Getting closer… Chinese Elm with Trimmed RootsĪnd all done! I trimmed off only a small amount because this root ball lost a lot during the soil removal. You just don’t want to remove more than a third of the roots during the whole process. We’re going to trim off some of the roots anyways so it’s not a huge loss. Sometimes the roots are already detached especially in root bound pots. It’s okay if a few roots come off during the process. Slowly work your way around the roots and it should get easier as you go. Take your time and be gentle in doing so. ![]() Root Hookīegin in one spot and carefully poke the dirt to loosen it. If you haven’t purchased the master tool set and don’t have a fancy schmancy root hook, you can use a chopstick just as easily. This can be tricky and I recommend that you never use your hands to do so. The next step is we want to remove all of the old spent soil without damaging too many of the tender roots. Yep, I definitely should’ve done this a long time ago! Oh well, ever forward. A sure sign that you’re doing the right thing because this bad boy is root bound! Chinese Elm Root Ball If it’s been some time since you’ve repotted, the whole plant should come up roots, dirt and all. The Old Bonsai Wireįree at last! Once they’re clipped, bend them straight so they have an easy exit through the holes in the bottom of the pot. Do this from the underside with your wire cutters. ![]() The next step in repotting is to remove the wire to free the tree from the pot. It’s made of aluminum usually so it doesn’t rust and is easy to work with. This is a great way to spend a butt load of money for tools that you may never use! However, I do so enjoy rolling out the mat when I begin to get to work styling! But back to our struggling Chinese Elm!ĭue to the general smallishness and shallowness of your typical bonsai pot, you almost always have to use bonsai wire to hold it down into the pot. I went a bit nuts with this hobby at first and bought the master set. Or you can do it the way I did several years ago when I was starting out. A straight branch cutter and a concave one would be a good start. You should start off with a wire cutter, some shears and a few branch cutters to begin with. ![]() Plenty of room to let the dirt fly and all my tools get in the way! Speaking of tools, it’s a good idea to invest in a few if you plan on creating bonsai. Here’s a wider shot showing my work space. I use a fold up plastic table because you can set it up anywhere that’s convenient and it’s easy to clean. The first thing you want to do is create a nice work space because you’ll be making a mess. Younger trees need to be repotted more frequently, around one or two years. Trees this old need to be repotted every three to four years. Notice instead the general lack of foliage and the shabbiness of the soil. Try to ignore the wild growth on the left side, I’m trying to create some new branching so it’s gonna look unsightly for a while.
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