showers. I do not know where the OP is located; just talking from my experience

 

[0soyoung]

I guess it depends on where you are, Osoyoung. This time of the year it is usually dry for us here in Denver (although with climate change, every year is becoming harder to predict). Our wet season tends to be March/April, with lots of snow showers. I do not know where the OP is located; just talking from my experience

I lived in the area for 30+ years. August was always a time of afternoon thundershowers. Looking at the weather channel, I see that today 40% --> rH --> 70%; something around 40% rH on the average prevails almost year 'round, but I remember many 15% days that would occasionall split my nasal membrane. Afternoon thunderstorms are expected next week - good time for you to repot conifers. But you are right about climate change. I never saw the likes of the Boulder and CoS fires. Tornadoes were a rarity.

Regardless of Denver specifics, new foliage is highly productive and efficient, which means it can easily power the recovery for root pruning damage. Temperatures are warm (80 90F daily highs) and hence, the tree is peak carbon fixing, peak metabolism --> peak growth capacity. A few places come to mind where temperatures are above 90F all day long but they are are USDA zones 9/10 where parsonii won't do well anyway. Waxy leafed species can close stomata and will not loose (but an extremely small amount of) moisture through the leaf cuticle.

So, I am that pretty much sure where ever one has a parsonii it ,can be repotted now - the OP is no more likely (and I honestly believe less likely) to kill it now than in the spring.