AusBonsai

Hi All,

This is my first post ever so bare with me. I have a few liquid ambers I have been collecting and now want to repot and create a forest. When is the best time to repot? Most of them have lost thier leaves now and I want to know is it best to repot now in Autumn/winter or should I wait till just before spring when new buds are starting to shoot? Can anyone help me out with some advice?

Cheers Corky

Welcome to Ausbonsai, this is a great sites no matter your experience level. I'm only new myself but after investigating repotting maples, I'm of the believe that deciduous trees are best repotted at the start of spring just as bub begin to swell
Why not jump over to the "Bonsai cafe" and introduce yourself

Hi Corky,

There are two trains of thought.
The first is just before Spring - this will be the most common response.

The other is after the tree has lost all its leaves and is in its dormancy. The theory is that if you do it at this time, you give the roots some time to re- establish themselves over the winter (albeit very slowly) prior to bud swell in Spring, when the tree wants to power on. By doing the repotting at Bud Swell, the tree has to firstly reestablish the roots before it moves forward with growth elsewhere. The theory seems pretty good, so I will be test driving the second train of thought soon enough

Hope that helps.

By Saratoga, does that mean Central Coast? We have a great Bonsai Society on the Central Coast, which is full of very knowledgeable and helpful people. It certainly has been a major eye opener for me the past year. Its well worth a look.

Dave

The ideal potting time for deciduous trees of all species is late winter early spring as the buds begin to swell. To repot the trees too early in their dormancy is not a good plan as the cut roots will be sitting in cold wet potting mix all winter and this can be fatal. What you want is to prune the roots and for the tree to begin making new growth almost immediately, pruning the roots at this time will not interfere with the growth of the tree at all.
Craigw

Wow guys thanks for your responses. I have a few that I need to repot so might try both methods and see what results I get come Spring. Will let you know how I go

I made a forest of Trident Maples about a month ago and it didnt seem to affect any of them at all. They are starting to colour up now which is beautiful. If some one can tell me how to attach pics I'll put some up for you guys.

Corky here you go mate, how to upload pics; viewtopic.php?f=97&t=54&start=0

Hope this works

Hey Corky, Can take a photo from just above the rim of the pot so you look thru the setting rather than down on it?

How come only 1 tree is colouring up?
With forests, it is usual to pick trees that colour in similar fashion, or even better to take cuttings from 1 tree and develop them for the forest. That way they will colour all the same

Ken