Shimpaku repot

[JesusFreak]

So I got this guy from eBay and it’s root bound and doesn’t have much soil. So I’m not sure if I should go ahead and repot it now out of season, add more soil, or leave it alone. I also wanted to take some cuttings from it as I’ve been seeing it appropriate at anytime of the year.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Don’t repot, water correctly and it will make it until spring. Aerate the soil with a chopstick if necessary.

 

[JesusFreak]

It has main branches I wanna get rid of as well. Thinking about keeping this a shohin. Wait til my repot?

 

[roberthu]

It has main branches I wanna get rid of as well. Thinking about keeping this a shohin. Wait til my repot?

Don’t reduce foliage and repot in the same year is the general rule with most conifers. Besides, your tree is so small, getting it into a bigger pot or ground and let it grow freely is probably a better approach.

 

[sorce]

You're safe to remove a couple branches now, I wouldn't make it more than 25%.

I haven't failed a juniper Repot leaving them full. You gotta leave them full. I don't prune the tops after Repot till I see new roots/it's healthy enough, at least one spring or fall growing season.

Sorce

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

You can certainly add soil to the pot, as it looks pretty bare. Pumice is good.

Then repot in spring.

If you are really impatient. If you do zero pruning, being in southern Georgia, you can probably get away with repotting now. Especially if you do not remove many roots. It will work because the shimpaku is young. I would not do this with an older, trained tree.

But if you can bear to wait, spring might be a better time to repot.

 

[JesusFreak]

Yea thanks Leo. I’ll wait. It just had 3-4 main trunks. I was just thinking I need to get rid of the one in the middle. I’ll add some perilite and repot in spring

 

[JesusFreak]

I haven’t heard much discuss on the tourniquet method with shimpakus. I like the multi trunk potential of the tree but I’m wondering if I plant it at an angel and use a tourniquet will it create a new set of nebari? What’s the worse thing that can happen, the trunk eat the wire and make it bigger?

 

[sorce]

I think the lack of talk mirrors the lack of necessity.

I haven't found a juniper without new roots anywhere it's been buried a while.

Along with the idea that Nebari on Juniper isn't as coveted as deadwood and other aspects...

You're not likely to find much info, bit if found, you probably wouldn't need.

Sorce