PNW repotting in January

[PowerTap]

So it's 60 F° here in Seattle and I have trees that are showing some signs of life. It feels drastically early to start repotting. Hard freezes are not uncommon in February.

I'm curious if other people are starting to repot now and just planning to add extra protection if needed later?

My list of repots this year:

• Japanese Mapel needs root pruning and back in the same pot
• Azalea needs a bare root and into a training pot
• Dwarf Alberta Spruce should come out of a net pot
• Shohin juniper needs to get repotted
• Coast redwood should go from a 3 gallon pot into an Anderson flat.

Are any of these safer to start early?

 

[Cruiser]

So it's 60 F° here in Seattle and I have trees that are showing some signs of life. It feels drastically early to start repotting. Hard freezes are not uncommon in February.

I'm curious if other people are starting to repot now and just planning to add extra protection if needed later?

My list of repots this year:

• Japanese Mapel needs root pruning and back in the same pot
• Azalea needs a bare root and into a training pot
• Dwarf Alberta Spruce should come out of a net pot
• Shohin juniper needs to get repotted
• Coast redwood should go from a 3 gallon pot into an Anderson flat.

Are any of these safer to start early?

Haven’t yet, but feeling the urge.

I recently spoke with a couple of friends in Bremerton that repot in January. If it gets too cold they move the trees into a garage.

 

[cishepard]

I’m wondering the same thing, with most of the more experienced bonsai people I know advising me to wait since we often get pretty cold again in February. I also want to collect some deciduous yamadori, and can’t decide whether to wait or not.

 

[namnhi]

I would think this would depend on the number of trees you have. If only a few, then you can always move them into the garage or something for the cold snap. I say the same with collecting... if the buds are moving and you only collecting five.... just move them if you get the temperature in the mid or low 30s.

 

[pandacular]

Oh man I’ve got…around 20 repots this year? I have a few “practice” pines that I might give a go this week. As Dave mentioned at our last club meeting, root growth begins before top growth.

My very small chojubai is leafing out currently, but I’m thinking I’ll wait until next year to repot it, as those plants are a little odd.