Frozen Pot, Freshly Watered

Good morning,

Two days ago, I repotted a bonsai from nursey stock into a bonsai pot. It is a Shinjishojo Maple. After trimming the roots, I watered the pot, which was filled with bonsai soil, I also put a layer of moss on top of the soil. Yesterday, I was surpised when the temperture plunged from 35 to 20 degrees in the time while I was out running errands. When I got home, the soil and moss were completely frozen. Like I said, i had just repotted the day before, so the soil was very moist. Do you think the tree is going to be damaged? I have since brought it into the garage.

Like I said, I was quite suprised when the cold front came through because it was supposed to be much warmer. I hope the tree can pull through.

Thank you
Stephen

Hi Stephan,

Firstly, why did you re-pot when it was 35? I assume fahrenheit? It's still way too early in most places I'd say and it's better to have the leaves a bit open than completely shut dormant buds.

Good move with the garage, if it was a healthy tree before and you didn't take off too much of the roots then maybe it'll make it. Some pictures would help too

Good luck!

Tom

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for the reply. I moved to Oklahoma from New Orleans a few years ago. The weather here is very moody and I am just not used to it. 70 one day, 20 the next. I had read that February was a good time to repot. I will post some photos later . Again, thank you.

Stephen

February is a good time to repot.
If you're in Florida.
The best time to repot a maple is when the buds swell but before they open.
Freezing of fresh cut roots isn't good.
I'm doubting it will make it.

do not be worry your maple is fine During the Autumn, the tree stores a mixture of sugars, sugar alcohols and proteins that act as an antifreeze, so whilst the water in the soil may have crystallized into ice, the tree itself is still fluid. It is not until the temperature of the soil drops below -10°C about 14° F that there is a threat of the rootsystem freezing. also the difference between the inside pot temperature from
the outside temperature is 4°C more and as you say it was only for one day so nothing will happen but next time if that happen again for some
reason put the tree in house until all pot ice melt then put it in garage or cold greenhouse and always report when the bud swell even that is not enough because sometimes it happen when bud swell you get another days of freeze temperature and some buds died so if you live in place where weather is moody give your bonsai extra protection if you see the bud swell and you report put it in garage or in your room because at that time dormancy is already finished and you can check weather forecast to make sure everything is alright until late spring freeze pass

never repot by the calendar

at least not without the employment of heat mats or other safety nets

I should have used a safety net! I re-potted a bunch of potential material which I then put into an upright cold frame only to come home from work to see that it had been pitched onto its roof over a short wall and had to re sieve and repot all of them!