QUINCE..... the sources SAY

[Mike Corazzi]

I have a chinese quince that I would like to repot.
The sources that I read say to do it in Nov/Dec but looks like they also say to do it when it is BARE.
Which mine is not.
Some branches are full of leaves.
Others more sparse.

Sooo... should I do the dirty deed now or wait for the leaves to be ...GONE? If they do go.
It's a red variety and my other quince is white and I like the red better.

This is the white one which doesn't apply in any way to my question.




It does however illustrate the REMAINING branches that survived the crash of a higher shelf pot upon it.

 

[NaoTK]

The picture you attached with white flowers appears to be a Japanese quince and not Chinese.

Chinese quince leaf out early and it is true people say to repot early. For Oregon this is Jan-Feb but I can see that being Dec in CA.
For Japanese quince, you can repot at the normal leafing out time in spring, which is during or after when the flowers bloom.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

The picture you attached with white flowers appears to be a Japanese quince and not Chinese.

Chinese quince leaf out early and it is true people say to repot early. For Oregon this is Jan-Feb but I can see that being Dec in CA.
For Japanese quince, you can repot at the normal leafing out time in spring, which is during or after when the flowers bloom.

Never knew. The nursery doesn't label exactly.

 

[misfit11]

Yes, Japanese Quince. JQ is one of the rare trees you can repot in late summer/early fall. Some people say it's actually better this time of year, IDK. I dug up an old Quince September last year and it didn't miss a beat. This is the only species that I'd do that with. There are some here on BNut that suggest summer repotting (or repotting after 2nd full moon after the solstice under the spell of a Wiccan coven... ) on every species under the sun, but I humbly disagree. You may be able to repot now, but you may have missed that window. Maybe some others will chime in.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Fall many repot Chaenomeles/ flowering quince. That said...most I know would have done it by now. It's late kind of...

But I don't know your climate...so won't advise.

 

[n8]

I just repotted a couple Japanese quince last week. Getting close to the end of our window to do that in the Central Valley, though.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Fall many repot Chaenomeles/ flowering quince. That said...most I know would have done it by now. It's late kind of...

But I don't know your climate...so won't advise.

Here's a pic.
Temps are in the low 70s and mid 60s.

Think it's okay to repot?
And if so,

1. Reduce roots?
2. Prune hard?
3. Leave present leaves on?

Thanks.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Here's a pic.
Temps are in the low 70s and mid 60s.

Think it's okay to repot?
And if so,

1. Reduce roots?
2. Prune hard?
3. Leave present leaves on?

Thanks.


View attachment 515529

I am in a zone 4. I can't even grasp your climate and extended seasons which is factored in. Sorry. I won't offer advice that ... is a gray area for me.

My own flowering quince is quite dormant...again...totally opposite climates we are dealing with.

 

[misfit11]

Here's a pic.
Temps are in the low 70s and mid 60s.

Think it's okay to repot?
And if so,

1. Reduce roots?
2. Prune hard?
3. Leave present leaves on?

Thanks.

I think you could probably get away with a repot in your location. I'm in the Bay Area and I think I would be fine doing it here without much problem. The bay area low temps are most definitely not as cold as what you're probably experiencing, though. @n8 is near you and just repotted so it wouldn't be that far out of the realm of sanity. HOWEVER, my suggestion is that you repot only if you feel you absolutely need to (ie. the soil isn't draining, soil holds way too much water, etc), and then I still would suggest you give it protection for a month or two. Otherwise, what is the rush? Spring isn't that far off. We start repotting here in mid to late February.

I always think it's wise to err on the side of caution.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

I think you could probably get away with a repot in your location. I'm in the Bay Area and I think I would be fine doing it here without much problem. The bay area low temps are most definitely not as cold as what you're probably experiencing, though. @n8 is near you and just repotted so it wouldn't be that far out of the realm of sanity. HOWEVER, my suggestion is that you repot only if you feel you absolutely need to (ie. the soil isn't draining, soil holds way too much water, etc), and then I still would suggest you give it protection for a month or two. Otherwise, what is the rush? Spring isn't that far off. We start repotting here in mid to late February.

I always think it's wise to err on the side of caution.

Okay makes some sense.

IF as you suggest, I wait a month or so, how would you answer the 3 original questions?

1. Reduce roots?
2. Prune hard?
3. Leave present leaves on?

It CAN wait as it's not in any dire soil situation. I just wanted to get it planted deeper in a different pot.

 

[SeanS]

Here's a pic.
Temps are in the low 70s and mid 60s.

Think it's okay to repot?
And if so,

1. Reduce roots?
2. Prune hard?
3. Leave present leaves on?

Thanks.


View attachment 515529

This one photographed looks to be a Chinese quince. The white flowering one in the first post is a Japanese quince. Compare the leaves and flowers, they are different species of plant.

 

[Shibui]

Agree with @SeanS 2 different species.

The` second appears to be Chinese quince - Pseudocydonia sinensis. Valued for the multi-colored trunk as bark sheds in spring each year. Also has pink flowers in spring just as the leaves open.
They can be semi deciduous in warmer areas so may not drop leaves in winter. Don't let that make any difference in repot and root pruning. Through winter they are essentially dormant whether there are leaves or not and can be repotted as if bare.
In my experience Chinese quince can be root pruned hard any time through winter in warm climate but early spring along with most other species is a safe bet.
No problem with hard prune. They can produce new buds from older, bare wood.
Leaves can be left on the tree after repot. It may respond by dropping the leaves but that's no problem either.

Original white flower plant in post #1 is Chaenomeles sp - Japanese flowering quince. Known for flowers in late winter before the leaves open. Comes in a variety of flower colors.