You simply completed repotting – now what?

Once you end the final of the repotting – and breath a sigh of reduction – it’s time to take a seat again and let the bushes develop into their new properties.

Whereas the bushes are busy sending out new roots, our foremost job is defending them from the weather.

The primary enemy is chilly temperatures. Many cold-tolerant species can deal with temporary in a single day lows at or simply under freezing, however don’t hesitate to guard weak bushes, small bushes, and treasured bushes from freezing.

When temperatures drop decrease or fail to heat up after a couple of hours, it’s finest to maintain these bushes in a protected house like a workshop or storage.

The subsequent factor to observe for is extreme wind. Repotted bushes are usually OK in a mild breeze, however robust or sustained wind can dry bushes rapidly. When doable, shield just lately repotted bushes from robust wind. This may imply shifting bushes towards a wall or fence throughout a windy spell, taking them into the workshop, or putting them on the bottom.

Lastly, make sure that repotted bushes get sufficient water. The most effective factor about caring for just lately repotted bushes is that it’s onerous to over-water as the surplus usually drains freely after we repot.

I overhead water loads in early spring to maintain foliage cool as this takes a few of the burden away from the roots. As for watering the soil, I usually water when the floor of the soil is dry.

Listed below are some examples.

Moist floor soil

The Chinese language quince above doesn’t want watering because the moss on the floor of the soil remains to be moist.

By the following day the soil had dried out so I watered as normal.

Dry soil signifies that tree is able to be watered

I can go both method when the floor of the soil is partially dry. When that is the case, I’ll go forward and water deciduous bushes however I would solely overhead water conifers.

Partially dry floor soil on a Japanese maple

For conifers I’ll usually overhead water each time I go by a tree with a hose however solely water the soil when the floor is dry.

Dry soil – time to water

For azaleas, I’ll water any time the moss on the floor of the soil feels dry to the contact. I observe this method all yr as azaleas like to supply wonderful roots close to the floor of the soil.

Dry mountain moss on a satsuki azalea

In the event you’re fortunate sufficient to have an expensive protecting of dwell moss on the floor of the soil, you’ll have to make use of different guides as as to if or not the tree wants watering. If the tree was just lately repotted, go forward and water if you happen to suspect the soil is beginning to dry out (the moss could also be dry to the contact). If the moss is dripping moist, I’ll skip watering and verify once more later.

Mounds of dwell moss

Briefly, I’ll water if I’m on the fence about it as I wish to make sure that new roots don’t dry out.

After bushes have had a couple of weeks to root in I’ll begin to fertilize those that want it. Till that point comes, I’ll hold appreciating the advantages of getting freshly repotted bushes within the backyard!

Information and Updates

• I’ve restricted soil obtainable for bulk or wholesale orders together with akadama, kanuma, Aoki Mix and pumice. Study extra about bulk soil orders.
• I’m nonetheless in search of backup watering assist – ship me a word if you happen to’d wish to be taught extra.
• The search continues for somebody seeking to drive from California to this yr’s U.S. Nationwide Bonsai Exhibition in Rochester, New York. I’m pleased to assist coordinate, be at liberty to let me know if you happen to’re !