Late season hinoki repot (oopsy!)

[Rambles]

So, I had this hinoki in a slightly larger (half inch in either direction) pot. It was pretty rootbound but I was holding off till spring 2025 (zone 5b) because I had styled it this summer.

Then today, I managed to knock it off the bench and utterly destroy the pot. My only option was the shave the rootball down just enough to fit into this one.

I don't have a lot of experience with hinoki, though I know they resent rootwork, but I didn't really have a lot of options other than stick it in the ground and pray. I overwinter in a semi heated garage, so the range is from 38F to 20F depending on how cold we are outside and how far plaaced from the radiator.

Any tips on increasing its recovery chances?
If it does pull through, how long would you hold off on repotting proper?

Thanks for any advice,

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Mist regularly and keep soil moist but do not overwater. Depending on root disturbance the tree may slow down water uptake and the soil will take longer to dry out. You also have the problem of a short time before your first freeze working against you but if you get a good fll the roots may recover quickly.

 

[defra]

If you didnt disturb the core of the rootball and Just removed the sides and it still has that small pot full of roots just put it in shade and keep the soil moist.
If you overwinter in a garage just make sure when the forecast says night frost to protect it and i think you should be fine.
With the styling i asume you removed some foliage also so it is very posible you still have enough undisturbed roots to support the foliage.

For next time if something happens like this just fill up a small plastic nursery container with inorganic free draining soil and plant it in there untill the spring wrap the rootball in some wet cloth while you search for one in the right size might not look so prety for a few months but it comes with less risk