New apple tree

[bonsai-max]

Bought this tree at a flower market, very cheap but the quality of the soil is really bad.
At the beginning is almost waterproof and needs time to get the proper amount of water, also the is no wire to keep the plant and if I put a finger inside the draining hole there is almost half centimeter of air I know it's late for a proper repot inside a bigger cultivation pot, but maybe a slip repot just take out a little bit of soil around and under.
What do you think ?
I just tried very quick to see if the plant exit from the pot and looks firm.
In any case tomorrow I will remove all the flowers, I don't want fruit this year.

 

[n8]

Nice little malus. You could remove from this little pot, scrape out some old soil and up-pot into something a little bigger for a year, gauge health, and then do a proper repot next year.

 

[bonsai-max]

Nice little malus. You could remove from this little pot, scrape out some old soil and up-pot into something a little bigger for a year, gauge health, and then do a proper repot next year.

Suggestion for the substrate ?

 

[n8]

Suggestion for the substrate ?

I would just use regular bonsai soil. Break up your roots and existing soil a bit and tie it down in a slightly bigger container. It looks choked for space in the current pot and my experience (in a very different climate) is that malus will gain vigor quickly. You can then do a proper repot in 2026.

Nip those suckers, too.

 

[bonsai-max]

I would just use regular bonsai soil. Break up your roots and existing soil a bit and tie it down in a slightly bigger container. It looks choked for space in the current pot and my experience (in a very different climate) is that malus will gain vigor quickly. You can then do a proper repot in 2026.

Ok will do it

Nip those suckers, too.

If they have some roots I will try to take out and plant, otherwise I will cut

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Whoa…. Best not to have a clogged up island of mucked up media in the middle of pristine media. Doing so creates a impermeable island in a sea of well draining media… and can only lead to trouble.

First remove all the flowers and buds. Then give the tree a day or so to respond and see if the leaves perk up.

If the leaves look ok, find out what media the tree is planted in. If it’s decent match the media.

Then pull the tree out and either aerate the rootball well, gently removing enough media so this is permeable, or if you are bold, flush off the media and immediately up pot into a larger pot. . Have done either successfully multiple times this time of the year to fruit trees.

Place in mostly shade for a couple weeks until the leaves are strong looking, the. Ease into morning sun, afternoon shade.

That’s my take.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[bonsai-max]

First remove all the flowers and buds. Then give the tree a day or so to respond and see if the leaves perk up.

Hi, the leafs are all strong today, just yesterday was a little down because a hot day and no water in the flower market.
The flower and buds will go this afternoon.

Then pull the tree out and either aerate the rootball well, gently removing enough media so this is permeable, or if you are bold, flush off the media and immediately up pot into a larger pot. . Have done either successfully multiple times this time of the year to fruit trees.

I will see this afternoon the situation, I will clean the top and see, but I don't want to be invasive.

 

[bonsai-max]

Then pull the tree out and either aerate the rootball well, gently removing enough media so this is permeable, or if you are bold, flush off the media and immediately up pot into a larger pot. . Have done either successfully multiple times this time of the year to fruit trees.

When I will change pot should I cut some leafs to reduce the transpiration ?
The flower and buds are gone, I have also find some small green bugs, under some leafs, threated properly....

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

That will be a judgement call once you get into the roots.

Best
DSD sends

 

[bonsai-max]

That will be a judgement call once you get into the roots.

I will not go deep into the roots, this morning I clean the top of the pot and the soil looks worst than it is, I found also some osmocote, so tomorrow I will do a substrate 20 40 40 soil, pumice and lava stone and make a slip pot with minimum disturb.
In that case should I reduce just some leafs ?
On the top there was a lot of moss that why is waterproof once dry.
The thing that concern me is the 1 cm between the bottom of the roots and the pot, I can feel it putting one finger inside the draining hole.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Barring the dry moss and clogged media, the tree seems healthy.

Thought there was a bigger pot destined for this tree? If so no issue. Gently tease the roots free if possible to loosen up the root ball for the new media before up pot. Try to minimize damage.

If deemed necessary, one can always cut back to 2 inner leaves on each stem.

You are on scene so it’s going to be your judgement.

Please post a couple good images along the way.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[bonsai-max]

The tree is healthy, luckily.

Thought there was a bigger pot destined for this tree? If so no issue. Gently tease the roots free if possible to loosen up the root ball for the new media before up pot. Try to minimize damage.

I have two pots, both big, I think I will use the smallest because next spring I will do a proper job and the plant doesn't need a lot of space for these months, what do you think ?

Please post a couple good images along the way.

Will do it Sir and thank for your help.....

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Nice.

Yep the smaller it’s fine. Don’t see a reason to repot next year if all goes well.

Likely get at least 2-3 years out of that pot with good horticulture

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[bonsai-max]

Yep the smaller it’s fine. Don’t see a reason to repot next year if all goes well.

Yes you have right, but I want to get rid of this huge root before getting more complicate and properly, if it is possible, set up the nebari.
Here some people do a complete repot after the flowers, so right now, I come from south Italy and for us is too late, but here seems ok.

 

[bonsai-max]

As usual I have a plan but.....
The roots was really clogged so I did a proper repot, and also take out green to balance, Malus generally are strong, now two weeks of shadow and hope all will go well....
I did not washed all the soil.
Crossfinger

 

[bonsai-max]

That was the remaining soil, I cut also a pair of air roots that was very short inside the pot.



Just out of the pot

 

[n8]

Looks good. That's exactly what I would have done. As DSD notes, just be sure that you are getting water on the root ball for a few months before roots spread into the open media.

 

[bonsai-max]

Looks good. That's exactly what I would have done. As DSD notes, just be sure that you are getting water on the root ball for a few months before roots spread into the open media.

Will do it, thank you

 

[bonsai-max]

One week now, leafs are up, the weather was very hot with 27 c° but I kept the plant in the shadow, next week will be raining so I will move to her place.
Buds are coming in a lot of places.