It's a mugo pine.

Al

Again, Al, thank you.

Any tips on re-potting/root pruning?

3rdYr

3rdYr,

At this time in the season it is NOT good to root prune a Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo). Here is a good website on plants and their characteristics (Link at bottom of message 'Horticulture Database'). I believe this will help. As far as your tree goes, I would only prune the candles by half this year. If you feel the need to re-pot the tree then keep everything intact. Do not remove any soil; it will hurt and could possibly kill the tree at this time. Just move it to a larger container and add a nice rich soil. Next spring around late March early April I would plant the tree in a container that is wider than it is tall. Remove all of the soil, prune the roots and replace the soil with a good substrate.

Normally, what I do to introduce a tree into "bonsai soil" is I add shredded compost to my substrate for the first transition from "garden soil" to "bonsai soil". I train the tree at this time. Once I see that the tree is established and there are good results, meaning the tree likes the new compost and substrate mix, I would plant the tree in the full substrate and in a bonsai pot.

Just remember, a bonsai container will usually slow all growth that is good for training and you will only have a tree that is good for refinement. That means when you plant it in a bonsai pot it will look like the same tree for a very long time. It could only have more refined branches if you like. That is why I only use bonsai pots for trees that are finished with their training stage.

I wish you the best of luck and enjoyment on the road to growing and creating bonsai,

Gardener Guy

Here is a link that might be useful: Link: Horticulture Database

I have heard that Mugo Pines are one of the few conifers that can be worked well into the Summer.
Please correct me on this point, if wrong.

I'm on my second Mugo Pine - in the yard. Last August, my first one died. So, in December, I planted
another - but I did an extensive un-potting and root-pruning. I surmise that the first Mugo failed because
I didn't open the root-ball enough at planting time.

I use Pine/Fir Bark for my organic substrate.

Josh

I don't completely bare root the pines, and I repot them in late Jul or early Aug (zone 5-6 here). I use 4 parts grit, 2 parts Turface, and 2 parts fir bark for the soil. Other than that, there's not much special about them.

Al

Thanks for the feedback guys.

So I repotted it, without messing up the root ball at all, in an 8" container. I used 1/3 pine bark mulch, 1/3 perlite and 1/3 potting soil.

Now I am going to pinch back the buds, or "candles" about half way. And that's it.

Any other tips or should I just let this one be?

3rdYr

Tip: Be very careful not to over-water.

Al