Repotting a Procumbens nana bonsai

[@williamgoodwin9667]

What a great approach to the old juniper glad to hear some people are at least not training the instant bonsai approach. At least we all know your tree will live another day. I watch some videos and think omg what have you done good luck , and in some climates it just spells disaster. Thanks heaps for all the information your a real inspiration in the community of bonsai.🙂👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼👌🏼

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much William. Yes, I always try to keep a tree in the best possible health. It is very tempting to want to do all the operations we do at once as it does give the WOW effect, but as you point out, at what cost to the tree. In my humble opinion this is more driven by personal ego than what is good for the tree, so if we can get ourselves out the way and focus on bringing out the best in the tree then we will focus more on the needs of the tree and less on our own.

[@BONSAIenCORTO]

Great video. Clear, touching all important questions we need to take into consideration when repoting a conifer. Thanks a lot for this video.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Great! Glad I did not forget anything.

[@erickvarela2777]

I am a huge fan!!!! Keep the very educational videos coming!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much Erick!

[@hanspeter6198]

I like the high level content and the deep insights into your thoughts and your work! Thanks

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you so much!

[@Sulaiman.galant]

Lovely video, love the cascading pot. I have one would love another.

[@mikeswain9085]

Apologies for another question Terry but at 26:00 in the video, you gave a name for the 50-50 technique, can you put the name in print please? I'd like to read more about the technique if I can. The more times I watch this video the more I am learning about the Procumbens and the greater I am enjoying the video.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Mike. Actually it’s super simple. It’s American bonsai master Boon’s technique to my knowledge. You bare root the front 50% of the tree and leave the back alone entirely. Two years later you come back and bare root the back 50%. At that time you leave the front half alone. Now you have treated the entire root ball with the minimum risk to the plant.

[@mikeswain9085]

Thanks for the reply Terry, really appreciate the help. Due to my inexperience and rush to get a couple of Juniper 'Nana's' repotted, I removed all the soil during the process and they're not looking too happy. Now, with the help of your video, hopefully both myself and more importantly, my Junipers will have a healthier future.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

No problem Mike. This is how some lessons in bonsai are learnt. Provided you left the foliage alone then the trees should pull through with a lot of misting. If you cut a lot of foliage and did a lot of root work I’m afraid the chances are slim. But hang in there and perhaps they pull through.

[@sujeetbrahma4801]

Quite informative video..bare rooting half of the plant is something I've seen for the 1st time, but sounds reasonable..would try it on my junipers and pine ...thanks

[@ranjanty]

I just bought this tree to try my hand at making a bonsai. I did have a 5 year old bonsai in the making but my Aussie puppy ate it. I thought he couldn't reach it😮

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

That’s terrible. Many people have lost trees in that way. It’s most unfortunate

[@mikeswain9085]

What a really helpful video, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us Terry. At 12:15 you mention that if the tree is showing signs of growth, it's a good time for repotting. Would the same apply worldwide, repotting if the tree is showing signs of growing?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Yes, worldwide would be the same for the species in this video, procumbens nana. When the tips of the foliage are swelling and greening up. Typically mid spring and then again in autumn. The better time is spring.

[@mikeswain9085]

That's great, thanks for the help Terry.

[@nancyfahey7518]

I will try it this way. I'll have everything ready when I start and no substitutes. I bought 3 small Grey Owl Junipers and they have been growing for at least 5 years in ground. I followed someone's rules and it was dead by the end of the summer. I've been afaid to touch the other 2. And I will wait til winter to do this.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Winter is not a good time to repot juniper. It’s when new growth is beginning. If you are doing drastic root work then do the 50/50 approach. It’s a lot less likely to lead to the trees demise.

[@xviolist]

A great presentation/lecture. I learned a lot! Thank you.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thats great to hear Clifford!

[@nyomanbalibonsai8388]

Thank you for your shareing sir 🤝 Fery beautiful bonsai 🥰🤝👍💓

[@brucekelsch5080]

I learn so much from your videos. Thank you

[@jorgevaldes4814]

Great Word Terry. After a year from it, is it posible to have some update..?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you Jorge. This tree was a customers. It responded well and was growing strongly when I last saw it. The customer has sold it though so I don’t know if I will have it on the bench again for styling. Sorry.

[@asger655]

Well, in the kokufu ten 2021 a Sonare was displayed, but in Japan what is found is Procumbens Sp, no variety, the one that has just needle folliage, not scales, "nana" is the commercial variety that has smaller needles (thats "nana" comes from) and produce also scales in their follige. Look at the kokufu 2021 videos, just one was displayed, and was procumbens sp, it is the "popular" procumbens in japan, and its often use to graft itoigawa follage.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Asger for your comments. I certainly did not mean to suggest that Sonare was not to be found in Japan, as they most certainly are and there are some incredible specimens for sure which I have seen in person at nurseries and on exhibitions. However I think the point I was trying to make in the video was that it is not as common as it is where I am, which is in South Africa, where almost every bonsai enthusiast has at least one! :) Yes, as you mention, it seems the trend now to change the foliage of Sonare to something like Itoigawa, which although Itoigawa is amazing foliage the tree, to me, looks amazing as a Sonare but I appreciate there are fashions that influence bonsai in Japan and also that perhaps the grower can sell the tree for more money eventually as this is the main motivator for doing this work.

[@joelhiggins6156]

Thank you for your expertise! Very detailed information, I love it!

[@davidn3841]

Hi Terry, where can we put the juniper after repotting? Does it need to be kept indoors and away from direct sunlight if I have no greenhouse?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Hi David, no, not at all. You can place it in sun. At the moment the sun is not strong and it will help strengthen the tree. The main thing to protect from is wind.

[@davidn3841]

We are in late winter in Melbourne. Can be a bit windy sometimes and cold night but during the day it is warming up. Thanks for the reply

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@@davidn3841 ok. We’ll be sure not to repot too early. You must start seeing the tips of the foliage swelling and greening up. If you’re removing a lot of root try to keep as much foliage as possible.

[@PassioneBonsaiQ]

Interesting plant!...greetings from Italy

[@popscratchie3985]

Hi Terry I have just purchased a Chinese juniper (pyramidalis) that has needle foliage, what I want to know is when does this turn to scale foliage? Also can you get any juniper species that are only scale or needle foliage or is this all just dependent on the trees age.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Juvenile foliage is usually a response to stress. When the tree has recovered it will revert back to adult foliage. However some species will always have some degree of juvenile needle foliage. Some are mostly juvenile like the procumbens nana. I’m not aware of this character being related in any way to the age of the tree.

[@popscratchie3985]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai thanks for the info, I had just assumed that with it being called adult and juvenile foliage it had something to do with the age. Thanks for the prompt reply, much appreciated 👍

[@easymode_RL]

Nice informative video, I subbed! I also use sand with peat moss to grow my trees I know it's a terrible dusty mix I can buy from any big box store, but it's super cheap for pre-bonsai. I want to use stuff like Akadama, DE, Pumice, and lava but that stuff costs $$$

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

When a tree is in development you can certainly use cheaper components, those which will produce a lot of growth continuously as that is the goal. It’s only when you want to refine trees that the growing medium needs to be chosen that much more carefully.

[@lcrubn]

Is it also the good time to repot a Sonare in Johannesburg?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks for the question Rubén. I did cover this in the video. I would suspect that it’s too late now. You can repot again in Autumn though but read this to know what to look out for: www.bonsaitree.co.za/blogs/tree-talk/the-fantastic-juniperus-procumbens-nana

[@douglasbakerjr6706]

What size pot?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Sorry but I do not remember. It’s a customers tree.

[@aussiepossposs8760]

How many year to grow ?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Hello Aussie, as its not my tree I cannot tell you. I don't like to guess either. Sorry.

[@arnopienaar8111]

Baie leersaam ,dankie Y

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Baie dankie Arno, waardeer dit!

[@graemerobertson5697]

What mix did you use

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Good question. I used equal parts of akadama, lava and pumice.

[@bonsaitruongthi]

Wonderfull

[@brucedeacon28]

👍🍎

[@edinborogh]

Awesome video.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much!