Sageritia theezans due for a major repotting...

I purchased an old Sweet Plum forest planting which is at least 45 years old. The photo shows the tall group in the background on this bench; the tallest three trees are 22-26 inches tall and the trunks are approx 1.5 inches in diameter. The forest of five trees has not been repotted since the past 10-15 years. The trees need to be restyled and regrouped for better continuity. I acquired the tree last Summer and it has grown well; I have fed it throughout the Winter because of the active growth. It is currently living under flourescent lights and it is time to put it back outside. When is the best time to repot here in Zone 7 (Virginia Piedmont)? It has been actively growing since I received it. Is Summer the best time to repot or should I do it now? How much root can safely be pruned on Sweet Plums? Thank you for your help and suggestions.

I can't see the forest for the trees...

I know. This is the only photo I have of it... just to give an idea...

I would do it now. It is not in the same category as Buttonwood or Ficus.

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:I would do it now. It is not in the same category as Buttonwood or Ficus.

I agree with Billy. I have no idea how much cold it can actually take, but it is definitely NOT exclusively tropical. I have no idea where they came from, but I've seen it naturalized in a few areas around town. The previous 2 brutally cold winters we had didn't phase it. And no, I haven't found a decent one to dig - yet!

I think it is native to South China.

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:I think it is native to South China.

I think so too. My point is, like Chinese elm that's used in Taiwan and southern China, it's adaptable to a very wide range of temps. Probably can't take as much cold as Chinese elm, but you know what I mean. I believe that the first place anyone in the west really saw it was in Mr. Wu's collection from Hong Kong, and the assumption was made that it's tropical.

Incidentally, we have a native counterpart here in the South - Sageretia minutiflora.

Thanks guys. I have heard and read that it is considered "sub-tropical to "tender temperate"; landscape specimens in the ground tolerate light freezes or heavy frosts. I am concerned with its age and many years root bound in the pot. My usual approach is to groom and clean and prune the roots and then do select pruning above the roots. I will feed it well today then start "whacking" this weekend.