Help with Japanese Maple

[Brian Van Fleet]

Why's that? Nebari was the last thing on my mind honestly I'm just thankful it survived. I have no idea what went wrong over the last year.

Honestly, nebari should be the first thing on your mind when it comes to deciduous Bonsai.

 

[Nanuk]

Why's that? Nebari was the last thing on my mind honestly I'm just thankful it survived. I have no idea what went wrong over the last year.

I think the general idea is to keep the nebari covered during development stages.
This keeps young tender roots from drying out. Dried out roots die.

The small roots in your nebari need to be covered and moist to develop into big roots.


From what I have read on this site uncovering the nebari is one of the last steps not the first.
Small roots exposed won't develop, they will dry out.

Then again, I'm new at this so take any advice that I give with a grain or two of salt.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I think the general idea is to keep the nebari covered during development stages.
This keeps young tender roots from drying out. Dried out roots die.

The small roots in your nebari need to be covered and moist to develop into big roots.


From what I have read on this site uncovering the nebari is one of the last steps not the first.
Small roots exposed won't develop, they will dry out.

Then again, I'm new at this so take any advice that I give with a grain or two of salt.

100% correct.

 

[AlainK]

Nebari was the last thing on my mind honestly I'm just thankful it survived. I have no idea what went wrong over the last year.

I would also cover the nebari with soil if it were mine.

 

[BonsaiNaga13]

Why's that? Nebari was the last thing on my mind honestly I'm just thankful it survived. I have no idea what went wrong over the last year.

To keep the fine surface roots moist so they don't die and weaken the tree

 

[Toshi]

Ah ok I see everyone's point, thank you all for chiming in. The soil line was already at that level when i bought the tree so I followed suit but in hindsight I guess I shouldn't have. I didn't take any pictures but the tree is sitting on a mound of crossing and overlapping roots that'll take years to correct. Since the health and vigor of the tree was dubious I played it safe and didn't do any root work, just trimmed the root ball to fit in the new pot with better soil. Maybe I'll work the roots next year if the tree's health permits.

 

[ysrgrathe]

At least cover with some chopped spagnum moss.

 

[rockm]

Here’s a Japanese maple that I bought from the garden center at a local grocery store, brought home, and repotted in the middle of July last year. I did a trunk chop and pruned a few other branches at the same time.
View attachment 194034
The second photo is the same tree today.
View attachment 194038
Would I recommend a repot for a highly developed tree that you’ve put years of development into at this time of year? No. But, for a nursery tree that you just acquired, I say go for it unless it’s an expensive variety that you paid big $$$ for. Between the risk of losing $20 to $30 by killing a nursery tree from being a bit aggressive vs. wasting a growing season because of being too conservative about working the tree, I’ll choose the former every time.

is pretty well known that Japanese maples have a "second window" for repotting in early summer AFTER THEIR LEAVES HARDEN OFF and become functional. Before that, in early spring, barerooting and root work is optimal. After initial bud break, in early spring until early summer when leaves haven't become leather hard, barerooting and root pruning can and will damage or kill JM.

 

[rdb00]

Ah ok I see everyone's point, thank you all for chiming in. The soil line was already at that level when i bought the tree so I followed suit but in hindsight I guess I shouldn't have. I didn't take any pictures but the tree is sitting on a mound of crossing and overlapping roots that'll take years to correct. Since the health and vigor of the tree was dubious I played it safe and didn't do any root work, just trimmed the root ball to fit in the new pot with better soil. Maybe I'll work the roots next year if the tree's health permits.

any update on the tree? I am in the same boat as you were (needing to do a temporary upsizing slip pot until I can do a proper repot)

 

[Toshi]

any update on the tree? I am in the same boat as you were (needing to do a temporary upsizing slip pot until I can do a proper repot)

I was admittedly very negligent with caring for it and it didn't survive its first winter. I think you should be safe slip potting, I did this with a couple of my trident maples and it worked well. Someone more experienced with maples however can correct me if I'm wrong.