# How to minimize needle yellowing after repotting true Cedars?

**URL:** <https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/how-to-minimize-needle-yellowing-after-repotting-true-cedars/1453>\
**Category:** Horticulture\
**Created:** [August 6, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/how-to-minimize-needle-yellowing-after-repotting-true-cedars/1453 "2018-08-06T12:36:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![armanm](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/armanm/32/1829_2.png) [@armanm](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/armanm)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/how-to-minimize-needle-yellowing-after-repotting-true-cedars/1453/1 "2018-08-06T12:36:31Z")

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Hello from Australia 👋

I have a few Atlas/Deodara/Libani Cedar trees that I would like to repot in order to replace the potting soil with a bonsai mix. After doing it with one tree, I noticed its needles are slowly turning yellow. Perhaps it’s happening because a lot of its roots got cut off and maybe I shouldn’t have taken that much off.

Could someone explain the correct way to repot and root prune true Cedars so needle yellowing can be minimised?

Thanks

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**Author:** ![Stavros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Stavros](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Stavros)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2018, 5:09am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/how-to-minimize-needle-yellowing-after-repotting-true-cedars/1453/2 "2018-08-07T05:09:46Z")

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I had the same problem last season… I tried to keep good balance of water and oxygen. Tilted the pot on a piece of wood, very careful watering and away from direct sun and wind. It took 2-3 months and the tree is now growing.

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**Author:** ![armanm](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/armanm/32/1829_2.png) [@armanm](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/armanm)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2018, 10:21am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/how-to-minimize-needle-yellowing-after-repotting-true-cedars/1453/3 "2018-08-07T10:21:01Z")

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> [@Stavros](#):
>
> Tilted the pot on a piece of wood

Oh that’s so interesting. What does that achieve?

> [@Stavros](#):
>
> keep good balance of water and oxygen

Yes that’s what I want to do too. How do I know I’m balancing the water and oxygen right? Is it more like avoid watering if the surface of the pot looks moist?

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**Author:** ![Stavros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Stavros](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Stavros)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/how-to-minimize-needle-yellowing-after-repotting-true-cedars/1453/4 "2018-08-07T20:41:40Z")

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When u tilt the pot you create a higher water column and gravity pulls more water out of the pot, thus creating a situation for better draining.

If there is moisture in the pot, avoid watering. Do not let it go bone dry. Go by what the tree and the soil tell u.

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**Author:** ![ndavila80](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/ndavila80/32/21873_2.png) [@ndavila80](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/ndavila80)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2018, 1:47am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/how-to-minimize-needle-yellowing-after-repotting-true-cedars/1453/5 "2018-08-08T01:47:42Z")

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I also have had the same iasue with a deodar cedar, I however, had too little foliage and the tree eventually perished despite my best efforts to ensure adequate water and gaseous exchange in the root system. I would make these recommendations… Have a ridiculous amount of foliage and do not remove any of it before or after repotting, keep as many roots as possible, and place in semi shade for a few weeks. Hopefully your cedars pull through.