Repotting Question

mushashi · White Belt Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 24

Hi,

I have a question about repotting. Do most people always tie down(anchor) the specimen/root ball to the container with wire?

If so, do you leave the wire tied on top of the soil indefinitely or do you usually remove the wire after a certain period of time?

The reason I ask is that I have a few trees that were potted by someone else and they were tied in place. On one I noticed that the wire is or may begin biting into one of the nice looking nebari roots on the surface. It is very difficult to move it without cutting. So, the thought occurred to me that maybe they are supposed to be removed over time anyway.

Any thoughts/guidance?

Thanks.........

P.S. One of my shohin bonsai's wire snapped for some reason. Would it be possible to feed a new anchor wire through the two bottom holes of the container and push it upward, or do you think it will just bend before it makes it up to the surface. In other words do I have take the thing out of the container to do it? That is of course if it is even necessary!

Dick · Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 5:13 am Post subject: Re: Repotting Question

Those are two good questions.

It's always advisable to tie the repotted tree to the pot with wire so as to keep it from shifting and being accidentally removed from the pot by natural casues or personal error. And most times, the wire remains in place until the next repotting. It can be covered with soil so as not to be unsightly. However, if it is cutting in to the nebari and making an artificial scar that it not desired, remove it so that it will not cause that damage. It probably is an indication that the tree should be checked to see if it needs repotting.

For you second question, yes it is possible to feed new anchor wire up through the roots and retie the tree into the pot. When I have done this, I used anneal copper wire and not the aluminum core wire. It's much easier that way.

Stymie · Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: Repotting Question

Mushashi Hi,
Personally speaking, I wire my outside dwelling trees into their pots because most of them live on a flat roof which is windswept. The indoor ones don't have to cope with the wind and are not wired in. I rarely remove the wire between repots. This is probably a typical carry on among my bonsai acquaintances.

mushashi · White Belt Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 24

Thanks for the great tips. Well, I also thought that the soft aluminum wire would be a challenge to feed up through the soil, unless you can somehow tie it to a sewing needle and feed it up. The copper wire is a better solution.

Yes the wire is sitting on the nebari of a rather nice and pretty old Acer Campestre. I can either cut and remove the wire or maybe try to slip something like rubber underneath it to prevent the cutting into the root(which may not look that great on the front of the tree). It looks like it has begun to cut in a little but not too bad. I think this tree was repotted about 1 year ago, but not certain. When I repot I always enter it into a logbook for my records. I have only had that tree about 8 months. I guess if I have to cut the wire I can lift up the tree and check the roots.

Which reminds me of another question. When you are checking by removing the tree and soil from the container to see if it needs repotting, don't you by necessity have to add new anchor wire, or re feed the old one up through the soil again, if it doesn't yet need repotting?

Stymie · Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: Repotting Question

If a tree is firm in its pot with no movement or wobbling, it may not be necessary to wire in again. Your good sense will tell you.

mushashi · White Belt Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 24

I hear you, but that is of course assuming that I have any good sense......

My trees get exposed to some pretty good storms up here where they are located, but most seem to be pretty firmly set in their containers.

I will use my judgment....

Dick · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 2:32 am Post subject: Re: Repotting Question

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that the wire that is nearly cutting into the nebari must also have a place just below the soil someplace in the pot where the ends are twisted together. If you can find that, you can untwist them and then retwist the wires together and make it loose or slip a piece of tubing over the wire so that it does not cut into the nebari.

Pappa · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 8:20 am Post subject: Re: Repotting Question

Recently I've used cable ties to strap a tree's roots into the pot. It seemed to work well.

Pappa

mushashi · White Belt Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 24

Thanks, Dick that thought occurred to me also. However, the wires are twisted somewhere under the soil and some moss.

I am hoping that at least temporarily, I can slip a piece of rubber tubing or something....

Dick · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 4:00 am Post subject: Re: Repotting Question

I still thinkthat it's worth thr trouble of finding whereit is twisted together for a lot of reasons, not the least of which that it's easier than repotting the entire tree.