bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Repotting Cork Bark Pine

Healthy pine roots (as well as the roots of many other species of tree) grow in association with a beneficial micro-organism/fungal matrix called mycorrhizae (pronounced "MIKE-O-RYE-ZAY") This white cottony growth envelops the root system and offers a number of benefits. In addition to protecting the root system from attack by disease, it increases the effective volume and efficiency of the root system, protects the roots from bad pH and humidity conditions and fixes nitrogen in the soil.

Organic fertilizers tend to promote mycorrhizal growth because the hyphae ("HIGH-fay") strands will be able to break down the organic components into nitrogen elements the plant can use. Inoganic fertilizer already has the nitrogen available, so there is less dependency on the mycorrhizal activity.

You can promote the growth of mycorrhizae by using an organic fertilizer and by innoculating the soil of newly transplanted pines with some hyphae-rich soil taken from another pine.