Question on decandling and repotting timing on JBP

[Brian Van Fleet]

Definitely a VP. I would suggest you underpot it, in very coarse soil.

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

So both the VP and JBP are growing happily and vigorously. I decided Id wire the JBP a bit today to open it up some. I removed one branch and left all the needles on. The idea was to change the angle a bit, open up the canopy so the smaller buds can get light, and set it up for the repot next spring. All the branching comes out of two spots, but I figure I'll make my mistakes on this cheaper material and take better care of a better tree in the future.

Couple of angles of the tree as its grown out today.




I tilted the angle a bit and went to work.



So the plan so far is, I will use the bottom left branch and that top cluster of branches to continue thickening the trunk while trying to work the energy along the right side where there are several buds emerging. May also repot at a steeper angle than it is now.



No ideas on the VP as of yet. May just repot next spring and see how it goes before I do any design work.

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

Developmentally they’re not ready for decandling techniques yet. Do some branch selection, pruning, needle-pulling and wiring in the fall. Repot in the spring and let’s reevaluate next summer.

Hey Brian, quick update on this tree - I wired it out for sun and air awhile back and it's been doing great. Seems very happy and healthy.


Quick question though - I haven't pulled any needles at all and over the last several weeks Im noticing buds swelling. Is this generally the time of year I would pluck old needles and select down to two buds - or is it better to wait until we are a bit closer to winter?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Yes, now is the time. Balance is the key...try to keep buds which are the same size throughout, and even amounts of needles throughout as well.

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

I thought I would update these two trees as they will both need to be repotted this spring. I've been reading around about JBP repotting and seems that we are getting to the time of year it usually happens. I have a bit of confusion on what is meant by repotting when the buds swell but before they start forming candles. Are they officially candles once they start showing signs of needles? They are definitely elongating on the JBP but not showing any signs of needles as yet.
As it sits today:


Some close ups of the buds:




As far as the Virginia Pine goes, it's seemed to put on a lot of top growth over the winter. I still have a bottom branch living, but doesn't look great. This one is still potted in yard mud from when I got it haha. I was planning on repotting it the same time I do the JBP as it is showing lots of budding right now.

As of today:


Some close up of the buds:

 

[mrcasey]

I had the same question about timing a couple of years ago. The answers from this short thread may help.

State Of Candle Elongation To Signal Appropriate JBP Repot Time

I've noticed that the candles on my jbp have begun to elongate. Being in zone 6, we should continue to have frost for another 5 to 6 weeks. Next week, it'll get down to 22 F. Are these candles at a stage when I should be root pruning and repotting?

www.bonsainut.com

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

I had the same question about timing a couple of years ago. The answers from this short thread may help.

State Of Candle Elongation To Signal Appropriate JBP Repot Time

I've noticed that the candles on my jbp have begun to elongate. Being in zone 6, we should continue to have frost for another 5 to 6 weeks. Next week, it'll get down to 22 F. Are these candles at a stage when I should be root pruning and repotting?

www.bonsainut.com

That is really helpful, thanks @mrcasey - looks like I still have some time. Will wait and look at them next week when I'm not staring straight down a cold snap in 72 hour.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I’m still about 3 weeks out from repotting JBP here.

 

[Adair M]

As I posted on another thread, it’s better to be too early than too late. BUT, keep it from freezing after you repot.

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

With the nicer weather this weekend and good looking daytime temps for the foreseeable future, I went ahead and repotted these two pines. The JBP went without a hitch, I plan on just letting it grow out more this year. The Virginia Pine was a bit...sticky. The guy who gave it to me wasn't lying, he just dug it out of his yard and plopped it in the pot red clay and all. I pulled as much of it out of the rootball as I could safely, its such heavy stuff it was just tearing off the fine roots. I also will get to try out some of these tie pots I picked up a while back.

Easy JBP repot


VP pulled from its Terra Cotta



I mean, just look at that stuff.



It was sticky enough to make a tiny pinch pot!


Here we are repotted in better soil. I worked for awhile to try to integrate all of the bonsai soil into the edges around the clay ball. There were more feeder roots than I would have thought - but I think getting the clay off of the root ball is going to be several years worth of work.

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

I just took wire off of the JBP today and snapped a photo. The Virginia pine is equally healthy with buds all over the place!