Time below the soil level.

[Damian Bee]

While potting the Maples, I have been focusing some attention to how I see the roots working out over the long term. Instead of just cutting back blindly at a nominal distance from the trunk, I have taken a leaf out of the clip and grow book (in this instance a root hair) and trimmed back to an interesting bend or removed long straight roots as they will obviously create a problem if allowed to mature.

This idea comes from looking at what I had done to the same trees the year before. Where I had trimmed the roots in the previous year, there is much branching at the point of cut. By cutting at what is perceived to be the right spot, I hope to create a good foundation for the future of the tree.
The motto here being, 'spend as much time on the roots as you do on the branches' or 'spend as much time below as above'.
I will post the results this time next year on what has been achieved, in the meantime post your on the topic

As a bonus point in this topic, night time is a great time to re-pot, no interference, great views (providing its a clear night which tonight was), no drying winds which can really put the screws on (not the case so much in Summer though), good music (African Palm Wine Music which was surprisingly good as I don't usually go for that), apart from the eventual need to sleep there are no deadlines so you can pot on and on until you wake up with a mouthful of diatomite.

Again I am sorry but there are no photos to illustrate what I am on about, you can blame my grubby paws. I will post some later as some trees are sitting waiting to be planted out in the ground.

Given that I would have posted at least 2 pics, I have failed badly in the old saying of "a picture says a thousand words"

[anttal63]

Yes damien I too have been using this practice from the day i started bonsai. You are absolutely right, like we style the top we should the same to the bottom !!! Well done i look forward to seeing your fruits.

[craigw60]

Hi Damien, As you might have guessed I couldn't resist this one.
I am sure there is a correlation between the root structure and branching on a tree. Prior to the arrival of Hiro BSV bought out an expert called Shinichi Nakajima who comes from a very well established bonsai family in Tokyo, he was very keen to teach the cultivation of bonsai as opposed to style. Shinichi told me that the roots and branches of a tree mirror each other so that in order to have a well balanced branch structure you need to have the same for the root system.
Shinichi told me styling is only one days work cultivation is for life, best advice I ever got
Balancing the strength of the roots on a tree is very important so when root pruning you should cut the stronger roots harder and leave the weaker ones alone so they can catch up. Its also important to eliminate tangles by combing out the roots with a stick, the roots should flow out evenly from the trunk without crossing each other, and any strong downward growing roots will result in strong upwards growth in the crown of the tree. I am also convinced that developing a fine ramification of the root system makes developing branch ramification so much easier.
Performing these tasks regularly during the early development of your trees makes the process of root pruning so easy in subsequent years, its so much easier for the long term health of your trees to sort out root issues while the trees are very young and not so precious to you.
I look forward to hearing other views on this topic which is I believe fundamental to good bonsai
Craigw

[treeman]

Hi Damien, As you might have guessed I couldn't resist this one.
I am sure there is a correlation between the root structure and branching on a tree. Prior to the arrival of Hiro BSV bought out an expert called Shinichi Nakajima who comes from a very well established bonsai family in Tokyo, he was very keen to teach the cultivation of bonsai as opposed to style. Shinichi told me that the roots and branches of a tree mirror each other so that in order to have a well balanced branch structure you need to have the same for the root system.
Shinichi told me styling is only one days work cultivation is for life, best advice I ever got
Balancing the strength of the roots on a tree is very important so when root pruning you should cut the stronger roots harder and leave the weaker ones alone so they can catch up. Its also important to eliminate tangles by combing out the roots with a stick, the roots should flow out evenly from the trunk without crossing each other, and any strong downward growing roots will result in strong upwards growth in the crown of the tree. I am also convinced that developing a fine ramification of the root system makes developing branch ramification so much easier.
Performing these tasks regularly during the early development of your trees makes the process of root pruning so easy in subsequent years, its so much easier for the long term health of your trees to sort out root issues while the trees are very young and not so precious to you.
I look forward to hearing other views on this topic which is I believe fundamental to good bonsai
Craigw

Craigw, All I can say is.....You said it

[kcpoole]

Totally agree with all the above and also add that I quite oten wire roots as well.
When repotting if the are too stiff for the soil to hold in place, I will wire them into shape as appropriate.
When I do that I always leave and end of the wire sticking out of the soil so i do not forget to unwire at the next repot.

Ken

[Dario]

I am young in bonsai years, but I have been doing this root practise to the best of my ability from day dot due to the information provided on forums such as AB by members such as yourself...so thanks everyone!
I guess the real reason for me posting is that I wanted to say how much I enjoy the process of removing the soil and getting a good look at how the roots have developed from previous repotting/root-work (like a kid unwrapping a christmas present). But the best bit for me is concentrating on which roots to cut by how much and where...I really enjoy the process!
Granted, I am not root pruning hundreds of trees and I haven't been at it for 10 plus years, but I hope I still enjoy it as much as I do now in the future!
Cheers, Dario.