I have a blue point juniper (Juniperus chinensis) that I bought over a month ago. It seems to be doing very well in its nursery pot. It has a pre bonsai shape. It has been growing a little taller and continues to mature since I bought it. I was thinking about wiring it sometime during this summer so it could rapidly grow into its shape. I don’t want to prune it foliage because I think it fine. Is wiring during the summer acceptable? I will not repot until the winter.

I live by the rule not to do any work on a tree that has been with me less than a full growing season. For trees bought in summer that can mean more than 1,5 years.

Tropfrog wrote:

I live by the rule not to do any work on a tree that has been with me less than a full growing season. For trees bought in summer that can mean more than 1,5 years.

I don't have this as a rule, but it is pretty much what I do. I don't think I can pick up a tree, look at it for a minute, and automatically know what to do. For deciduous trees, I really need to see the branches with no leaves, and that means wait until winter.

Look at it for a while, come back next week, look again, and after a while I know where the main branches are, what to cut, etc. It takes a while.

Would the roots grow rapidly during the time I would have to wait? That's a concern I would have if I were to eventually repot it.

Wes wrote:

Would the roots grow rapidly during the time I would have to wait? That's a concern I would have if I were to eventually repot it.

Yes, roots do grow all the time. Why is that a concern?

Tropfrog wrote:

Wes wrote:

Would the roots grow rapidly during the time I would have to wait? That's a concern I would have if I were to eventually repot it.

Yes, roots do grow all the time. Why is that a concern?

Long roots would make repotting difficult.

We dont repot until the tree is pot bound or close to pot bound. However not easy, root prunning is a important part of the repotting work and is done at every repotting.

Tropfrog wrote:

We dont repot until the tree is pot bound or close to pot bound. However not easy, root prunning is a important part of the repotting work and is done at every repotting.

In that case, what’s the correct way in pruning roots for repotting? I’ve unfortunately killed a few trees from doing it incorrectly.

Wes wrote:

Tropfrog wrote:

We dont repot until the tree is pot bound or close to pot bound. However not easy, root prunning is a important part of the repotting work and is done at every repotting.

In that case, what’s the correct way in pruning roots for repotting? I’ve unfortunately killed a few trees from doing it incorrectly.

Repotting is core to good bonsai management. This is a skill you need to master if you want to grow bonsai.

In general, one gently combs out the old substrate, cut back the roots, ideally to side roots if you are still building up the rootball. Place the tree on top of a pile of substrate in the pot, gently rotate down into the substrate, tie the roots to the pot. Backfill the substrate while teasing the substrate between the roots with e.g, a chopstick. Water well.