Kiyo Hime disease?

[SouthernMaple]

I personally would repot just to adjust the level at which the tree sits. As far as the tree itself, it looks completely normal for this time of year. Is there something that you think appears to be wrong with it?

would you repot now or in the spring?

 

[ysrgrathe]

Spring! But you can cover the nebari now in chopped sphagnum moss.

Example of rootball flat (not mounded) with nebari hidden and sphagnum to protect nebari. You will have to mound the moss up now, but after you repot it should be flat.

 

[rodeolthr]

FWIW, I personally do repots in my climate any time I see a tree that doesn't appear to be doing its best. Currently I'm repotting small trees into larger containers. Many of them have limited potting media, or have lost a major amount of organic material. But a few weeks back I ripped some 2 year seedlings out of an Anderson flat, shaved off the roots and cut them back to stubs and planted them into individual pots. All of them have budded and are producing copious amounts of new leaves. I don't recommend this for everyone. You need to be aware of how plants respond in your climate to different stresses. Also, you should consider how much growing season you have until the first frost. For me, I prefer to have the roots in a better position/potting mix, since they typically put out a new flush of roots along with the summer/late summer push of new foliage. All of my pre-bonsai seedlings have begun their late summer push. It began about the second week of August and will continue into possibly October, depending on our autumn weather. I often get the greatest increase in trunk caliper this time of year, so I want to set up my trees to maximize that potential. Hope this helps

 

[ysrgrathe]

Your advice makes sense for a tree that is rootbound, or the potting media has collapsed. Neither of those are true about SouthernMaple's tree, so I don't see a need to add stress by repotting at the wrong time. The only problem is the nebari being exposed which can be temporarily addressed by using sphagnum. (I say temporary because you want the roots to grow out, not down -- so mounding the soil tends to just create a weird humped effect rather than a spreading nebari)

 

[SouthernMaple]

Your advice makes sense for a tree that is rootbound, or the potting media has collapsed. Neither of those are true about SouthernMaple's tree, so I don't see a need to add stress by repotting at the wrong time. The only problem is the nebari being exposed which can be temporarily addressed by using sphagnum. (I say temporary because you want the roots to grow out, not down -- so mounding the soil tends to just create a weird humped effect rather than a spreading nebari)

so i bought this tree two years ago from plant city bonsai in clermont georgia, the grower there loves showing off nebari which is why its planted so high in the pot. I should have repotted this spring but I moved up to asheville and didn't and still don't know the way the weather is up here its been and will be mid 80's low 60's for next few weeks. The masters in my club say to hold off until spring but they mainly specialize in non maples. It seems the current akadama in the pot is breaking up and needs a repot asap.

 

[MACH5]

I am no master, but will say the same thing the masters in your club are saying. Do not repot your tree now and wait until spring time. Your tree will be fine until then.

 

[SouthernMaple]

I am no master, but will say the same thing the masters in your club are saying. Do not repot your tree now and wait until spring time. Your tree will be fine until then.

don't be so modest you are definitely a master of maples, thanks for the advice