Recovering Prunus - repot or not?

[JaseH]

I aquired a little shohin prunus earlier in the year in a bundle with some other pre-bonsai. Not sure exactly what type, I think the original owner mentioned it may be a cherry of some description. Anyhow it was pretty sad when I got it, looked to have copped a bit of sun over summer and had been burnt with some die back. I've given it a bit of TLC to see to if it would pull through and its starting to now show some buds developing which is encouraging.

I'd like to repot it into a more free draining mix as I feel the current soil stays damp for too long and I'm worried about root health. I am not sure when it was repotted last, its definitely not root bound and besides the mix staying to wet it doesnt look in dire need of a repot. Would the tree recover better if I repot now into a better mix or should I not disturb it and let it recover another year in the damp mix?

[kcpoole]

if there is something wrong with the mix, then i will fix that at the first opportunity.
if weak just avoid cutting any of them

Ken

[treeman]

You should repot them every year anyway so you may as well take the opportunity to work on the roots etc.

[milly.abrahams]

You say its starting to bud. If so, its the ideal time to repot.

[JaseH]

Thanks guys, I thought as much. I'll re-pot - been wondering what the roots are like in the current mix, it doesnt feel very well anchored in the pot.

[JaseH]

Here's the little sucker in question!



At the last club meeting there was some discussion about moss and other grasses etc growing in the pots, being good and bad - anyone know what's growing in this pot? I have it in a few of my pots and like the look of it but it is spreading quickly in a few of them.

[bonsaisensation]

Hi Jason
They are star weeds, one of the worst kind. Their roots will fill up the pot and block the drainage holes. I usually spray them with round up to kill them, roots and all.

Regards
Tien

[JaseH]

Thanks Tien, I was afraid it would be one of the bad kinds! I'll set about erradicating it from my pots.

[treeman]

Here's the little sucker in question!



At the last club meeting there was some discussion about moss and other grasses etc growing in the pots, being good and bad - anyone know what's growing in this pot? I have it in a few of my pots and like the look of it but it is spreading quickly in a few of them.

The tree is in a weak state of health. My guess is it has some of it's roots are dieing off. I recommend taking it out, washing the roots well, prune back the roots to live tissue, prune the banches back hard to a live bud and repot in to pot just big enough to hold the roots in a very sandy mix.

[kcpoole]

Repot as Treeman says and rake the weeds out at the same time.
I carefully spray mine with roundup as it will only kill via absorption thru the leaves.

Ken

[JaseH]

Yes I think the roots could be a problem, it doesnt feel well rooted in the pot at all. I've tried to not water it through winter due to the mix staying too wet but I cant stop the rain unfortunately!

So I assume it is safe to trim back hard with the tree in its current state of health? My normal mix is usually majority sifted pine bark nuggets & diatomite with a smaller percentage of zeolite and growstone(pumice). Will this suffice to nurse this sick little guy back to health or should I use an actual coarse sand?

I might paint some roundup on the star weed with a small brush, I dont trust my accuracy with a spray bottle!

[treeman]

Yes I think the roots could be a problem, it doesnt feel well rooted in the pot at all. I've tried to not water it through winter due to the mix staying too wet but I cant stop the rain unfortunately!

So I assume it is safe to trim back hard with the tree in its current state of health? My normal mix is usually majority sifted pine bark nuggets & diatomite with a smaller percentage of zeolite and growstone(pumice). Will this suffice to nurse this sick little guy back to health or should I use an actual coarse sand?

I might paint some roundup on the star weed with a small brush, I dont trust my accuracy with a spray bottle!

Yes prune. But the pot is too big and the roots won't respond well. Just put it in a shallow plasic pot for year with about 20mm room for the roots all round. Your mix is ok but I would add a little peat or something to hold water over summer.
Make sure you keep it in full sun except for really hot days

Good luck

[kcpoole]

Your mix is ok but I would add a little peat or something to hold water over summer.

Good luck

As one who has no organics in my mix, this is unnecessary but use whatever mix you are comfortable with and have experience in your own environment.

Ken

[Isitangus]

Spray that star weed with aerogaurd rather than roundup

[treeman]

Spray that star weed with aerogaurd rather than roundup

That's a good tip!