bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - The Last Frontier: Ugly Rootball

Al,

I'll take a stab at answering the root/nebari question from my perspective - I think we may be in agreement anyway, healthy roots and interesting looking nebari.

All I want the roots themselves to do, is perform the functions of water and nutrient take up efficiently. The more fibrous roots supporting root hairs the better. Below the soil line, I don't care what the roots look like - I care what they are doing and how well. Your thoughts on soils and watering are spot on the mark in my opinion. That is, you need to give the roots the correct conditions to flourish and grow within very limited confines once in a pot. You also need to have the working roots (as opposed to supporting roots) start as close to the trunk and nebari as possible, giving the tree the maximum volume for water uptake.

Of course, getting there is the problem. You can't just whack off all the woody roots on a nursery tree and hope for new fibrous roots to appear without seriously risking the tree's chances of survival.

Fish.

__________________
Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.

HEALTH WARNING: Engage brain fully, before typing into keyboard.

"We are the average gamers and we'll kill you badly. There'll be no finesse. no fancy tricks, no inventive attacks, just 2 whole smg clips and a rain of 'nades."

26-Feb-2003	#2
Emperor Fish Bonsai Otaku Join Date: Nov-2002 Location: Hants Country: England USDA Zone: 8 ish AHS Heat Zone: 2-3 Posts: 570	Al, I'll take a stab at answering the root/nebari question from my perspective - I think we may be in agreement anyway, healthy roots and interesting looking nebari. All I want the roots themselves to do, is perform the functions of water and nutrient take up efficiently. The more fibrous roots supporting root hairs the better. Below the soil line, I don't care what the roots look like - I care what they are doing and how well. Your thoughts on soils and watering are spot on the mark in my opinion. That is, you need to give the roots the correct conditions to flourish and grow within very limited confines once in a pot. You also need to have the working roots (as opposed to supporting roots) start as close to the trunk and nebari as possible, giving the tree the maximum volume for water uptake. Of course, getting there is the problem. You can't just whack off all the woody roots on a nursery tree and hope for new fibrous roots to appear without seriously risking the tree's chances of survival. Fish. __________________ Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill. HEALTH WARNING: Engage brain fully, before typing into keyboard. "We are the average gamers and we'll kill you badly. There'll be no finesse. no fancy tricks, no inventive attacks, just 2 whole smg clips and a rain of 'nades."