How, When and why to Repot Bonsai - All? questions answered

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Repotting season is slowly coming!! Yeah!!

[@thenaturecreater8906]

Cant wait anymore!!! Need spring now!

[@GrowingBonsai]

Tooo Slooow!

[@GrowingBonsai]

Move South

[@TOMSAI]

Yeahhhhh

[@TheTickpicker1]

Best channel on bonsai, thank you for taking the time and effort to teach all of us new things.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Wow, thank you! That is so nice of you!

[@Jacob-yb6bv]

This was a great demo. I’m always impressed when a person has a better grasp of English as a second language than most English people do!

[@GrowingBonsai]

Hahaha, thanks so much

[@JohnThurlbeck]

I agree with a previous commentator - the only repotting video needed! Thank you for sharing, Jelle! 👍

[@greenmachinesweden]

The only repotting video needed.🙂👍

[@GrowingBonsai]

❤

[@jimhallberg2142]

Thank you for making these. I find myself learning more from your presentation then I would expect, and I have to chalk that up to your success as an educator. You have made me feel capable of starting several garden salvaged samples as hopeful art pieces, and I appreciate the support your content has provided during this time.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Glad you like them! Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@fusion4262]

Jelle this is fabulous. Your videos are concise, to the point and so easy to follow. Thank you so much :)

[@GrowingBonsai]

:) Haha, I was concerned it was WAY too long. You feel this is still concise! Thank you

[@mattbrennan647]

Thanks. Another great tutorial Jelle. The only thing I need now is for spring to arrive. Thanks, keep growing

[@GrowingBonsai]

Well... Once spring arrives, tell her to come to me too!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

You answered all of my questions Jelle!!! Thank you :)

[@GrowingBonsai]

Great to hear! I am so happy to hear. Hope you ran into the jeans comments

[@kreszenziajusupoglu8298]

Very nice explanations for 3 types of bonsai for repotting. I so now want to repot but as u said ... be patient for early spring😏

[@GrowingBonsai]

almost there!

[@jeffhurst4744]

Yes indeed, it is getting closer and closer to repotting time here. Good points, examples, and the aspects of s successful repotting.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Enjoy the hands in the mud weeks!

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

As always, very nicely done Jelle. Clearly demonstrated and concisely explained. 👍

[@GrowingBonsai]

Thank you kindly! Thank you so much!

[@987654ok]

very nice video, thank you. One thing you did not mention is aftercare, specially after such a drastic root work. I imagine there are certain tricks needed in this case. Cannot wait for early spring - bonsai are calling

[@GrowingBonsai]

Yes, you are right. TO be honest.. They are right back in the garden where they were. Well-developed rootballs are robust, as are young plants. So this was not drastic!

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

Great information and explanations Jelle! Very helpful video! Thank you for this!

[@GrowingBonsai]

My pleasure! Anything new for you there?

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

@Growing Bonsai by Jelle The way you repot is different from others. Actually easier. Not having to stress about root selection as much as I do. Especially on younger trees. I have always bare rooted the trees and done fine root selection. You are in the middle for root work. Between the fine work of Nigel(Bonsai zone) and the just saw it in half and keep sawing till it fits like Sam(Aussie Bonsai Bloke) does. I always thought with every repotting that you must root select, the same as you would for the branches. You leave more on. Your fine feeder roots are much thicker and closer to the trunk. I wish to achieve this.

[@AkeGust]

Good, instructional video. Thank you.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Glad it was of help!

[@scheers100]

Nice and complete explanation of the repotting process. Thanks and keep growing

[@GrowingBonsai]

So nice of you, best of luck in the repotting season, and keep those trees alive!

[@phillipwaterman5721]

Bonsai phill very good video thanks jelle keep up the good work mate thanks

[@GrowingBonsai]

Glad you enjoyed it. Hope there was something new to pick up for you too!

[@a.wartongarden1957]

Hi Jelle ! Happy New Year ! Thank you very much for all your hard work creating these videos for us all . Within this video you mention that root pruning conifers is a bit tricky. This coming Spring I have quite a few trees to repot as they are well overdue [ my work, in previous years, was all-consuming at the time of year when repotting should be carried out]. Among these trees requiring attention is a Scots Pine ...it was a seedling grubbed out of a stone wall roundabout 1990.... Any guidance you can provide on Pinus Sylvestris root pruning care ...and also needle-bud pruning, to get shorter, more compact needle clusters...it would be greatly appreciated . Many thanks in anticipation ☺

[@TonysBonsai]

Lots of good solid advice as usual Jelle!

[@GrowingBonsai]

Appreciate it! Hope there was something usefull in there for you!

[@karlcottingham1472]

Great video. Nice trees. A nice rock to fit under those roots would look awesome too. Thanks

[@GrowingBonsai]

Great idea, but the whole intent is to have a tree with bare roots! !

[@rebeccahunter725]

I love repotting videos, and this is a cracker! I also love your presentation style, so you are rapidly going up the list of favourite KZbinrs. Once we hit spring in Aus, I plan on starting an exposed root style, but now I am torn - I had thought to do a pine, but now I want some sort of deciduous as well. Hmm. I have a few prunus starters to pick from , that could be interesting . . .

[@GrowingBonsai]

Have fun!

[@bobcatbonsai]

Very informative and entertaining. Great work Jelle!

[@GrowingBonsai]

Glad you enjoyed it Matt! You ready for our collab video Tuesday? I noticed that I am not able to do a live release though :(

[@bobcatbonsai]

@@GrowingBonsai yes I am. Why won't they let you go live?

[@ggevergreenbonsai1259]

Great tutorial Jelle! Thanks 😀

[@GrowingBonsai]

My pleasure! Hope there was something new

[@ggevergreenbonsai1259]

@@GrowingBonsai Hi Jelle. I challenged you in the landscape challenge. I’m not sure if you’re interested in doing it in the future 😊

[@GrowingBonsai]

@@ggevergreenbonsai1259 :) I am working on a landscape, I noticed the challenge before on another channel too.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Seriously, really good video and it has helped me with a couple of Negari I've got to strat this month. Cheers :)

[@GrowingBonsai]

:) Great to hear. Hope you have now a broadened horizon for your neagari!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@GrowingBonsai Certainly a broader root base :)

[@W9SL9Y]

Great content thanks Jelle!

[@GrowingBonsai]

My pleasure! Hope it gave you something new!

[@TOMSAI]

Thx for this nice Video! 👍👍👍

[@GrowingBonsai]

Glad you liked it!

[@TycoonMK]

nice video Jelle, ty

[@GrowingBonsai]

Thx!

[@natrjack965]

Hello yelle great video my friend ..

[@GrowingBonsai]

Thank you 🤗

[@peterbeulen8629]

I´m a bonsai beginner and your explanations are a great help. I always look forward to the next one. Do you have tips about the substrate you use for deciduous trees?

[@GrowingBonsai]

:) kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2LdoJlmqrmsjZI

[@SyriusStarMultimedia]

Beautiful tree!

[@GrowingBonsai]

Thank you! Glad yo ulike it!

[@Candice.BonsaiScience]

Can’t wait for repotting as it means winter is finally over! Great vid!

[@GrowingBonsai]

Same here! slowly the air gets a warmer feel to it here!

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Nice video Jelle 👍👍👍👍

[@GrowingBonsai]

Thank you so much!

[@rtweedtwee]

Dank voor je informatie ☺️❤️

[@GrowingBonsai]

Ik hoop dat het je wat nieuws heeft laten zien!?

[@dihan7574]

Hi I’m new to bonsai I like your videos they are very informative Can you tell me what you use in your substrate for bonsai thankyou

[@GrowingBonsai]

So nice of you. Have a browse on my channel. A few weeks ago I did a full substrate video!

[@HoundStuff]

Very helpful and nice format, thank you! Have you considered a similar version for pines/conifers? Might be helpful for us newbies 😀

[@GrowingBonsai]

Great suggestion! My experience in repotting pine is however limited so I would feel like a bit of a hypocrit giving advice, where I am not fully confident myself! It has only been 5 years since I repot-killed a pine so I am not committed to saying, I know how that works.

[@HoundStuff]

@@GrowingBonsai Sounds like you have challenged yourself! 😁I'll watch regardless of the outcome. 🍻

[@GrowingBonsai]

@@HoundStuff I hear what you are sayin, buut.. I am not sure I want to :). In reality, I do not want to be absolutely wrong in videos. I know in some cases I do things differently from the norm, and any pushback there is OK. But giving advice when I am not convinced..

[@HoundStuff]

@@GrowingBonsai I totally hear you and understand! I’m just teasing a little. I really enjoy your videos and always get a lot out of them. I always look forward to the next one! Thanks for all the work! 🤜🤛

[@BobMatthews]

Thank you Jelle for this extremely informative repotting video, it's very timely. I am a little scared though of major root pruning such as this and worry that the water uptake from the roots will be able to sustain the top growth? I imagine one has to be very vigilant with watering? Also, how do you deal with feeding the tree after a repot for new root growth? Or do the sugars from the photo synthesis of the leaves provide the right stuff for root growth?

[@GrowingBonsai]

Hi Bob, what I notice is that I can do this sort of repotting even when in full leaf and no real problems occur. Once you have a rootball full of fine roots, you are only getting a part of the active root off. I do not treat these a lot different from my non-repotted trees. Generally, I try to remember to not fertilise any of my developed trees in early spring, and instead focus on fall fertilizing. THis is a hotly debated topic though so.. I do not always speak up on these things as I am in the minority it feels (But I often forget).

[@mikeswain9085]

Another helpful video Jelle. I've been trying to read the potters mark at 3:55 can you help please?

[@GrowingBonsai]

Wabi Sabi bonsai pots, check kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKnQl2R8YrKNnac description for more info. GREAT pots!

[@mikeswain9085]

Thanks for the link Jelle. Great looking pots.

[@GrowingBonsai]

@@mikeswain9085 and a great chap making them. Can recommend.

[@johncontract7855]

Hi Jelle! Great video. One more question I have about repotting. I am overwintering my young trees in an unheated garage. We've recently had some warm weather and they are starting bud break. But this will be kind of a false spring in my area. Would it be ok to start repotting now since they are in a garage so not really susceptible to sun freezing temps? or should i wait until closer to real spring? Thanks in advance.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Yes you can! In fact, I do not protect repotted trees from frost, living in an area where repotting starts now, and frost occurs till early May. I do protect from sun & wind when frozen though.

[@abydosianchulac2]

Hmm, question on the negari: you explained why you pulled the substrate up so high (answering another question I was about to start typing, ha), but how many of the finer roots would you intend to keep from the current mass? Or at this point in the development are you planning on letting most of those roots remain to create a thicker thicket on the bottom?

[@GrowingBonsai]

At this point I have decided that I am not going to push the roots further out of the soil (But who knows what I decide in a few years!) As such, I will now slowly start treating this as a more normal rootball and aim to develop a more or less solid mass or roots in the core, only trimming the outside, like I did on the elm.

[@andrewbeattie5245]

Thanks Jelle, what are your thoughts on allowing the substrate to dry out a little prior to repotting especially on a repot out of nursery compost? Thanks

[@GrowingBonsai]

Hey Andrew, it is what I do. When it is wet, it is harder to get out. Once it is in substrate, I have less problems with sticking around: My substrate does not really decompose and also when soaking wet will fall from between the roots.

[@ottoman4r]

How long do you leave the wire for wiring down the tree?

[@GrowingBonsai]

I do not remove it until the next repot. Which is why with more developed trees it is important to really keep it a bit away from the trunk and have it below the substrate! Good point of attention, thank you!

[@JohnGreenaway-ky8ps]

Hi you calling the in fill substrate, there does not seem to be any soil in the mixture, am I right

[@lunarcyclone]

Why do you use a shallow pot? I am new to bonsai and I’m trying to bonsai a lemon tree that I grew from seed. It’s still small only about 6” tall. Any pointers would be great.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Shallow pots, mostly because of looks. It makes the tree look bigger and is less abtrusive than a bigger pot.

[@kiwiprouddavids724]

So I'm just starting a couple of bonzi trees sort of from a couple citrus and native trees. I've been going for two years just repotting them into bigger plastic growing pots ,but because I'm a poor farm boy I've been just using compost and sheep 💩 for soil , and I haven't broken up the roots and cleaned them or done much of anything to them really,is that kinda okay ? It's middle of summer do you think it would benefit my trees to do a big soil removal and soil trimming? .....man I've got a couple growing in half 44 gallon drums , I wonder if I should take them out and train roots over cool rocks or a cool old whiskey bottle I found in the bush

[@GrowingBonsai]

Substrate is one component of bonsai. But the shaping of the canopy is a much bigger one. If you keep your trees healthy in what you have there, it is good enough I would say. If you have porous gravel in the bush, consider whether sifting to remove all fines, and keeping granules 2-10mm in size would be feasible. Do not do major rootwork in summer, but do it when the tree is just getting out of a dormant phase

[@kiwiprouddavids724]

@@GrowingBonsai thanks , I hadn't thought about that I should be able to sort something out like that maybe instead of gravel I use crushed shells after a good wash. And thanks for stopping me from attacking my trees now, I'll wait 6 months until end of winter to do root triming

[@zbarcalab4390]

Have you ever tried making a prunus domestica into a bonsai?

[@GrowingBonsai]

Interesting question. In fact, I have 2 plants that are now 3 years old that I want to lift from the garden. I am not sure whether it grows true from seed though. Any experience?

[@zbarcalab4390]

@@GrowingBonsai They are usually grafted but they should still be alright

[@terrencedesjardins1350]

What is the makeup of the substrate you are using?

[@GrowingBonsai]

Hi Terrence, take a browse on my channel. I have a full video on substrate!

[@dalejames486]

I feel like this is a dumb question, but should we ever be concerned about the wire used to hold the tree into the pot biting into the roots and spoiling the nebari?

[@GrowingBonsai]

Not dumb at all. Yes, one should take care that this does not happen. This is why people put the wires fairly far from the trunk and/or below the surface roots

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌👌🙂🙂

[@GrowingBonsai]

:)

[@ivanwoodhouse1958]

Don’t understand why you jumped from one tree to another as I found it very confusing

[@GrowingBonsai]

Hi Ivan, I am trialling different formats of editing.

[@Dunbarton]

Why didn't you put a screen over the hole in the middle of the green pot? Why didn't you wash all of the old potting soil off of the roots before repotting the plant? Why do you call the potting soil "substrate"?

[@GrowingBonsai]

But I did put a mesh on top. Why would I wash the roots? Who does that? I cal lit substrate because it is not soil

[@Dunbarton]

@@GrowingBonsai I missed your covering of the center hole I should've said "potting mix". If you don't remove all of the old potting mix around the roots, that potting mix might have different properties than the new potting mix

[@GrowingBonsai]

@@Dunbarton I am not sure what you mean. Not a single plant of mine grows in potting mix. It is all in substrate. But even if it is in regular potting soil. rarely there is a need to wash roots and it just damages the roots.

[@Dunbarton]

You remove substrate from roots by using chopsticks, hooks, rakes, secateurs, etc. What more "damage" will occur by rinsing with water?

[@bimmer635csi]

Am I the only one that puts the screens on the outside of the pot, so they are easy to remove?

[@GrowingBonsai]

I have heard of it before. I guess I like to have gravity work in my favour :)

[@bimmer635csi]

@@GrowingBonsai Yeah, that's understandable. But if you depended only on gravity, you wouldn't need the "eyeglasses" 😀

[@GrowingBonsai]

@@bimmer635csi Fair point! In my defence thougfh.. This mash moves when you pot substrate on and.or move the tree in the pot!

[@bimmer635csi]

@@GrowingBonsai Es ist kuhl, Mann! No need for defence. We just have different styles is all. You do you, I do me, we're a happy family.

[@GrowingBonsai]

@@bimmer635csi did not take it in any other way! :)

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌👌🙂🙂

[@GrowingBonsai]

:)