Swamp Cypress Roots

[MelaQuin]

I added a Taxodium to my collection in March. It is coming along but I am finding some displeasure with the nebari.

Taxodium Lge 2009-10.jpg

Yesterday I bought a much younger specimen with the intent to develop a tree with roots radiating flat across the soil surface. The tree had very few branches or branchlets but the roots were another matter. It was interesting to note that several large roots had grafted into larger roots but in the end, none of that matter. Almost all went. This is definitely what you call a Number One haircut.

Taxodium thin 1.jpg

Taxodium thin 2 2009-10 roots.jpg

Taxodium thin 32009-10 roots off.jpg

I loosely wired the larger roots out flat [and forgot to take a photo] and planted them close to the base of training pot and placed the smaller roots as I wanted them. I will have to keep watch to ensure the wire around the trunk does not cut in as the tree grows and I'll brush the soil away from the roots in a few months and cut the wires across the tops just to be sure the roots are not damaged.

This is the first time I have wired roots and I'm already looking forward to repotting next year to see how this has developed. The trunk has been reduced from the photo here and the whole thing has a lot of growing to do.

[63pmp]

Hi mel,

I'm intrigued,

How do you mean "wired" ?

Wire staples? or as if wired like a branch?

Paul

[stymie]

I like the look of the upper circle of roots that you found on the younger one MelaQuin. Sealing the cut below them shouldn't have been necessary with a swampy. Growing new branches on a trunk is at least a three year job. As all the foliage drops off, some of the new branch growth usually follows and new branches are slow to start. I denuded one three years ago so that I wouldn't have heavier branches above new ones. The result has been a preponderance of new shoots that I am now having to thin out. Mine has just turned copper coloured so I'll soon be able to see the tracery without foliage again, then branch selection starts all over again.

[MelaQuin]

Wired as in a branch. The ones I left were twisted and I wanted them with movement but to radiate. They WILL radiate!!..

Stymie. You're a Pom! You live in Pommieland. Mate, here I will need a stout stick to subdue the growth of this cypress. Today is 27 degrees [and about bloody time] and give the little devil a few weeks to recover from the rape and plunder of its roots and shoots will pop everywhere. I should have quite reasonable branches developed into the styling framework I want by end of summer. We don't go in for 1 day or 1 week of summer here... we do the summer bit seriously and extensively and our problem is keeping our trees from outgrowing the pots and keeping the rampant growth under control. 10 months of growing... it's a great place.

[NathanM]

You're not wrong about them growing like mad. Mine's grown so muhc in the last 3 months that I have no idea what to do with it =s

[john tapner]

Mel, the oldest swamp cypress I have in my collection I started on the day my first grandson was born 13 years ago. The natural formation of the nebari is heavy buttressing which forms over time. Don't worry about about spreading them flat as that is not natural to the species. My 13 year old tree had roots as in your first photo but with time they will fill in and form a nice buttress. The other thing to aid trunk growth is to grow the tree in a shallow water tray. If I can get my camera to work tomorrow I will post a photo for you.

Cheers

John T

[Jamie]

i bought a swampy starter about a month ago, it is booming, all i have done is keep it in its platic grow pot for now as it needs extensve growth, nothing worth showing yet obviously, but i keep mine in a bucket with water just up to the outlet holes of the pot. it seems to love it i guess thats why they are called SWAMP cypress


regards jamie


edit-cant spell, cant type, dunno why i bother editing there is always another mistake

[dayne]

yeah i got a starter in jue hacked the top off split the bottom of the trunk hacked the roots and it has grown like mad and gained huge trunk groth i water mine every day twice about 10 litres a day loves the cruelty

[MelaQuin]

My starter is sulking. The three leaves have browned off but it will come good. I was rather savage in removing roots.

[Jamie]

yeah i got a starter in jue hacked the top off split the bottom of the trunk hacked the roots and it has grown like mad and gained huge trunk groth i water mine every day twice about 10 litres a day loves the cruelty

when you say split the bottom... do you mean like split the trunk vertically, like harry harrington did to a tree to fix reverse taper?? this interests me quite a bit.

the one i have it is still in its small pot but is growing like crazy. i am gonna move up pot size after spreading some of the roots too. i keep mine in a tray of water constantly too. the pot it is in i never, and i say never let the water level in the tray go blow the drainage holes of the plastic pot, and this swampy is going nuts.
i would be keen to try this trunk splitting if thats what you are doing dayne. can you elaborate further?

jamie

[Grant Bowie]

Hang on to the tree with the displeasing roots as time, fertiliser and water will cause the roots to grow and fuse together, the base will thicken and swell and in 10 years time you will have completely forgotten you ever had an issue with it.

My big swampy has had a carved out trunk for about twenty five years and I never treat it and it never rots, so you can grow them in as much water as you like till you get the trunk size you want.

My tree has been too big to bother putting in water for the last 10 years or so.

They really are a great tree for bonsai.