I purchased this at Chikugo-En-en back in July, and Gary Ishii told me it was repotted in December 2018. So I knew it probably wasn’t pot-bound, but the soil was heavy dirt and sand. This probably works well in LA’s dry climate, but here in Birmingham’s humid climate, I wanted to move it to something a bit coarser.
I am a little early in the year to repot, but will not be trimming any roots, nor completely bare-rooting it. I also plan to strike cuttings from this tree to propagate the cultivar, so I am leaving all the foliage intact. I wired a couple branches that were obscuring the trunk, but that’s about it.
Either front requires me to tilt the tree a bit…fortunately the same tilt works for both sides. I haven’t decided on a front yet, but am leaning more to one than the other. (Dad joke)…
Some pot options:
1. Very small Tokoname pot. This size could work as a show pot, but this tree isn’t ready for showing yet.
2. Deep rectangle vintage Japanese pot by Keizan. Great pot with a lot of age and patina. It makes the trunk look awfully small.
3. This Hokido is beautiful, and a bit shallow for growing out. Maybe some day.
4. 3rd Generation Yamaaki drum pot. Good clay and age, good depth. Not a special pot, but suitable for this phase in the tree’s development. Round pots are always good for an undecided front!
Soil combed out and wired in:
New soil worked in:
Front 1 above.
Front 2 below.
Do you have a preference?
Nebari Bonsai 
I like the first repotting picture. Trunk has best view
Reblogged this on Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog.