Juniper Repot

[nurvbonsai]

Hi everyone, I was hoping for feedback on my first attempt at repotting a juniper that I did in a workshop last year. I was encouraged by parties to go ahead the last week of February. Initially styled in a one gallon container, nothing quite prepared me for how stressful it was on me, let alone how the tree might respond. Given its initial home in the latter; i got to reduce the root ball in order to place the tree in its new container.
I believe it’s not as secured with wire as it could be. Could the rootball be reduced further given the mound? I’m stressed about it.

I’m sure others here could offer experience, strength and hope on more will be revealed.

Looking forward to the responses.

What say you? Thank you much. I plan on taking it into a nursery to see what could further be done. THANKS. Anxiety

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

It is potted too high, necessitating mounding the soil. Soil should be about level with the rim of the pot, otherwise it’s just going to wash out when you water it. On the plus side, it appears you did anchor it to the pot, and are using a decent mix for junipers.

It’s also a bit early to start repotting. I’m hoping to delay any repotting another 3 weeks or so.

 

[nurvbonsai]

It is potted too high, necessitating mounding the soil. Soil should be about level with the rim of the pot, otherwise it’s just going to wash out when you water it. On the plus side, it appears you did anchor it to the pot, and are using a decent mix for junipers.

It’s also a bit early to start repotting. I’m hoping to delay any repotting another 3 weeks or so.

So that would entail pulling it back out and doing some work on the root ball? Is that dangerous to do? Thanks

 

[Ruddigger]

If you just did it today you should be okay to fix it.

 

[Shibui]

I remember the anxiety of first repots but that wears off as you discover it actually works.

It is a bit hard to guess how much root mass has already been removed so difficult to recommend whether further reduction is advised. Sometimes it is better to do the necessary reduction over a couple of years rather than all in one.
In general, removing half the existing roots is no problem at all. Removing 2/3 is OK and experienced growers will take off 3/4 with no problem. Junipers are one of the groups that we don't go too hard all at once.

It takes a few weeks for new roots to start growing so a second repot is no problem within a week or so.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

So that would entail pulling it back out and doing some work on the root ball? Is that dangerous to do? Thanks

You might dump the soil into a pan, untie the tree, hold it upside down and use a chopstick to remove more (most) of the old soil from the bottom of the rootball, all the way up to the bottom of the trunk. If there is a lot of old soil there, you may not have to remove a lot of roots, just try to spread/flatten them out. Then tie it back into the container and work the new soil back in very well.