You should have been at the meeting Tuesday night, 26 Feb. to watch Kurt Young address the topic of repotting, most especially the repotting of groves.  Two groves had been brought in by members for Kurt to work on.  One was a Trident Maple Grove (Toms) and the other a Japanese Maple Grove, species unknown (Darryls). 

The Trident Maple Grove was in pretty desparate need of repotting.  It would have been repotted last year but the owner was unable to get to it. Kurt cleaned up the surface of the grove.  Potting medium had been added on top of the surface for a number of years and the true root system were a bit buried and could not be seen or enjoyed.  A well-developed nebari is great to see and lends great aesthetic value to the trees. Kurt removed a layer of the surface medium to better expose the nebari.

After that, the tie-down wires were cut, the grove was removed from the oval pot and the root system exposed.  And what a root system it was.  It was very root bound. Kurt spent a great deal of time removing the heavy roots but saving, as best he could, the fine root system which is so critical to a healthy growing tree. This was a slow and deliberate process.  While doing this, Kurt discussed the hardiness of the trident maple and its recuperative ability.  It is a great tree for Bonsai. After he had removed a sufficient amount of the bottom root system, he then removed a fair amount of root system from around the entire grove so that there would be room in the pot for root rejuvenation.

But there was a problem with the grove that Kurt wished to tackle at the same time.  There was a small tree at the front of the grove and a space in the center of the grove, which did not leave the best impression of the grove.  The small tree from the front of the grove was carefully removed and strategically placed in the open space at the rear of the grove.  This really made a huge difference in the appearance of the grove. Groves normally have larger trees, properly spaced and triangulated, near the front and the smaller trees to the rear.  This gives the perception of depth, which is just one thing we look for in a grove. Another is the ability to be able to visualize all the trees from the front and from the side. We also want the number one tree, the largest tree, to be just that-larger and taller than the others.

Meeting time had run out and the Tom would have to finish the repotting at home. Instructions were given as to the proper care of the repotted grove as to insure its viability and health.

Meanwhile, there was another grove that had been brought, the Japanese Maple Grove, species unknown. Darryl, who had been doing some trimming and pruning of the tops of the trees, displayed the root system that was root bound. Now Darryl has many bonsai trees at home and because of work and other diverse interests, his time id limited so Darryl has had to find ways to expedite his repotting processes. What did he do?? You should have seen the expressions on the faces of members as he wielded a reciprocal saw and with great precision, reduced the root system. It was artistry in motion.  He then quickly and deftly reduced the outer edges of the grove, replaced the planting medium at the bottom of the pot, wired the grove in and replenished and worked in the planting medium around the outer edges of the root system, working the aggregate-soil conditioner mixture in so as to insure good contact with the root system.  And he was done.  As bonsai enthusiasts should do, before he had started the repotting process, he had prepared his pot and inserted the protective screening and wires. Now as with Toms grove, precautions would have to be taken to protect the grove while it recovers from the repotting event.

Arent you sorry that you were not there???