Plant Care Guide: Green Thumb Techniques : How to Properly Place a Bonsai Tree in a Pot

[sedwarg]

If you're repotting then you should trim the roots while you're at it. That looked 'root bound' (think thats the right term)

[SanRafaelSwell]

The placement of a bonsai depends on a few different factors, two of the key factors being the style of tree and the ratios on the pot. Bonsai that are placed in the center are usually done so when planted in square, hexagonal, or round pots and even more so when the tree is a kengai or han kengai. Chokkon and moyogi trees tend to look best placed off center and slightly to the back edge of the pot (viewed from the trees front view).

[angelacatana]

shouldnt have packed it at all, should have use bamboo, or chopstick to poke and mesh the new soil with the old. what a doofus!

[SanRafaelSwell]

Agreed. What he says about positioning the pot in the vertical axis is a bit off. You should always have some of a mound. He then says something about wanting a lot of air in the soil....uh....sure if you want root rot. That is why you use a stick to "stir" the new soil in. to make sure that there is only a enough air for the roots to breathe at night. The soil should NOT be packed or fluffy. It should be settled.

[angelacatana]

oh yeah he totally left all the original soil, and too much of the roots! grrr, poor tree :(

[Hvalborg1]

DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS GUY!

[mawehe63]

i have never once used screen (mostly becuase in middle tennessee im probably as far away from a bonsai nursery as one can be ) and secondly i have never had problems with soil coming out of the drainage holes

[JBspInZ]

I think he knows his stuff but he's beggining in bonsai, it seems like hes trying to cater to people who bought their bonsai and didnt grow and shape their own

[SanRafaelSwell]

He seems to come from some sort of mallsai school.

[chasnsx]

First, the size of the pot depends on whether you are potting for "show" or potting for "grow." A ginseng ficus (actually a mutation of ficus retusa) will throw out a lot of new growth in a pot that large. Second, cutting the drainage screen as large as he did is a mistake -- on the next repot he will have a hard time pulling that screen out of the tree's roots. Third, save the blue pots for the maples. Put the ficus in an unglazed pot, or at most, a pale green glaze.

[SanRafaelSwell]

I totally agree. Perhaps he wants rapid growth though because he states in the prior video of the same tree that it is "unfinished". Of course no bonsai is ever finished so I'm not really sure what he means. If he is saying what I think he is saying he should have the tree in a a growing pot for sure. His pot choice is wacked for sure. A nice earthy tone unglazed oval pot would set this tree off nicely in my opinion.

[Justmerched]

you do not want air pockets in your dirt

[pokaralho69]

jesus, where did u learn to do that????

[dustina111p]

this dude sounds really out of breath and doesnt know what he is doing

[zzzxppix]

1st the pot is way too big ... this guy didnt do any root prune or combing of the roots ... this is not the way i repot ... the soil he used looks to be nothing more than a potting soild ,, that soil will kill the ficus ... potting soil holds too much water .... ficus like fast draining soil ,,, they also like to be kept on the dry side ... potting soil will just water log the pot ,,, please people if you want to learn about bonsai ,, serch out a local bonsai club or socity .... please

[zaruka786]

thank u very much appreciate the information =)

[jman811psp]

do you need to repot a bonsai straight after you buy it

[angelacatana]

@jman811psp nope, and remember to take it one step at a time: dont repot and prune in the same day, so ur baby doesnt die of shock!

[DrVegasIII]

Anyone have advice on transplanting Moss??? 2 days ago I removed all the pebbles from the top and replaced it with a nice "carpet" of moss in my 6x8 in. pot containing a Canadien Hemlock (its very small). Any tips would be great!!!!!!

[mokunakoi]

can you buy these small trees in home depo?

[GVB1939]

One for my Gardening And Gardens Playlist No.11 . Please Support this talent. A2GVB / Gerry My Playlist. Please take a look. Lol Gerry :O)

A Selection of Videos I think you might find interesting:O).

Peace And Love Man

Thanks for posting Regards GVB1939 Gerry :O)

[sinatrafan1987]

Does it need to have the moss? And WHERE THE HELL do people find these small trees to "repot" I would like to but I have no idea where to get the initial tree..or is it a bonsai to begin with, and does transferring to a larger post incourage growth???

[pavsoukup]

Those trees to repot are older bonsais (very expensive) OR just jung trees.

How do I get small tree?

Ask owner of a forest and get one. (study before trying it) trees taken from wild are called yamadori.

Buy seeds. (Prepere for waiting several years)

Buy some regular plant and make a bonsai from it. (indoor bonsais)

Buy small tree. (EXTRA CHEAP, by us I can buy 100 young trees insted of buying bonsai)

[ethix123]

You want to usually get a pot twice the size of the initial root ball when potting. I wouldn't recommend using the same soil from the previous pot though. The concept of re-potting of a bonsai is to give it fresh soil after a year or so. There's many reasons as to why, such as salt levels of soil, pH, etc. Just pick up some beginner books on bonsai and you'll be good to go buddy. I don't mean to disregard this guys video but he really isn't doing much right...

[sexyenrique]

Tease out the roots next time.

[brazosc]

no gravel, didn't work out the roots, etc. etc. etc.

[bonsaiartist25]

i agree, that wasnt a very good repot.