Digging up a potting a 17 yr/o garden grown gardenia

[Videl]

Hi all,

I have a gardenia that was grown in the ground since 1996. I am thinking of digging it up and making it into a bonsai eventually. I have pruned it, exposing the trunk line and established nebari. What is the best way to dig up and safely pot a plant that has been growing in the ground for around 17 years? What size pot should I first place it in and what kind of soil should i use? (Will the regular flowering plant azalea potting mix that i get from nurseries be okay?) I am eager to start soon.

The tree is about 100cm wide and 80 cm tall. The trunk is around 10-15cm thick at its base. The overall design after pruning shows a triangular shape with the top of the tree as the apex. I will attach a photo soon. Any help in regards to digging up and potting with minimal stress on the tree will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the replies.

[Videl]

A couple of pictures of the Gardenia. Any help on further styling/pruning/transplanting the tree from the ground to a pot will also be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[bonsaibruce]

Good luck with the dig.
I would soak as deep and often as possible before digging. If you have time cut all the roots about 30 cms from the trunk. Do north, south, east and west this week and soak with seasol, then in the next week or two cut roots NE, NW, SE, SW. Soak with seasol. Cut all the branches back to the last few leaves and anything big that is crossing or bar branched. I notice you have removed all the small low branches that looked scruffy. Remember bonsai are small trees trying to look old, never cut off a low branch just because it looks bad. Dig after you build a nice box.
Good luck and happy bonsai,
Bruce.

[Damian Bee]

Nice advice
Have don with that one