Grafting and pruning of bonsai roots
The very thought of this task, newcomers fill with horror. However, it is not a cruel thing to do at all - it makes a good thing for a plant, mimicking what would have otherwise happened in the wild. When planting a tree in a container, this process is obstructed. With occasional replanting and pruning the roots, you will do a favor to your bonsai, and it will reward you with health and a strong growth.
When and how?
The frequency of replanting depends mostly on the type, size, and age of each tree. However, the technique is the same, regardless of any of these factors. The best time to transplant any trees is the end of the standstill period before buds begin to swell. Apples that bloom in spring, along with cherries, should be replanted in early fall, and azaleas and quince immediately after they completed the blossoming.Soil for bonsai
Basic recipe; a three pieces of ordinary peat, leaf compost or similar organic material, and the two parts of coarse sand or gravel. Sieve the each ingredient to remove the parts that are less than 1.5 mm and greater than 6 mm before mixing.Soil needs to ensure the stability of the tree, keep water and nutrients to the roots, and must be loose enough to freely pass through the roots, water and air. It must have a good drainage. Removing the undersized particles allows a good drainage and ventilation, and easy movement of roots. Lack of coarse particles allows the soil to cling well around the roots. Trees that are grown outdoors in wet areas should be added with more gravel.
Replanting a bonsai tree [gallery]
2. To unravel the long roots and remove some of the old soil, use a knitting needle or something similar. If the roots are all right, remove half of the soil, and leave the rest untouched.
3. If the roots are not exactly healthy, remove all of the soil. To rinse the roots, use a garden hose or a tap water, so it will not damage. If you leave the root ball in a bowl with water for ten minutes, the soil will become fluffy.
4. Remove any wilted or rotten roots, cutting up to the healthy parts. Shorten the remaining roots to fit in a container, so that the distance between the roots and the vessel is approximately 25 mm around.
5. Wash the bowl and cover drainage holes with the plastic net to prevent dispersal of the new soil.
6. Put a thin layer of sand or small pebbles on the bottom of the pot for drainage and cover it with a layer of fresh soil. Then make a small pit in the soil where the trunk will stand.
7. Place the tree in a container so as to properly set the "front" side. Bonsai looks best when standing in the pot a little off center. Place the trunk in the soil by turning it gently back and forth. Secure the tree with wire that passes through the drainage holes and tie over the roots.
8. Add a fresh soil and push it good in between the roots with the knitting needle. Fill with soil to about 6 mm from the edge of the container. After a few weeks, the soil will settle so you can add some more.
9. Water it good and place the tree in a place protected from frost, direct sun and the wind until it starts a new growth. Do not water until the soil becomes visibly dry and then water it sparingly until new growth picks up. Do not feed until a new growth begins.
Hope this helped you, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below!
