A regular update on the life and times of John Hanby’s Newstead Bonsai Centre……..
Topical Times – Repotting…..Have you started yet?…..
On the nursery we have almost finished repotting our deciduous trees. This recent spell of mild weather has really set things moving and you can see lots of swollen brightly coloured buds. Don’t get caught out……if this weather persists you may find some trees in leaf sooner than you think.
If you have done your repotting, now you need to be really careful. It would be great to think we are going to get a spring this year……I can’t remember the last one!…..but I feel sure there may be a sting in the tail. If we get some cold nights and severe frosts in March/April you need to be able to protect your repotted and in-leaf trees.
We are leaving our conifers while late March/April depending on the weather. Last year it was the end of May before things started moving and we had repotted some trees too early.
Classes have been full recently with many students bringing trees to repot.
Tony’s collected Hawthorn was in the deep patio pot and required drastic action to move it into it’s bonsai pot. Stan’s Japanese maple had leafed out early in two previous years and was therefore long overdue for a repot. The roots had to be overhauled and selectively pruned accordingly.
Kiyohime Maples often leaf out early so this year Gwyneth was taking no chances and as the buds began to open she was quick to move the tree into it’s new Gordon Duffet pot….wow…what a difference. This alpine Larch had been in it’s training pot for 6 years and could now be safely root pruned and moved into a ceramic bonsai pot before being put back up for sale.
Alan wanted to improve his delightful Juniper Procumbens raft by moving it out of it’s pot and onto a slab. This was a slab he had constructed himself and incorporated a dry stone wall. The position of the trees was carefully considered and keto was used to help retain both the compost and raft on the slab. Once again what a difference a repot can make.
……….Just remember watch your trees and watch the weather …..they will tell you when the time is right.