AusBonsai

Yesterday I managed to chop through the Crepe Myrtle bench. Most of them are only little tackers but I thought I would show some pics of what I did.
WHAT HAVE I DONE???
Now to go into detail.
After removing the soil and the straggly roots, I could see that the cutting had been shoved into the 150mm pot to grow on by a wholesale production line with little regard for root structure and much regard for keeping ones job
Most of the roots were growing in an upright direction (hence my deductions on the plant being shoved into the pot) so I decided that they had to go including the large one travelling down like a snake.
As the plant cost me all of a cup of coffee like the scissors, it matters little if it is set back or dies. Personally I hope it picks up and keeps on.
With any luck the rock will do its job as a spreader and what roots that are left will gain some bulk over the net 12 months.
I have put it back into the pot on an angle to get it started on for its next visit to the doctor.
Although it is not shown in the pics, I did give the top a cut back, I won't do any more with it apart from watering and feeding until around this time next year.

Comments, slaps on the wrist and guidance are welcome as always.

Great stuff
I love Crappy Myrtle and always have done. I found a collecting spot this year in the bush with a few groves of them ranging from thumb size to thigh sized.

Quite a few with low branches and movement, so I collected a couple to bring home .
Most came out with No roots almost and all got cut down low. Liek you I will see h9ow they go thru spring and summer but hope they do good .

Ken

Almost perfect initial root pruning to set the plant up to develop a great future nebari I would probably have shortened the finer roots a bit too.
Just 2 questions.
How deep have you put the roots in the new pot? It looks quite deep. If it is too deep you run the risk of new roots sprouting from the buried trunk which can cause reverse taper and scars.
Also The potting mix looks more open than most. What mix are you using?

Hi mate, the roots are about 20-25mm under the surface, there was thankfully no evidence of roots sprouting even though the calous was a good 100mm down in some cases.

I am using my own mix made up with pumice@ 40% zeolite@ 10-15% and 6-7mm pine bark@45-50%.

Just for the record I am stocking and supplying these materials to other bonsai growers in Melbourne

Today I dug this beauty out of the neighbours front lawn.
Enjoy.

Nice collection there Damian.

lots of interest in the lower trunk and base

Ken