In the first week of February 2008 the tree was re-potted, this had last been carried out in February 2005. The root development was quite unbelievable; the roots had wrapped themselves around the perimeter of the pot several times.

The roots were cut back to the main fibrous root ball and most of the old compost washed out using a garden hose with a jet nozzle attachment fitted. This process is a much gentler way of removing the compost and is a combination of washing then teasing the old compost out with a root hook or chopstick.
The existing pot was washed and prepared for the re-potting by renewing the plastic mesh over the drainage holes and providing new tie wires to hold the tree in place within the pot.
A drainage layer of sieved Akadama mixed with Kiryu was used in the base of the pot followed by potting the tree up in a compost mix comprising of two parts medium sieved Akadama to one part Kiryu.

View looking down on the rear of the tree during re-potting.