Nursery Stock to Bonsai, Order of Steps

[Vance Wood]

You are way, WAY up there on the north side. Like almost Evanston

I used to run that lakefront so I know what the skyline looks from multiple angles. I also used to dive Lake Michigan in the early spring right about where you are there. Lot of wrecks... Bet your ass was cold Thing about diving wrecks in Lake Michigan is that you get to collect something that most people don't even think about... huge crayfish! Like 5" crayfish that just sit there while you pluck them off a wreck and fill a basket. Freshwater crayfish with creole seasoning and salty butter! Big enough to eat the claws!

You need to do some research in developing root systems like this. To start with you might want to wait for a couple of seasons with this tree. Instead cut down the root system enough to get it into a colander used to grow a massive fibrous root system that can with stand the drastic cut down it will take to go into this pot.

 

[Bonsai_Bentley]

Beautiful tree. I like the pot too. Where can I find something like that? I like shallow pots but I was afraid that may be too much pruning for the first potting.

The bonsai pot? I got that from a shop that was closing. The first repot is going to be the most aggressive one. Trust me, if you're timid now you're just setting yourself and the tree up for another, albeit less, invasive repot in a couple of years. Assuming the tree is healthy; go ahead and get it into the container you want now. Alternatively, if you still have development to do (as we all do) and have the patience you could move it into a development box instead. Even then I'm not really changing how I approach the root work. I just happen to be putting it into a slightly larger container with more coarse soil to get more coarse root growth since I'm looking for coarse growth in the canopy.

 

[ceriano]

The bonsai pot? I got that from a shop that was closing. The first repot is going to be the most aggressive one. Trust me, if you're timid now you're just setting yourself and the tree up for another, albeit less, invasive repot in a couple of years. Assuming the tree is healthy; go ahead and get it into the container you want now. Alternatively, if you still have development to do (as we all do) and have the patience you could move it into a development box instead. Even then I'm not really changing how I approach the root work. I just happen to be putting it into a slightly larger container with more coarse soil to get more coarse root growth since I'm looking for coarse growth in the canopy.

The pot is 5” deep. I guess 50% reduction should be fine.