I'm Calling it a Grey Owl for Now... 1st Repot

[just.wing.it]

Well....

Umm....

I assume this tree started it's life as a cutting in a 1 gallon bucket, was probably up potted a time or 2, then ground grown for a while... Leading to the huge single root snaking around the bottom...

Since I aquired it, I noticed that water was not getting into the rootball, I was poking holes with a chop stick to try to help.
When I began raking the top, I quickly noticed the dryness...I dunno how this thing looks so healthy!...I guess junpers really do depend on their foliage...
It also had many dead roots from the side that died off while planted in the ground, and shaded out.
I got as much of the dead roots out as I could, I think I got them all.
Got all the dry stuff out.
I think it has enough there to sustain... hoping the tree loves the new substrate and rebounds well!

Here's the damage...?



11am pre-lunch RR....yeah, that's right...

 

[Rodrigo]

Well....

Umm....

I assume this tree started it's life as a cutting in a 1 gallon bucket, was probably up potted a time or 2, then ground grown for a while... Leading to the huge single root snaking around the bottom...

Since I aquired it, I noticed that water was not getting into the rootball, I was poking holes with a chop stick to try to help.
When I began raking the top, I quickly noticed the dryness...I dunno how this thing looks so healthy!...I guess junpers really do depend on their foliage...
It also had many dead roots from the side that died off while planted in the ground, and shaded out.
I got as much of the dead roots out as I could, I think I got them all.
Got all the dry stuff out.
I think it has enough there to sustain... hoping the tree loves the new substrate and rebounds well!

Here's the damage...?
View attachment 191853View attachment 191854View attachment 191855View attachment 191856View attachment 191857View attachment 191858View attachment 191859View attachment 191860
View attachment 191853View attachment 191854View attachment 191855View attachment 191856View attachment 191857View attachment 191858View attachment 191859View attachment 191860

11am pre-lunch RR....yeah, that's right...

It's hard to tell from the pictures but did you end up cutting that big root completely off? The procumbens I got through Roy Nagatoshi's workshop looks like it'll have a similar root that I'll have to take care of when I repot it.

I like the Shari! Did you do that yourself?

 

[just.wing.it]

It's hard to tell from the pictures but did you end up cutting that big root completely off? The procumbens I got through Roy Nagatoshi's workshop looks like it'll have a similar root that I'll have to take care of when I repot it.

I like the Shari! Did you do that yourself?

I didn't cut it off, no.
It's fine, really, just ugly.
I stripped that one branch down and pulled the bark down to the the soil level when I first got it, a few weeks ago.
Part if it was already deadwood there, looks like it's had termites as well, some time ago.
Thanks!

 

[tree4me]

Nice tree! What's your soil 50/50 lava pumice? I half bare rooted a Pfitzerania in a 3 gallon nursery and potted it in bonsai pot in the only thing I had ...DE. We've had heavy rains and the soil was staying way too wet and the tips weakened and probably spider mites so i treated for that as well. Hope it wasn't too much.

 

[just.wing.it]

Nice tree! What's your soil 50/50 lava pumice? I half bare rooted a Pfitzerania in a 3 gallon nursery and potted it in bonsai pot in the only thing I had ...DE. We've had heavy rains and the soil was staying way too wet and the tips weakened and probably spider mites so i treated for that as well. Hope it wasn't too much.

Yep lava and pumice, sifted to an even particle size, I didn't use the larger particles that I normally would, smaller ones for the juniper roots.
And I would say that HBR is way safer...
I didn't expect so many dead roots...

 

[daudelus]

I like it a lot! That swirly root is crazy! I think it is probably wise to keep it like you plan... who knows what it’s conn to up top (life line that is)...

 

[just.wing.it]

I like it a lot! That swirly root is crazy! I think it is probably wise to keep it like you plan... who knows what it’s conn to up top (life line that is)...

Yeah... From what I have seen/read I think this sort of large single root is what people see with old juniper yamadori as well, when most of the original tree has died away....it's why many nice juniper Bonsai don't have a Nebari.

I put down a top layer of sphagnum, hopefully it'll take!

 

[just.wing.it]

I also removed about 25-30% of the foliage by taking off the the longest branch.

Should probably cut the runners back this summer if all goes well.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I thought we did half bare roots when repotting conifers? Wish you success...honestly I do. Looks healthy enough by the looks of it prior to repot.

 

[just.wing.it]

I thought we did half bare roots when repotting conifers? Wish you success...honestly I do. Looks healthy enough by the looks of it prior to repot.

Yeah... The whole thing was so dry and full of dead roots, I just went all the way with it...
Would have taken pictures, but it was raining on me the whole time.

 

[just.wing.it]

I thought we did half bare roots when repotting conifers? Wish you success...honestly I do. Looks healthy enough by the looks of it prior to repot.

And believe me, I'm concerned...
Though...if it goes belly up, I will have learned a valuable lesson...as well, there are about 5 more similar trees at the old nursery in which I found it.

 

[Wilson]

I imagine it will pull through, you can boost it up!

 

[Cable]

I've always read to never bare root a juniper. But then my CEO who's spent 60 years in the nursery business said it is fine. So we'll see!

 

[Rodrigo]

I know Nigel Saunders does things a little differently but he also bare roots all of his trees every single time and hasn't had problems so there's still hope!

 

[just.wing.it]

I've always read to never bare root a juniper. But then my CEO who's spent 60 years in the nursery business said it is fine. So we'll see!

I know Nigel Saunders does things a little differently but he also bare roots all of his trees every single time and hasn't had problems so there's still hope!

Yeah... We'll see ?
I'm moving it from full sun to morning sun.

 

[Clicio]

Good luck, I like the way it looks now!

 

[just.wing.it]

It's hard to tell from the pictures but did you end up cutting that big root completely off? The procumbens I got through Roy Nagatoshi's workshop looks like it'll have a similar root that I'll have to take care of when I repot it.

I like the Shari! Did you do that yourself?

I noticed the pics I posted were a bit blurry.
Since you asked about the deadwood...
The part I made was basically between 2 natural Shari's already...
Now one side is all dead and one side is all live vein.

 

[just.wing.it]

If it lives, I think I will be able to make another thin Shari in the front, by the looks of where it's swelling...but time will tell.

 

[daudelus]

What was your strategy for getting the bark away and leaving it smooth? Manual or Dremel with a brush bit?

 

[Clicio]

It is beautiful!