AusBonsai

I spent most of today potting. This japanese maple was my first ever tree a gift from my daughter, although quite old (1982)
it has always had serious problems. The top was removed two years ago because of an ugly bulge where too many branches came from the same spot. The base just above the roots also has a seious problem it is about 8 cm wide and only one cm from front to back. (8:1 is not a good ratio )
To fix the problem I have used the toothpick method. Next I repotted a collected hawthorn, roots were terrible so I used the same proceedure.

Nice, I hope it works! I have a few trees that could use the same treatment.
so you spent today potting around I wish I could.
Mick

Very Interesting have not tried this method before, often thought about trying it, are the tooth picks a tight fit or do you have to leave them a loose fit to give the roots room to emerge and just how or where do they emerge from, sorry if this sounded dumb.

I really hope this method works. I have an Acer ginnala Flame maple that has absolutely urgly roots that I was thinking of doing an airlayer. I may try this instead.
By the way, could someone explain the advantages and disadvantages of this method over airlayering please?

senseijames wrote:Very Interesting have not tried this method before, often thought about trying it, are the tooth picks a tight fit or do you have to leave them a loose fit to give the roots room to emerge and just how or where do they emerge from, sorry if this sounded dumb.

They fit just tight enough to stop them falling out.

kvan64 wrote:I really hope this method works. I have an Acer ginnala Flame maple that has absolutely urgly roots that I was thinking of doing an airlayer. I may try this instead.
By the way, could someone explain the advantages and disadvantages of this method over airlayering please?

This process is less agressive, if it fails (never failed yet) holes will heal quickly.
I have had airlayers heal over before they were opened.
Airlayers are much faster early summer is best, while toothpicks are left for a full year till repot time.
The best reason to use this method is that you can improve roots where they are poor and keep good ones although I like to have roots the same thickness all the way around if possible.
Here is a link to one I did last year, it was this success which led me to have another go.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5496

Not a dumb question at all mate!! The toothpicks are in fact quite a tight fit. You would be surprised how much force the new roots can produce in order to expel a foreign body. Putting the toothpicks in loose is a bad idea because to begin with, as the plant gets moved around and water runs through the soil, it will probably get dislodged anyway.

Regards


John

senseijames wrote:Very Interesting have not tried this method before, often thought about trying it, are the tooth picks a tight fit or do you have to leave them a loose fit to give the roots room to emerge and just how or where do they emerge from, sorry if this sounded dumb.

Sorry guys thanks for the replies, Gerard and John, cheers
James

Sorry guys thanks for the replies, Gerard and John, I will definitely give it a try, cheers
James

Does this method work on all species? I have a few ficus I would like to encourage better roots on.

Glenda

Glenda wrote:Does this method work on all species? I have a few ficus I would like to encourage better roots on.

Glenda

HI Glenda Ficus generally only needs to be cut back hard and brutally to throw new roots but this will only encourage further.