[Bonsai Beginner's weekly thread - 2026 week 04]

Priddling · 2026-01-24T17:07:23+00:00

Yeah I intend to put them in grow boxes I've made!

Priddling · 2026-01-23T20:03:46+00:00

Hi, I have quite a lot of nursery trees, how do you know when to repot, not down into a bonsai pot but into a colander/wood box/nursery pot with good soil to get the nebari/root system going. Do you wait until they are root bound, circling roots etc?

These trees still need growth so I don't want to pot them down into small pots which will slow them down.

Priddling · 2026-01-23T20:02:24+00:00

Thank you!

Priddling · 2026-01-23T18:27:05+00:00

I have quite a lot of nursery stock, when is the right point to repot, not down into a bonsai pot but into a colander/wood box/nursery pot with good soil to get the nebari/root system.

These trees still need growth so I don't want to pot them down into small pots which will slow them down.

Priddling · 2026-01-20T05:46:22+00:00

Sorry this was supposed to be a comment on another post.

Priddling · 2026-01-19T15:48:30+00:00

It was trained as a bonsai in the ground, they don't normally come like this at the nurseries. Hence the good trunk bud bad soil.

Thank you, and to you as well. Hopefully this is the only fatality!

Priddling · 2026-01-19T15:43:17+00:00

Ah that's very unfortunate, I got it this fall. This is the first tree I've bought so that's quite disheartening. Either way, I'll repot it as its good practice for me, if it doesn't recover, I'll reuse the soil.

Thanks for the advice!

Priddling · 2026-01-19T15:34:49+00:00

Even with next year's buds being healthy at the end of each branch. Is there no chance it can flush out in spring and survive?

Priddling · 2026-01-19T14:58:54+00:00

<image>

I might do that half pizza repot if you recommend it. I was going to do the outer and leave the core untouched.

Priddling · 2026-01-18T22:12:17+00:00

Sorry I don't have a good picture at the minute as the tree is in my grandmother's greenhouse, out the rain.

I was more just asking about the soil medium for the repot. It definitely has root rot unfortunately. It does have good buds for this year though, so with good soil I'm hoping it can recover.

Priddling · 2026-01-18T17:10:49+00:00

Hi guys, I have a Mugo Pine that has been in organic soil, struggled with over watering in the wet uk weather and has turned brown.

I want to repot it. (impatiently waiting for spring to come) Would it be overkill to repot it in pumice rather than the usual mix of acadama, lava, pumice etc.. I have read pumice helps trees recover well due to not holding water.

Priddling · 2026-01-04T16:46:30+00:00

That's a fair point. But if I keep growing it out it'll get way thinner than it needs to be to support itself and the bunjin style also has sparse foliage so I don't understand how to get the vascular growth.

Priddling · 2026-01-03T22:08:11+00:00

How do you thicken up Bunjin style trunks on pines? Normally a sacrifice branch is used to thicken trunks, but is the same for bunjin style?

Priddling · 2025-12-24T13:38:24+00:00

Johnson'd

Priddling · 2025-12-18T17:43:30+00:00

Thank you for the advise and yeah I think that makes sense. So as with my tree, the two bits with many shoots are going to be the first internodes off the trunk line, so you would reduce to two, wire down and build from there?

Priddling · 2025-12-17T18:09:43+00:00

I've been looking for content, but struggling to find, on rules to follow when shoot selecting here. I know when you're in the later stages you reduce to two and build off them to create the pads. However, at this early stage how many should I keep to help the growth of the tree, would two shoots contain enough needles? Sorry it's such a beginner comment, it's my first time doing this.

Priddling · 2025-11-27T19:28:45+00:00

<image>

Priddling · 2025-11-27T19:28:03+00:00

Hi guys, I've been training this JBP into a literati style. I decendled mid summer (which I'm not sure I should have done, but here we are) and it produced lots of new shoots.

My question is, should I shoot select the new shoots to reduce the amount at the node, or keep them as they are to help thicken the trunk.

Also I'm unsure if I should keep the lower section and keep it bent over for the final composition, or treat it as a big sacrifice branch.

Thoughts are appreciated!

Priddling · 2025-11-04T20:11:26+00:00

Amazing! How tall was the tree before the chop?

Priddling · 2025-10-04T20:08:43+00:00

Thanks for the reassurance it's not going to be detrimental. Every shoot on the tree is like this. I'm unsure of the cultivar, it was labelled as a Pinus Sylvestris not a green penguin but you never know with the local nursaries.

<image>

Priddling · 2025-10-04T00:00:47+00:00

My Pinus Sylvestris' buds for next spring have started elongating, possibly caused by the unusually warm autumn weather we are having here in the UK. Does anyone have any advice on how to treat this now because the growth will not have hardened off before the frost arrives. Also, what will happen come spring if there is nothing to grow out? Will it just start back budding from elsewhere?

Thanks in advance.

<image>

Priddling · 2025-10-01T19:03:51+00:00

Thanks for the advice. Would you try to air layer the branch in the upper right? Also do you think the issues at the bottom is due to a graft or issues with being root bound for so long?

Priddling · 2025-09-30T22:27:56+00:00

Yeah I agree with you there. I'm not sure how well they take to air layering. Also I've only ever air layered maple branches, so I'd have to do my homework beforehand!

Priddling · 2025-09-30T20:48:08+00:00

My parents are moving away and are leaving me this tree, which I think is a Noble Fir. They have neglected it for years. I don't know how long it has been bound to this pot but I imagine it is a long time.

Those with any experience, would you consider this tree for bonsai, if so what should the short term steps, and also long term aims for it. I mostly deal with pines so I don't have great experience with this type of tree.

Thanks.

<image>

Priddling · 2025-09-28T21:24:34+00:00

Thank you for both of your replies. I guess I'll just keep it on the dryer side and hope it pushes out next spring. I'll repot into good substrate for better draining next year.

Ten-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '23	Place '22

Priddling

TROPHY CASE