Fusing of ridiculous roots! - Any tips?

[jozaeh]

Hey Everyone,
I've posted this corky bark elm of mine before, but now I'm looking to do something about her above ground aerial roots. I'd like to fuse them together if possible, but i'm not sure what the best way to do it would be. I've searched the forum for posts but I can't seem to find anything on this subject.

Can I ask for any advice please? thanks!

Here's what I imagine would work:

1. use raffia (or something else) to tighten the roots together as much as possible without breaking them.
2. pack in a little sphagnum moss in between the roots
3. mound sphagnum moss around all of the roots and wrap in glad wrap?or simply pot the tree with soil above the roots level
4. let her grow wild, around 2 years waiting for them to fuse.

Does this sound sort of right? I also thought that possibly lightly scraping away the bark from where roots might nestle next to eachother could help encourage them to touch and fuse better?

thanks again for any advice,
Jozaeh


Last year's spring



Last year's spring



This year's spring before a trim back

[63pmp]

Hi

This is a nice tree with good potential, the trunk has some subtle movement and character, while branch positioning seems good, and you've kept the branches in fairly close to the trunk to accentuate the height of the tree, which I like.

I also prefered the tree in the first photo as opposed to this springs appearance. As you have lost the trunk and branch positioning amongst all the foliage.

However, this tree needs the right roots.

Personally I would layer off the trunk, at the height of the exposed rear root. Simply trying to fuse whatever is there still won't provide the stability such a tall tree requires. It requires a radial, root mass, not too wide, which can be acquired with a ground layer.

I would also lose the rocks, they only distract the viewer from looking at the tree.

Paul

[Steven]

G'day Jozaeh,

Nice tree. I tend to agree with Paul that layering would be the way to go. Those roots look pretty tough and even if you could bend and fuse them, I don't think you would ever achieve the results you are hoping for.
Check out Ulmus procera..building show winning Nebari by Bodhidharma for some inspiration.

I'd like to see an image of the tree after you trim. Something between last years 'sparse' look and this years 'full' look would suit IMO.

Regards,
Steven

[Handy Mick]

Agreed, but maybe you could, if the tree allows it, is to cut away the top exposed roots and sit the tree further in the soil to hide what is left.


Mick

[toohey]

Why not plant the lower roots in the soil and spread out the thinner roots as a more attractive nebari.

[Paulneill]

i agree with toohey. If it were me i would. next repot remove those upper roots.

and wire the ones you want to keep spreading them out and put some movement in them

if its any thing like my chinese elm the roots are very flexable.

[jozaeh]

Oh that's all fantastic tips and ideas everyone, thank you SO much! I see what both options can do, I had thought of the burying idea, but never contemplated an air layering, possibly because it seems far too scary! But hey, that post you included Steven looks like it works well, and I agree that would be the way to the best nebari base for this tree that I could get. Ok, i'll mull it over and see what i decide to do,

thanks again!
Jozaeh