Sunday I bought a couple of dwarf mugo pines. One is a Pinus mugo
"Valley Cushion" and the other Pinus mugo "White Bud". The plants are in
their nursery containers.

My questions are; can I at this time of year repot these into bonsai
pots?

Is there anything that I need to look out for in repotting them?

Can I bareroot them now to get them into a good bonsai soil mix?

Once repotted can I start to style these trees at this point?

Thanks,
Jim Harris
S.E. Michigan, Zone 5b


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Give them a while (like a year) to recover from repotting before trying to
style them.

You could probably get away with removing a minor branch or two, but why
take the chance? Or, you could move it into a larger pot, just teasing out
some of the roots (but not trimming them more than accidentally).

If the pot and soil that they are in is okay for another year or so, you
might want to style, then transplant next year.

Chase Rosade says that pines do not "like" being repotted and styled at the
same time. In my experience, that's like saying you don't like being hung or
electrocuted. In short, they die.

Regards,

Bart
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Harris"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 12:20 AM
Subject: [IBC] Mugo Question


Sunday I bought a couple of dwarf mugo pines. One is a Pinus mugo
"Valley Cushion" and the other Pinus mugo "White Bud". The plants are in
their nursery containers.

My questions are; can I at this time of year repot these into bonsai
pots?

Is there anything that I need to look out for in repotting them?

Can I bareroot them now to get them into a good bonsai soil mix?

Once repotted can I start to style these trees at this point?

Thanks,
Jim Harris
S.E. Michigan, Zone 5b



************************************************** **************************
****
++++Sponsored, in part, by Mike Page ++++

************************************************** **************************
****
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Mike Page ++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

One is a Pinus mugo 'Valley Cushion' and the other Pinus mugo 'White Bud.'
The plants are in their nursery containers.
My questions are; can I at this time of year repot these into bonsai pots?

NO! From my experience, these miniature mugo pines are extremely sensitive. You
can style them now, but only repot them in early spring.

Is there anything that I need to look out for in repotting them?
Can I bareroot them now to get them into a good bonsai soil mix?

Never bareroot a pine. You can gently shake off the excess soil, but only
replace the soil around the roots gradually. After repotting, leave them in the
shade for a month.
Now somebody may say I am mistaken, but I am reporting from my experience &
what I have been taught by experts around here. (Upstate NY)

Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)

What Iris says is basically correct. All pines have finicky roots, and
mini mugos even more so. I like to transplant them when the new candles are
just beginning to show.
Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: "Iris Cohen"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 8:35 AM
Subject: [IBC] Mugo Question


One is a Pinus mugo 'Valley Cushion' and the other Pinus mugo 'White
Bud.'
The plants are in their nursery containers.
My questions are; can I at this time of year repot these into bonsai
pots?

NO! From my experience, these miniature mugo pines are extremely
sensitive. You
can style them now, but only repot them in early spring.

Is there anything that I need to look out for in repotting them?
Can I bareroot them now to get them into a good bonsai soil mix?

Never bareroot a pine. You can gently shake off the excess soil, but only
replace the soil around the roots gradually. After repotting, leave them
in the
shade for a month.
Now somebody may say I am mistaken, but I am reporting from my experience
&
what I have been taught by experts around here. (Upstate NY)

Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)


************************************************** **************************
****
++++Sponsored, in part, by Mike Page ++++

************************************************** **************************
****
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Mike Page ++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++