Repot or Not

[senseijames]

Hello again, I have a lot of trees to repot this season, most have not been done for three years, a few of the trees are still very healthy and show no signs of really not needing repotting, in the past I would normally repot the lot, but I am having second thoughts this year, what do you do ??.
James

[Jamie]

gday james

i normally check which trees need repotting and do it on an individual basis, 3 years isnt to long for an advanced, older tree that doesnt need heavy root development/work and is in a refinement stage, but those that need to be developed a little further than i would consider doing the repots on an as needed basis.

jamie

[senseijames]

G'day Jamie , thanks for the input mate. thought you may have been lurking in the bushes ( large Bonsai )
James

[Chris Sirre]

Hello again, I have a lot of trees to repot this season, most have not been done for three years, a few of the trees are still very healthy and show no signs of really not needing repotting, in the past I would normally repot the lot, but I am having second thoughts this year, what do you do ??.
James

Why do you have second thoughts? To get the best out of your trees you sould re pot your trees even they might look healthy.

Cheers,

Chris

[Pup]

Re pot only when necessary, not just because it is re-potting season ( depending where you are ). Trees need time to recover from root pruning and as such will slow down while they do, so to re pot when not necessary is not beneficial.

There are some differences in growth rate for all trees, some are a lot quicker than others and need to be done at least every year. Most miniatures need doing at least yearly some more frequently.

Most deciduous need re-potting more frequently than Coniferous. So Watch your trees if there is a markedly slowing of growth then re pot, if it is root bound re pot.

Learn from your trees, that way you can spread the load. As with Natives you can get a lot more opportunities, for re potting.

Cheers Pup

[craigw60]

Hi James, the frequency of repotting depends on the species and age. I reckon most people tend to repot too often, if the trees are quite tight in the pot its easier to get small foliage. I reckon 3 years is not such a problem assuming your trees have some years behind them. Things like your big liquidambar should probably be done annually.
Craig

[MattA]

Hey James,

I repot when a tree needs it and that can vary from every 6mths up to 4 or 5yrs for others. My Glochidion get done every 6mths, even in boxs they fill them to capacity in no time. I have one that I am not repotting as its time to start experimenting with getting the leaves to reduce now the basic framework is there. Some trees actually perform better when slightly rootbound, Eg Wisteria.

So its all up to the trees and also the stage in their bonsai life. When you want strong growth & thickening/filling of pads you repot more often, when the tree is 'finished' you want the growth to slow to maintain so you repot less often. This also applies to feeding, more for growing on, less for maintenance.

In general I am not too fussed when it gets done either. I know lots who repot strictly within a tight timeframe for each species but I have had no issue with doing any of my trees outside the optimal. In my opinion the timing just reflects how much or little you can remove, in the optimal window for each you can do the most work on the roots, outside of that you go a little lighter.

Matt

[senseijames]

Thanks to everyone who has so far answered, it is interesting to find out what others do and we all can learn something different, that we didn't know or do before, thats what we are all about, sharing and learning. This year I am going to change my entire outlook on Repotting and pruning, I am going to use Diatomite ( for the first time ) by it's self, as my base soil medium to sit the root ball on and use a top soil mix of "Deco Granite, leaf and bark compost, cow manure, B&B, calcium(egg shells), wood ash, and maybe some fines of charcoal" largest percentage of this will be Deco Granite and I am going to take the bit in my mouth and cut a little more off the roots , which I haven't been game to in the past , keep posting, don't stop now guys.
Cheers
James

[Jamie]

as it has been stated already, old trees will need less frequency in repotting, that also goes for conifers mostly, old conifers might not even need to be re potted until ten years on as they are such slow growers once they are established and it is only maitenance.

you would know being up here that the tropicals can be very rampant, sometimes needing a second repot in the space of 12-18 months.

as i said before i reckon it is all bout the trees, watch them, they will tell you what they need.

with the diatomite you are gonna love the stuff. its gives a very fine fibrous root system, which is exactly what we are after