Fall repot of a 'Shishikashira' Japanese Maple

In late summer one could consider repotting a maple (Acer palmatum). In this case, I would like to know what substrate a new tree is in. This is a gorgeous species, which lights bright red in fall.

[@bobcatbonsai]

Jelle this is a beautiful little tree you have. Always a pleasure watching!

[@GrowingBonsai]

Thank you for stopping by!

[@natedykstra1498]

Nice tree! This cultivar of JM is on my list. I haven't seen one for under $400 though and I don't want to buy from online (I've only seen huge ones for some season)

[@GrowingBonsai]

ask around in clubs, they are around!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Did not expect that today! I understand why you went for it and I wish the tree all the luck. I think I may have been less bold and just kept it out of harms way till spring. Something to look forward to seeing next spring :)

[@GrowingBonsai]

You have concerns? Think I would risk loosing a gift from a dear friend?

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@GrowingBonsai No - I have no doubt you have the experience to know this will turn out fine. It was just incredible to see how muich rootwork you did. I have no experience of doing that at this time of the year. :)

[@GrowingBonsai]

You think I did a lot of rootwork? You wait and see my video on imrpoving nebari in young plants, which I taped last weekend!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@GrowingBonsai I definitely look forward to that.

[@GrowingBonsai]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat will be out in a few weeks my friend!

[@gamer1672]

Go ahead Jelle finish the song.Beautiful tree!thanks for showing to us.

[@GrowingBonsai]

I did, but the microphone broke when I was singing so it was never recorded ;)

[@AlexBraunton]

Poor Xavier was planning a maple video today and yours is the second one Jelle haha.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Cannot help it :(

[@natrjack965]

What a lovely singing voice have .. I am sure the tree will be fine In your hands .. Another great video Jelle.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Thank you Michael!

[@AlexBraunton]

Jelle, would it not have been better to try and slip pot it?

[@GrowingBonsai]

I feel strong that one should do a repot properly. Slip-potting .. I try and avoid it a little to be honest

[@abydosianchulac2]

Oh no, Jelle, now we'll be expecting a musical introduction for each tree going forward! Quick question, though: when you recycle substrate, do you replenish any of the pine bark or other organics, or do you leave well enough alone?

[@GrowingBonsai]

Hahaha, would not do that to you! In general, the bulk of the substrate is dried, baked, sifted. And then I might add some yes. But if it has been in the pot for a few months.. I just reuse

[@yoann0490]

That's a nice looking tree Jelle ! I got a Japanese Maple (Orange Dream) a couple of weeks ago and was thinking of doing a repot ahead of winter (early october, at the moment). Well, it would be more of a pot transplant, than a repot I belive, as I would not be touching the roots at all. I'd just take the tree out of its small pot and place it as is (with all of the original substrate) in a much bigger pot. Would that be possible at this time of year ? My reasoning behind this is to encourage it to grow and thicken, especially around the trunck, for a year or two before trying to shape it.

[@GrowingBonsai]

I personally believe that every time you take the tree out of the pot, you should work the roots. A nice nebari does not happen by itself. And you might end up growing it out for a few years and have a horrible base at the end of this. So IF you transplant, do rootwork. Here it is getting late in the season, with the first light frost expected this weekend. If you have another 4-6 weeks before first frost you could consider doing it now. Or else in spring as the buds are opening. (The latter is recommended if unexperienced)

[@yoann0490]

@@GrowingBonsai Thanks for the info, yeah it might be a bit too late in the year for a repot. I'll wait until early spring then, as I am a complete noob when it comes to bonsai ^^' In the meantime I've ordered a balcony greenhouse that should arrive next week for a few seeds/acorns I'm trying to get to sprout + for my little Acer if it gets too cold.

[@mattbrennan647]

That’s some aggressive work for the fall Jelle. Hopefully you’ll have a mild winter and it will survive. I’ve started doing a lot more work on my trees in the late fall but haven’t tried a repotting. What are your average winter temperatures? Thanks, keep growing

[@GrowingBonsai]

Hi Matt, winters here generally are mild. It is rare to have frost for more than 2 weeks on end and coldest I have seen it peek here is around -18c/0f. This plant will have no trouble as it still has foliage and a fall-push of roots is still coming.

[@MrBoabreeder]

Ik heb een esdoorn (naam weet ik niet) die ik op een veiling won en de wortels komen aan de drainagegaten uit. Ik heb weinig praktische ervaring ermee maar heb wel veel gekeken en opgezocht op youtube. Toch 1 vraag .....zou ik deze ook nog voor de winter verpotten? Ik was wel zowieso van plan de esdoorn in de serre te plaatsen als het koud word.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Als je weinig ervaring hebt is mijn advies om het niet doen. Want mocht het mis gaan, dan ga je je altijd afvragen of het de timing was, of jouw manier van werken.

[@patrickmartens7166]

@@GrowingBonsai oke dan laat ik hem zo. Thx voor de snelle reply..

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@GrowingBonsai]

Thx!