Excellent Video on repotting and refinement of deciduous trees

[Smoke]

Because I have it. I used to use my small one. But now that I have the one with the long handle, I use it. I find it works better than either my small tamper, or the flat "spade" that is on the back side of a pair of tweezers. If I didn't have one, I would use either of those. I mean, I went without one for years. But now that I have one, I use it.

A couple of reasons the long one works well. First, it reaches across the pot. But I work on a turn table, so that's not really a big deal. The attribute I like about it the most is that you can slip it under low branches easily. My old trowel had a handle, and the trowel part dropped down at one end. So, to use it, I have to be able to get my hand over the soil and push down. With this contraption, the long metal extension can get under there easily, yet my hand is away from the pot and any low branches. It's a minor thing. But it works really well. I agree it looks rather silly. The way Boon uses it, it's a gentle tapping of the surface of the soil. Kind of like the way a conductor taps his wand on the music stand. Easier to do with the long extension.

One potting procedure that Boon teaches that I think is really helpful, is tapping the pot to settle the soil after chopsticking. It's amazing how well that works.

Thanks for the long explanation but why was why do you feel the need to do it. Why is compacting the soil on top necessary to you? Why compact the top everyone feels that a free draining soil is supposed to be. If there is a good reason to do this it makes sense. To do it because you have one is just silly and a waste of time.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I love Nick Lenz's irreverence. I take his point to heart, one can get distracted from the real point of bonsai. Also, as I said before, it is a matter of perception of risk. Particularly in the northern tier of the USA and all of Canada, weather is cold enough that the human parasites I mentioned being in certain areas of Japan, simply can not survive the frozen soils. The only risk I mentioned that those in the north would face would be that fungus that lives in sphagnum. And that fungus is rare. So if your ground freezes to a depth of 12 inches or more in winter, gloves are an option that you may feel you can skip - I skip them. But if you have had Lyme's disease, and did not like how it made you feel, you might want to wear gloves to avoid the rare possibility of getting infected with the sphagnum fungus. It is a matter of how much time you spend working with peat moss and or sphagnum moss. The more time you spend working, the better the idea of wear gloves becomes. Professionals probably should wear gloves. Those who live in the south, where hook worm, and pin worm and other parasites leave eggs in the soil, might also want to wear gloves.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

I like using chopsticks. I like them for eating even salad and pasta. But I really like them for repotting. Anything to help keep my hands clean and healthy. I used to not give a damn for years, but rough cracking hands after a while suck. I also work in healthcare; got to keep hands looking clean and be clean. Also, knowing someone who's had flesh eating bacteria (the person lost all four limbs and is on hemodialysis) deters me from handling soil bare handed as often as I did in the past.

 

[M. Frary]

the rare possibility of getting infected with the sphagnum fungus. I

Why use it at all with all of the good inorganic soils available.

 

[Andrew Robson]

Thanks for the long explanation but why was why do you feel the need to do it. Why is compacting the soil on top necessary to you? Why compact the top everyone feels that a free draining soil is supposed to be. If there is a good reason to do this it makes sense. To do it because you have one is just silly and a waste of time.

Why? Because it's another step to help compact the soil down a little more. In my experience it helps keep the new soil more in place when watering.

 

[Andrew Robson]

I use gloves when repotting to keep my hands clean. I don't like how the soil dries out my hands when I don't use gloves. As with everything in the video, take it or leave it. I'm appreciative for Boon taking the time to show us in detail is reporting process. It's a great watch!

Cheers!

 

[Adair M]

Thanks for the long explanation but why was why do you feel the need to do it. Why is compacting the soil on top necessary to you? Why compact the top everyone feels that a free draining soil is supposed to be. If there is a good reason to do this it makes sense. To do it because you have one is just silly and a waste of time.

Sorry, Smoke, I misunderstood your "Why?"

Obviously, I thought you meant "Why that tool?"

Like Andrew, compacting the top surface of the soil, and getting it level are important reasons. The inorganic soil Boon uses is rounded, so even if patted down, it's still open. Sometimes bag shaped pots need a little help getting soil under the rim. The whole point is to get rid of air pockets. And make the surface of the soil level.

 

[sorce]

whole point is to get rid of air pockets. And make the surface of the soil level.

Can't hurt for surface roots either...
With sphag on top.

If I had the money.....I'd be an SOB.
Since I don't.....gimme a drink!

Far as pretty hands go......
River Sandy Vaginas ! (joking, girls!)

Sorce