Japanese Black Pine repot

[Haidr]

Got it Ryceman3. It’s just amazing how much knowledge is out there when it comes to bonsai and horticulture now just purely because of how much people enjoy this hobby. Thanks for sharing your expertise you gathered over the years.

 

[Haidr]

Pines aren’t reliant on mycorrhizae, but it is beneficial to them in terms of nutrient and water intake because they have a relatively coarse root structure which makes it a bit more challenging for them to absorb what is available. They also help with upping the tree’s defences to pathogens that might exist in the soil, so there are good reasons to encourage it.
I agree that it comes whether you like it or not, and I have one JBP in particular I need to repot annually because it gets “choked” with it to the point watering is just impossible. This is an anomaly though, the vast majority seem to have it at more manageable levels. I add it back in a repot because it’s right there, if I had to seek it out I probably wouldn’t bother. Nothing to lose…

Got it Ryceman3. It’s just amazing how much knowledge is out there when it comes to bonsai and horticulture now just purely because of how much people enjoy this hobby. Thanks for sharing your expertise you gathered over the years.

 

[Haidr]

Hi all, repotting done. I’m glad I did it as the soil and roots were just a block of compacted brick, Could hardly poke a chopstick to straighten out the roots. Did the following steps;

1. Straighten out the roots using a bamboo chopstick.
2. Removed the old compacted soil carefully.
3. Trimmed only the overly long roots.
4. Planted it back in the mix, 55% Kanuma Japanese Pumice, 35% hard akadama, 10% pine bark.
5. Base 1-2 layers only pumice for better drainage.
6. Securely it with a wire and watered thoroughly.

Appreciate all your help. I hope the bonsai responds well to the repotting work.

 

[bwaynef]

What made you opt for fully barerooting it?

 

[Haidr]

Hi mate, there were clunk of mud and roots inside that would have left pockets of dry and wet zones, I can’t imagine any water or oxygen getting in there if I would have only put new soil on the outside leaving the inner more problematic area as it is. I know it’s a risky move but didn’t make sense leaving two different types of soils also airy and some very compacted zones inside.