Recently root pruned JBP froze solid...prognosis?

19 years ago

I know, I know...wait a few weeks and you'll see if the tree will make it. I'm hoping some of you will say something that will let me get some sleep between now and then. The tree in question was in a training pot until I rootpruned it, did some minor branch pruning, and placed it in a bonsai pot 2 days ago. The tree is still dormant, and even though I removed much of the root, it still had alot of healthy roots remaining after the repot. I had been placing it on its pedestal in my yard during the day and bringing it into my screen porch at night. Due to my crazy family life, I forgot to bring it in last night, and the temps dropped to 26F. The pot froze solid. So, can I sleep tonight, or will I have to wait and see? Thanks for any insight,

Dave

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Comments (13)

rjj1
19 years ago
Dave

That's a bummer. I made that same mistake about ten years ago with a magnificent tamarisk. I had to go out of town and an artic cold front came further south than expected while I was gone. Luckily I had another plant ready to go into the pot.

I would wait and see, but donÂt have any expectations of success.

randy
TimZ8
19 years ago
If it was damp at the time you should be OK.
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dav4
Original Author
19 years ago
Tim, what do you mean by damp? The soil is very free draining, and I've been watering 2x/day. The soil was moist when it froze. Are you saying the moisture in a wet rootball will freeze and protect the roots from damage? Thats what I'm counting on.

Dave
mark_rockwell
19 years ago
Yes. Moisture in the rootball will freeze before the roots. Dry roots that are frozen are more susceptible to freeze damage. Nurseries often recommend soaking pots before a late freezes in springtime.

I wouldn't worry too much about the plant. It's probably fine. Black pine can take temperatures lower than that. The temperature inside the rooball probably didn't drop to 26 degrees.
TimZ8
19 years ago
Mark is right...you should be OK
rjj1
19 years ago
I hope the guys are right. I guess my experience might be different because of species. I would think a pine would be more durable than a tamarisk.

randy
TimZ8
19 years ago
It really comes down to how much root system was removed. If you didn't remove more than you should have (1/4 to 1/3)you should be fine. I don't think the cold is a factor in this case.
mark_rockwell
19 years ago
"I would think a pine would be more durable than a tamarisk."

Well, yeah. Tamarisk is a subtropical.. Black pine is temperate. Tamarish wasn't built for freezing. Pines are.
rjj1
19 years ago
Mark

Technically speaking youÂre probably right. The species might have originated in the subtropical Mediterranean.

I just collected one of those subtropicals 100 yards from my house with a 13" diameter trunk that was over ten foot tall about a month ago :-).

randy
dav4
Original Author
18 years ago
Its Alive!!...I could have posted this a while back but I forgot about this post. Doing some research, I stumbled upon it again. Anyway, the tree is doing just fine with lots of new growth. Thanks for all the input earlier,

Dave
TimZ8
18 years ago
That's great Dave!

Thanks for the update.
Simonyi
18 years ago
Good news, Dave...I always like to hear another bonsai success story :)

Regards,
Tom
bonsaikc
18 years ago
Dave, sorry I couldn't post earlier, I remember seeing this thread but I am usually at work and couldn't get my post finished. 26 degrees is hardly enough to do any damage to a Japanese black pine, even a recently repotted one. Good luck with your tree, it's my favorite species. I have several articles on my website.

{{gwi:7034}}

(Not my tree.)

Chris.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sashi-eda Bonsai

Recently root pruned JBP froze solid...prognosis?

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Recently root pruned JBP froze solid...prognosis?

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