How early can I repot Shimpaku?

[AutumnWolf13]

I picked up a Shimpaku Juniper, my first, the other day and the lady who owns the place said she used 50% peat, 25%sand and 25% Truface in her soil. I saw the bag of sand and it was that super-fine play sand rather than a coarse sand. I want to get this tree into my own (Modified Boons) mix as soon as can be safely done.
Can I repot early in dormancy or should I wait till spring?

I'm new to Bonsai, but have been container gardening for hummingbirds for years, and also have several Japanese Maples in normal sized pots. I did an impromptu bonsai from a $5 nursery juniper a few years back, and it lived for 3 years (until I had a couple operations last year) before it went to the great woodpile in the sky.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Wait until spring. Shimpakus are among the last trees I repot here, usually in mid-March.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I repot my junipers in early spring (like February) but down here my deciduous are already starting to push buds at that time. I need them to get established before the heat of the summer - which can hit as early as June.

 

[GrimLore]

Can I repot early in dormancy or should I wait till spring?

I am 2 hours East of you in Dublin. Here late March through April works just fine.

Grimmy

 

[garywood]

Like most everyone says, spring is best. Rather than giving dates I would suggest potting when you see color change in spring. The tips will swell and be a lighter green.

 

[AutumnWolf13]

I am 2 hours East of you in Dublin. Here late March through April works just fine.

Grimmy

Your close to my favorite brew. County Line IPA from Neshaminy Creek brewing. I hear they have a wicked double IPA but I never seen it here. I have a friend in West Chester that said he will bring me a couple crowlers next time he comes to visit.

OK, Thanks all, I was hoping to be able to get it out of the water retentive soil sooner, but I recon I'll be better off waiting it out and minding my watering till then.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

OK, Thanks all, I was hoping to be able to get it out of the water retentive soil sooner, but I recon I'll be better off waiting it out and minding my watering till then.

If you are worried about it getting water-logged during the winter, slip pot it into a larger pot with a layer of 100% inorganic material on all sides (pumice or similar). You should not expect root growth, but it will allow the tree to drain and breathe until you can repot it properly.

 

[GrimLore]

If you are worried about it getting water-logged during the winter, slip pot it into a larger pot with a layer of 100% inorganic material on all sides (pumice or similar). You should not expect root growth, but it will allow the tree to drain and breathe until you can repot it properly.

I was going to say that but would have been argued with But yes I agree 100 percent.

Grimmy

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I was going to say that but would have been argued with But yes I agree 100 percent.

Grimmy

LOL! You're out of your mind! There... do you feel fulfilled?

I didn't know this was a controversial practice I do this on nursery stock all the time if I pick it up at the wrong time of year and I am concerned about drainage. Depends on the tree, of course, and you have to make sure water is getting to the root ball (and not just flowing around the drainage layer) but I haven't had any problems with it.

 

[GrimLore]

LOL! You're out of your mind! There... do you feel fulfilled?

I didn't know this was a controversial practice I do this on nursery stock all the time if I pick it up at the wrong time of year and I am concerned about drainage. Depends on the tree, of course, and you have to make sure water is getting to the root ball (and not just flowing around the drainage layer) but I haven't had any problems with it.

Thank you, LOL!

Getting back into things a bit I do very similar to what you describe. Growing itself is far different but nets great results with good practices. For new nursery items I usually just spray and quarantine them a week or two, pull them from the pot, fill the bottom of the pot with permatil, trim off enough root so the surface is level at the top. During that I rake out the top and sides only and fill it in with nursery mix I make. If the root ball is compacted I aerate the hell out of it with a skewer or similar. Sometimes they will stay that way for 2 years but as you know my plants grow very good...
Funny too, after losing all I find growing to be of great interest. I only have since obtained/kept two good Bonsai and Crystal is bugging me to get more. Fact is I have to much growing

Grimmy

 

[AutumnWolf13]

If you are worried about it getting water-logged during the winter, slip pot it into a larger pot with a layer of 100% inorganic material on all sides (pumice or similar). You should not expect root growth, but it will allow the tree to drain and breathe until you can repot it properly.

Thats exactly what I was thinking, but I was not familiar with the term "slip potting". After I posted I noticed I had neglected to mention "... without doing any root pruning"
Thanks generic BonsaiNut Administrator person!
By the way, is one able to edit their posts here?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

By the way, is one able to edit their posts here?

LOL yes you can edit your posts for 20 minutes... and then they are engraved in stone. Not really - but if you want to edit them AFTER that window you have to work through me

And I'm not the generic Bonsai Nut Administrator person I am THE Bonsai Nut There's only one of me...

 

[milehigh_7]

Wait until spring. Shimpakus are among the last trees I repot here, usually in mid-March.

Just do what BVF tells you and you will be gold.

 

[milehigh_7]

Like most everyone says, spring is best. Rather than giving dates I would suggest potting when you see color change in spring. The tips will swell and be a lighter green.

Good to see you posting @garywood!