Liquidamber Styraciflua Need Help with potting

[mtarros]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum and also new to Bonsai, I did get my first Bonsai from a Bonsai farm and am going back in a month or two for a Bonsai Class.

I have been collecting different trees and have had a go on some of the cheaper trees.

The Liquidamber Styraciflua was not cheap and dont want to kill it off.
I was going to leave it for the class but the pot is full of roots and dont want it to die or get weak.

I think it has a very good structure to be a very nice bonsai and the roots look very nice also.

Thanks
Michael

[mtarros]

Also will I need to put it into a training pot or will ot go straight into a bonsai pot?

[Scott Roxburgh]

It looks pretty healthy to me, I don't think it needs a repot.

It's also the wrong time of year to repot, feed it up and take it to the class.

[gr8bookworm]

Hi Michael,

i am only a newbie but I have read lots of books and quite a few posts etc online. Unless you think it is not getting enough water due to the soil then I would leave it until Autumn , then take it out of the pot and root prune etc. Depending on when you do the Bonsai classes wait until then? From the pics the tree looks healthy, just water carefully and feed every couple of weeks. I am sure more knowledgable forum members can offer you more advice.

Good luck and If I can add one more thing as a newbie....don't rush, take your time to learn how to grow the tree before taking any drastic action shaping the tree.

Mark

[craigw60]

The red colouring in the leaves tells me its a bit too dry should be lush and green at this time of year LA are very thirsty trees mine are the first ones to dry out
Re-pot time is in the late winter or early spring, the LA are one of the last trees to come into leaf so you can pot them quite late in the season. For now you should be pumping in the water and ferts.
Craigw

[mtarros]

Yea the soil does get a bit dry by the time I get home from work, it's in the sun do I might move to to a place where it gets a bit less sun.

What type of fert should I use for it?
I was also thinking of getting some sphagnum moss for a mulch to help it keep a bit more moist, is that a good or bad idea?

The Bonsai Farm are not not taking any class bookings until March so it might be a bad time for it too early in the month.

Thanks
Michael

[craigw60]

Just use some dynamic lifter and seasol power feed, liquid feed it once a week and us the pellets only a couple of times over the summer
I don't like mulching pot plants but I know some people do
Craigw

[Jarrod]

I mulch with dynamic lifter! When you repot, you should try to remove the circling root!

[mtarros]

Is there something bad about having a circling root on a tree?

[parabola]

Where abouts did you get this from mate? I see your in Brisbane. Im looking for some places to check out for some nice stock.

[mtarros]

I got this from Hawkins nursery and they had lot's of big Liquidamber Styraciflua there.
Also got my self a little Syzygium bush christmas, it looked like an easy one to make into a bonsai and it has moss growing on it.

They had lots of nice plants and had to pull my self away as I wanted to get more.
I was also eyeing off some of the Juniperus as they already looked like a basic cascade style.

[parabola]

Sounds like they have some decent stock.

Do you have an address? Even a suburb would help!

Thanks

[NathanM]

Which Bonsai farm is it from, jsut out of interest?

[mtarros]

The address for Hawkins nursery is
Chandler: 1666 Old Cleveland Road, QLD 4155
PH: 07 3390 1633

The Bonsai Farm that I'm going to do my class at is
BONSAI AUSTRALIAN GROWER
190 Hubner Rd Park Ridge QLD 4125


They have some very nice trees there and I got my self a nice little Bonsai from them.

[mtarros]

Which Bonsai farm is it from, jsut out of interest?

The Tree posted on here is from Hawkins nursery.