JBP repotting

[Daniel Camilleri]

A newly aquired jbp that is in need of repotting due to soil erosion and lack of water perculation. Would you say, by the state of the candles and current weather conditions that it is time or should I wait a couple more weeks?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Now would be a good time. My memory tells me Malta hardly gets any freezing. So I wouldn't expect any problems if you repot tomorrow.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Yes! Repot now.

Looks like it’s a fun week to go sailing in the Islands too!

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Shibui]

No problem repotting JBP from mid Winter through to mid Summer down here. I often leave my conifers and repot them after I've finished all the deciduous. That sometimes means the pines are active with extending candles but they don't seem to mind.
In other words, 'just before buds open' doesn't seem to apply to pines. Or other conifers. Or most tropicals. Or Azaleas. Or Australian natives. Sometimes I wonder if it's accurate for any of the trees we use as bonsai?

 

[Daniel Camilleri]

Now would be a good time. My memory tells me Malta hardly gets any freezing. So I wouldn't expect any problems if you repot tomorrow.

Thanks, your memory serves you right. Thanks again.

 

[Daniel Camilleri]

Yes! Repot now.

Looks like it’s a fun week to go sailing in the Islands too!

Cheers
DSD sends

Thank you. Yep, pretty windy this time of year. I'd rather have the calm seas of August though!

 

[Daniel Camilleri]

No problem repotting JBP from mid Winter through to mid Summer down here. I often leave my conifers and repot them after I've finished all the deciduous. That sometimes means the pines are active with extending candles but they don't seem to mind.
In other words, 'just before buds open' doesn't seem to apply to pines. Or other conifers. Or most tropicals. Or Azaleas. Or Australian natives. Sometimes I wonder if it's accurate for any of the trees we use as bonsai?

I did find that repotting the local Pinus Halapensis as late as possible to be better. But those are still 2 to 5 year old seedlings, which I do bareroot, something I won't be doing to this JBP anyway. Thanks for your response.

 

[johnl445]

Can you tell me why the buds look so different in these two pictures? One picture shows multiple little pointed buds, in the other picture has one single pointed bud.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Looks like one bud has not begun to open yet, while the others have?

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Shibui]

Can you tell me why the buds look so different in these two pictures? One picture shows multiple little pointed buds, in the other picture has one single pointed bud.

The 'multiple little pointed buds' are the beginning of needles. Those buds are way ahead of the 'one single pointed bud' which has not started to open yet. In a couple of weeks that second bud will look like the first.
My guess is the difference is where they are on the tree. Buds near the top and outer ends of strong branches often get a head start while inner buds and those on lower branches don't get as much share of the tree's resources. This is one of the ways trees try to beat the neighbours and grow tall quicker - apical dominance. The lower buds are kept as insurance - in case something eats the upper shoots or wild weather affects them. If the stronger upper shoots grow really well those lower shoots get less and less resources and possibly die off. Eventually you have a tall tree with no lower branches.
That's obviously good news for a tree in the forest but not such great news for bonsai growers. We need to understand apical dominance and manage growth to make sure we don't end up with that tall trunk and no lower shoots, especially on pines and other conifers.

 

[River's Edge]

A newly aquired jbp that is in need of repotting due to soil erosion and lack of water perculation. Would you say, by the state of the candles and current weather conditions that it is time or should I wait a couple more weeks?

A better indicator is the roots themselves. Pull the tree out of the pot, If the root tips are white it is a good time to repot.

 

[Daniel Camilleri]

Thanks everyone for the response. Roots were active and trees has now been repotted.