Step by step guide for re-potting a Bonsai.

[IndorBonsai]

It has been about 2 weeks since I dropped both my serissas and had to re-pot them. I put one in Bonsai soil and one in long fiber sphagnum moss. I shook the trees a little to show the difference between the two growing mediums for leaf drop.

This is the serissa in bonsai soil.
( CLICK THE PICTURES THEY GET BIGGER )
[url=https://img37.imageshack.us/my.php?image=serpot1.jpg][img]https://img37.imageshack.us/img37/1208/serpot1.jpg[/img][/url]

This is my other serissa in sphagnum moss.

[url=https://img35.imageshack.us/my.php?image=serpot3.jpg][img]https://img35.imageshack.us/img35/3308/serpot3.jpg[/img][/url]

I decided to re-pot the one in Bonsai soil to long fiber sphagnum moss.

Step #1
Get the supplies you will need to do the job. Garden hose, small bucket, long fiber sphagnum moss, and of course your tree.

[url=https://img33.imageshack.us/my.php?image=serpot5.jpg][img]https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5910/serpot5.jpg[/img][/url]

Step #2
Take the tree out of the pot and rinse off all the soil from the roots using a gentile spray with the garden hose. Also rinse the soil out of the pot.

[url=https://img30.imageshack.us/my.php?image=serpot6.jpg][img]https://img30.imageshack.us/img30/6448/serpot6.jpg[/img][/url]

If I tried to rake the soil out of the roots on this tree it would do a lot of damage and maybe kill the tree. Using a hose and rinsing off the roots is a lot gentler.( these roots will need a trim when the tree is healthier )

[url=https://img29.imageshack.us/my.php?image=serpot7.jpg][img]https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1092/serpot7.jpg[/img][/url]

Step #4
I forgot to mention put a few handfuls of long fiber sphagnum in a bucket of water, so it soaks up water and is ready to be used.
Grab a handful of wet sphagnum moss.

[url=https://img40.imageshack.us/my.php?image=serpot8.jpg][img]https://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8949/serpot8.jpg[/img][/url]

and place it in the bottom of your pot. Using sphagnum moss you don't need to use screens over the drain holes in the pot.

[url=https://img39.imageshack.us/my.php?image=serpot9.jpg][img]https://img39.imageshack.us/img39/6251/serpot9.jpg[/img][/url]

Step #5
Grab another handful of sphagnum moss and gently work it into the roots of your tree.

[url=https://img37.imageshack.us/my.php?image=serpot11.jpg][img]https://img37.imageshack.us/img37/6295/serpot11.jpg[/img][/url]

Place your tree into the pot and pack more sphagnum moss around the roots. You want to tightly pack the moss around your tree. This holds the tree in the pot and helps make sure that the roots are all covered.

[url=https://img36.imageshack.us/my.php?image=serpot12.jpg][img]https://img36.imageshack.us/img36/492/serpot12.jpg[/img][/url]

Step #6
Rinse off the leaves and the pot. Water the tree and your done.

[url=https://img35.imageshack.us/my.php?image=serpot13.jpg][img]https://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8737/serpot13.jpg[/img][/url]

I use this method for Bonsai Soil too. When using soil I use a chopstick for working the soil into the roots.

I water my trees planted in Sphagnum moss every 2-3 days, Even tho the moss is still damp. The moss takes along time to completely dry out, you can probably go on a weeks vacation and not have to worry about your trees if planted in sphagnum moss.

I have never had root rot or bugs in sphagnum moss. I think there is some natural chemical in sphagnum moss that keeps this from happening.

I fertilize and water like normal bonsai soil. Water until water drains out the holes in your pot. Then I fertilize the same way ( I use a liquid fertilizer that I mix to 1/2 or 1/3rd the instructions on the bottle )

[Imarhil]

Nice post Jason

[Earl K]

Is this type moss good for all types of Bonsai? I have a chinese elm and am ready to do a repot.Thanks

[IndorBonsai]

Long fiber Sphagnum Moss seems to work good for any Bonsai or plant I have tried growing in it. My Fukien Tea still likes when I let it go almost completely dry between waterings, it is in sphagnum moss now.

Watch these videos on Jerrys youtube site, start with Bonsai easy new method part one, in his video archives. Jerry has been using Sphagnum moss for years now for all his Bonsai. He has over a years worth of videos on his youtube sight, you can see how his first video of a juniper turns out a year later when he has to trim it, and so on.

https://www.youtube.com/user/bonsai9723

Watch Jerrys videos if you want more Information on sphagnum moss, or just wondering how good it works for Bonsai.

Click on the " see all" part in his videos collection( Bottom right ) and scroll all the way to page 8 to get to the first Bonsai easy new method video, made over a year ago.
Watch them all they are kinda cool, you might not like the style of his trees but you cant argue with his results growing them in sphagnum moss.

[Big Vine]

Nice to hear that the sphagnum moss has been working well for you.
Quick question---if one were to want to 'decorate' the surface of the moss with a 'top-dressing' such as coarse lava rock, would that be advisable?

I'm assuming doing this wouldn't mess up waterflow or anything---wouldn't affect it at all if watering using the submersion method, right?
BV

[IndorBonsai]

It should be fine. This is my dwarf Rhodi, it is planted in Sphagnum moss( this picture is a few months old, no more flowers this year). I used a little moss from my yard( rinsed off most the dirt before I used it) and a little bit of pea gravel to decorate the top of the sphagnum moss.

[url=https://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dwarfrhodi.jpg][img]https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/9020/dwarfrhodi.jpg[/img][/url]

I chopped off the tops on this tree I don't know if they will grow back, it was only $5 bucks so if it dosent grow back I will just buy another one.

[Rosaelyn]

The long-strand sphagnum moss as a potting medium is a fascinating idea! I have two ficus and a schefflera with a moderate amount of sphagnum around their bases for the purpose of developing better nebari and aerial roots, but this is another idea worth looking into.

Thnx for getting my train of thought off into a new direction.

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

Jerry and I have had "agree to disagree" conversations on this methodology. So far I still have not seen one quality tree done in this method... mostly because I doubt anyone would be willing to lay hundreds on the line in refutation of millenia of natural existance.

I think there are short term benefits to this sort of thing especially in trees which need a lot of development... sphagnum moss is great for helping rehab roots on collected material. But will I plant my mature trees in this kind of material? No thanks.

Reason: I am seeking to achieve statis in the tree's development when it is mature. Overactive roots are not in stasis and therefore would threaten the fragil balance of growth and ramification on a mature bonsai.

Just wanted to provide some balance to the conversation for those considering this method.

Kindest regards,

Victrinia