Repotting for 1st time and need help!

Miyagi · White Belt Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 5

Hi, thought I posted this the other night but must have pressed the wrong button...

Few months ago I received plenty of helpful replies here in response to my question about falling/brown leaves. Thankfully the tree (Chinese Elm - Ligustrum, I think) is looking nice and healthy now seeing as I have gotten into the routine of regular watering/feeding. But now I face the daunting prospect of repotting for the first time. Stalks and green leaves are popping up through the soil so I guess that means I need to trim the roots and replace the soil?! Now, can somebody please explain the process to me as they would a small child with learning difficulties! I’m quite thick, and also quite new to this horticultural lark.
Details: The bonsai is kept inside, on a desk by a window. Misted twice daily, usually. Watered every 2/3 days. Been fed once since I got her (probably due another feed soon). Not been trimmed for a few weeks so quite abundant in branches and leaves at the moment. Room gets quite cold but during the summer becomes really hot.
Thanks in advance for any advice given.

Neo

as per your sig i - make like a tree and leave! lol

i'll leave this one to the experts Razz

Tuppence2

I'm sure someone will be along to help soon. Perhaps the Bank Holiday means people are away today.

Pleased to hear the elm is well., especially as you keep it indoors. Smile

Penny

Stymie

Did we not suggest earlier that your tree would be happier outside.
If you could wait, a better time for re-potting would be early Spring.
In case you are not able to wait, there is a helpful page on the subject in my website.

steve

Before repotting I would lift it out of the pot and make sure the roots are tightly bound all the way around if there is still alot of soil between the root ball and edge of pot then it can wait another year. If it is in need then:

1. Take tree out of pot and comb out all roots with a root hook or a bent fork. Try to get as much of the old soil out as you can without damaging anything. Mist roots often to keep them from drying out.

2. Rinse out the old pot and scrub away any deposits. Then block off drain holes with mesh netting and wire them into place. If you don't have netting try a tea bag over the holes instead.

3. Trim the roots back by a third. First cutting all the long roots back to the root ball then trimming into the edges to make room for new growth. Keep misting the roots.

4. Run a wire up through the drain holes that will be long enough to cinch the root ball into place when you're done. Put a layer of soil down in the bottom of the pot then place the tree on top of that fanning the roots out as radially as possible. Twist the ends of the anchor wire together over the root ball until the tree is sturdy in it's pot. Then cover with soil.

5. With a pencil or chop stick work the soil into the root ball adding more as needed.

6. Trim an equal amount of foliage away as you did the roots. Be careful not to cut into the tree's style as you trim.

7. Water well. Don't feed for a month and keep out of direct sun for the same.

Stymie

Steves almost quoting me, I was trying to save a bit of typing. Laughing

steve

Sorry Stymie should have sent your way but I had a bit of time to spare.

steve

Miyagi · White Belt Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 5

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll print Steve's reply off at work tomorrow and study it religiously. One question I do have through after skimming through the instructions is do I just use the same soil or should I replenish with new fresh soil?

Neo