Repotting Elms

[toohey]

Hi All,
I know that you should re pot elms before sprouting in winter. I didn't have time then.
If I repot now will I kill the elms?
What about Japanese Black Pines?
Michael

[Guy]

If you can repot without any rootwork it should be ok-----black pines =dunno

[Reece]

I'm pretty sure now is the time for Pines but I'm no expert so wait for one of the pros to comment before you do anything!

[JaseH]

Tien from Bonsai Sensation told me the best time for repotting JBP is when the candles are extending but before the needles have emerged.

[toohey]

One of my Corky Bark Elms is really pot bound, and a large tree so I don't know whether to cut the roots or not???

[Andrew Legg]

Toohey,

Unless you are prepared to give it REALLY good aftercare, I'd leave it till next year mate.

Pines should be fine now.

Cheers,

Andrew

[bonsaisensation]

hi toohey
you'll find with elms, root prune it now(although a bit late) will be better than letting it sit pot bound for one more growing season. one thing you can do to reduce the stress of untimely root pruning on most deciduous trees is to defoliate it at the same time. it minimizes the demand on roots( much less after root pruning) to supply moisture to the foliage( much less after defoliation). it is not a common practice but as an alternative.

regards

[shibui]

I totally agree with Tien. Chinese elm should survive repotting even if it has leaves. I usually prune the top back a bit to offset the root reduction but have beeen reading that they may actually do better when top is left alone - still not sure about that..... More testing needed.
Black pine should also be ok to repot now. I often do mine late after I have finished the deciduous trees and no problems noted.

Pot bound trees are VERY hard to keep the water up to over summer - there is so little space for water to penetrate they slowly get drier and drier and often die unless your watering is excellent or better. Far less risk to repot than to leave them.

[Bonsaifan]

Chinese elms are very hardy, I've only just repotted a whole bunch in a group setting last week.

[gerald randall]

I think we are all going to say the same.

I do not like to repot Elms if there leaves are open. If they are still busy opening then it is fine. Having said that, Elms are very strong growers and there is a lot of energy which is very likely to get them through the shock. If it was not root bound, I would have proposed that you just leave it. Elms do not like to be root bound. You are likely to do more damage by just leaving it. Maybe trim the obvious dead roots, but also try to pot in a bit larger container so that you do not have to take too much off.

Aftercare should be in a cool shaded area for two weeks with Superthrive (or similar) weekly. No fertilizer for the first month. Trim some of the foliage if it's thick to assist with the recovery.

Good luck. Keep us posted. I would be eager to heart how, it went.

JBP a are fine to do now. Assuming you have cool spring weather.

[bodhidharma]

I have done a thread on here regards late potting and have repotted Elm as late as January. It will be fine if you take it out of the pot and saw the bottom off without disturbing the upper roots. Repot into a large container and then the roots can grow downward into the new soil. Next year you will be able to do proper root work at the right time of year.

[Slothman]

I have done a thread on here regards late potting and have repotted Elm as late as January. It will be fine if you take it out of the pot and saw the bottom off without disturbing the upper roots. Repot into a large container and then the roots can grow downward into the new soil. Next year you will be able to do proper root work at the right time of year.

Thanks for this.

I have a few "sticks in pots" that I was going to repot into some larger colanders but the warm weather got the jump on me and they have all taken extra growth really nicely.

I might take this method you have suggested over the weekend and leave them be.

[Brad75]

Hi all,

The only thing I can add to the excellent advice already provided is use a wound sealant on any large cuts above the root line to prevent loss of water by transpiration. Chinese elms love water and full sun so the combination in Australia after a root prune and re-pot can be a killer.

Cheers,

Brad75.