Repotting a Juniper

A Lazy Sunday Afternoon

After waking up late and then eating eggs and pancakes for breakfast, I decided to repot a juniper that I bought over a year ago.  This juniper has been growing in a clay soil which I know is not the best soil mix for this tree to thrive in.  A clay soil will be cloggy and restrict the healthy growth of roots which in turn effects the growth of the branches and foliage.  

It was time to improve this bonsai by attempting to reshape and repot.  

The tree was grown from a cutting and given some bends and turns.  The wire was left on far too long.

I took the wire off about 6 months ago.  As the tree grows in the future, these marks will diminish.

I use thick wire to add a few more dramatic turns in the base.  I also wire the secondary branches.

I thought the tree was too tall for the size of the trunk so I reduced its height and added a jin.  Dead wood is a feature of junipers.

The clay soil is very compact.

I will remove around two thirds of this soil.  Junipers do not like all their soil being removed.  

I have prepared some new free draining soil.  My soil has very few organic materials.  Organic material will eventually break down and restrict the growth of the roots.

This is a picture of how I pushed up the thick wire when I began wiring the trunk of this tree.  I will push this wire through a drainage hole in its new pot when I eventually secure the tree.

I leave these roots and this much of the original soil.

I prepared the pot with mesh and wire.  Do this right at the start.

Adding the new soil mix.  I make a mound on the left hand side where I want to repot my juniper.  I want it raised slightly higher.  It makes the tree look stronger and more dominant.  

It kind of looked a little off balance, falling away to the right so I found a rock and placed it to the right of the tree.  This re balances the tree and adds a natural feature.

Lastly, I give the tree a healthy watering and place it back on a bench outside.  I also cut up some sphagnum moss which will give the surface roots some moisture.

I hope you are also having a lazy Sunday!