Question about "one insult per year"

[Bonsai Mike]

I realize this will change tree to tree, but I want to make sure I understand this concept. Its mid fall and I have multiple pieces in nursery containers I want to re-pot in spring. Some are styled some are just waiting.

Calendar year or 365 days? Are this fall and next spring considered the same year meaning If I wire and trim up a new acquisition, I should defer my spring potting an entire year further?

Understanding that the answer will likely be this changes tree to tree, for my purpose I am looking at nursery stock of 2 Chamaecyparis, 8 Juniper, and the Dwarf Alberta I made the thread for yesterday. I am zone 6B.

I really want to re-pot my hinoki in spring 1 is worked on and 1 not. I assumed I could work the second one ( I mean remove 20% foliage but definitely wire) and re-pot both in spring.

Another example, I really like one of the junipers I styled up this fall and feel like this one "deserves" a nice pot and will move towards refinement at its current size.

You can see why now would be a great time for me to understand this concept.

 

[Victorim]

If you stick to that concept you will defiantly have healthy plants... the "saying" is mostly applied to single flush pines now.

 

[Dav4]

Depends on the insult and the health of the tree. A healthy hinoki, juniper etc can definitely be rewired and repotted within a growing season. Keeping the trees healthy and doing the appropriate work at the right time is the key.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

All insults are not created equal

If you repot a healthy tree that already has a great root system and is in a bonsai pot, and you only slightly trim the roots before repotting it back in the same pot with new soil, that tree should be thriving and full of energy in a couple of months (assuming you do this work in the spring).

Conversely, if you have a nursery tree that is horribly root-bound in bad soil, and it takes you four hours to comb out the roots and you end up having to reduce the roots more than you would like... that tree will need to rest for a bit.

 

[Bonsai Mike]

All insults are not created equal

If you repot a healthy tree that already has a great root system and is in a bonsai pot, and you only slightly trim the roots before repotting it back in the same pot with new soil, that tree should be thriving and full of energy in a couple of months (assuming you do this work in the spring).

Conversely, if you have a nursery tree that is horribly root-bound in bad soil, and it takes you four hours to comb out the roots and you end up having to reduce the roots more than you would like... that tree will need to rest for a bit.

Perfect responses and thank you all. I have trees that concisely fit in both categories and your wording was spot on.

 

[Adair M]

Good advice from all those above.

My advice would be to get all the trees into good bonsai soil. So, when choosing insults, soil comes first.

Healthy roots make for a healthy tree. A healthy tree can tolerate pruning, wiring, etc.

 

[whfarro]

You're ugly and yo moma is....(done for the year and set up nicely for the following)...

 

[M. Frary]

You're ugly and yo moma is....(done for the year and set up nicely for the following)...

Yo mama eats kitty litter!