Daluke
Mame
what is the best season to repot an old red pine bonsai. I'm unhappy with the pot and substrate.
Red pine repot
- Thread starter Daluke
- Start date
Late winter/early spring.
Daluke
Mame
I figure that's because you give it a whole season for the roots to recover?
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Sounds like not Enough info?
I'm confused.
Pretty Sure an old red pine can go 5-10 years without A repot.
What are the roots recovering from?
Sorce
Daluke
Mame
What I'm saying is you repot in late winter or early spring to give it time to recover. If you do it in early winter or autumn it goes a season where there is less growth.
Repot in late August Daluke. Watch for swelling in the buds and do it then. If you can, use Orchiata, sand and sieved diatomite which you can find pretty easily around here. Keep the pot on the small rather than large size.
Daluke
Mame
It's late autumn where I am. I got some large candles. They aren't anywhere near opening and I figure all energy is being sent up the tree for winter. Does this change anything?
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
No. Doesn't change a thing.
But, what is this 'energy' that you're talking about, going up the tree?
barrosinc
Masterpiece
Both you guys are aussies, so that might be your best help
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Gonna walk that mudhole dry again?
augustine
Chumono
I'm not criticizing just making a suggestion so you don't lose your tree. An old pine is worth good care and training. My concern is that you have an old pine and don't know when to repot (which is a very basic piece of information).
I strongly suggest that you do some reading and study on bonsai basics plus pine care. Join a club if possible. There are forums with good information as well as other websites on bonsai. Red pines are treated like black pines but are not as vigorous. (You'll find more info on black than red pines.) When checking dates to do various tasks figure out whether the writer is discussing northern or southern hemisphere. Also there is an Australian bonsai forum.
Pines are not extremely difficult but are touchy and not that hard to kill. I don't know the climate in your area but a red pine likes it a little cooler than a black pine and I don't know how it will do if your region is hot as blazes.
Good luck, study up.
I strongly suggest that you do some reading and study on bonsai basics plus pine care. Join a club if possible. There are forums with good information as well as other websites on bonsai. Red pines are treated like black pines but are not as vigorous. (You'll find more info on black than red pines.) When checking dates to do various tasks figure out whether the writer is discussing northern or southern hemisphere. Also there is an Australian bonsai forum.
Pines are not extremely difficult but are touchy and not that hard to kill. I don't know the climate in your area but a red pine likes it a little cooler than a black pine and I don't know how it will do if your region is hot as blazes.
Good luck, study up.
Daluke
Mame
Unfortunately, I find that there is a lot of conflicting information about pines in books and online. If you read this thread there are three times suggested by different people in only a few replies. Winter, spring and autumn. Are they all right? I'm not sure. Hence the questions...
Asking questions here helps me learn the method behind the madness.
I know you aren't criticising. But a lot of people in my club / online base their learnings on "study" of incorrect techniques for our climate based on aged horticulture practice and misinformation.
I don't know when to repot to get the best results. Increased vigour, soil change and a more aesthetically pleasing pot is what I am after.
Don't be concerned about me - I'm trying to get the best results for the tree.
Late winter/early spring. It's better to repot a little early than too late. However, after you repot, protect it from freezing. After repotting, put it back into the sun.
Exact dates depends upon your local microclimate.
Exact dates depends upon your local microclimate.
I'm where you are! I said August because that is late winter and when the pines here begin to stir. When the tight buds start to swell, that's the time to repot. You can also do it in late summer (late March) here because our winters are not cold and the roots are still very active then but late winter/spring is the safest. If the buds have started to stretch it's too late. Summer is no good and winter is too cold and wet.
