Nebari?

zen

Hey I was just wondering what you guys do to develop nebari on your trees,...?? I have read that it is one the things that takes a long time,...more so than trunk development even,...so I figured I should go ahead and start working on some of my trees rootbases. TIA
Jeremy M.C.

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Misspeled_Name

I go out into the back yard or a near by creek and find a really flat rock, then chisel it down to the size I want and drill a hole in the middle. Then I take the tree and thread the tap root through the hole in the rock(If the tree does not have a tap root do not worry about drilling a hole just plant the tree right on the rock), then lay roots in a nice pattern that I see fit for the tree on the rock, next I plant the tree and rock into the ground or a pot. And let it grow for a few years depending on species and size. I pull back the top layer of soil every now and then to get a peek at how the roots are growing and to see how close they are to being the size I want. After they are the size I want I dig the tree up or pull it out of it's pot. Some times the tap root has gotten so big and the roots below it have grown to the point that you cannot pull it back through the hole in the rock. In this case I take a hammer and gently bust the rock away. After the roots are free of the rock pant it a little higher up so the new nebari is exposed.

Here are some good links about this, and some other useful things about nebari...

http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATfieldgrowing.htm

http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATNebari.html

http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/AT...aftingroots.htm

- Misspeled_Name

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rockm

"Then I take the tree and thread the tap root through the hole in the rock(If the tree does not have a tap root do not worry about drilling a hole just plant the tree right on the rock), "

Leaving the tap root on a tree could actually slow development of the nebari, as the nebari depends on the development of LATERAL roots for its effect. Leaving the tap in place will slow those down ast he tree remains depended on the central root at the expense of side roots.

Placing a tree on a flat rock is nice. The idea is to force roots to the side, instead of allowing them to dive vertically. Simply knowing how to prune for maximum lateral development of roots is probably more effective for stock older than seedling size.

pootsie

Zen:

That's exactly like saying "how do I develop branches?" There are a million (OK, maybe only 10,000) answers.

Grafting. Wiring. Pruning. Forced directional growth. Time. Masking. Hormones. More time. Hardware. Strategic potting. Additional time.

And there's a big difference if you are working with a seedling or a mature tree or an in-betweener. And what species, also, as some are more likely to die from heavy root-work than others (say, JWP versus Olive).

So, let's narrow your questions.

pootsie

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Craig Cowing

I buy nursery stock or collect trees in the wild that already have one.

Craig Cowing

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I'm not finished yet, neither are my trees.

BonsaiMon

..rap the exposed roots and lower trunk with a hammer.. Not everywhere at the same time but occasionally over time here and there.. it will develop a gnarly spot and over many years who knows.. >

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tom stoute

http://bonsaiinsights.spaces.live.com/

zen

I more or less, wa asking how YOU do it,...from the techniques discussed here, used by board memebrs with good results I and others who do not yet know can try them and find the ones that work for them. I have mostly seedlings and in-between-lings, but a few of my trees are far enough along that they should have the nebari worried about soon. Also most of my trees are deciduos, but none are needle bearing species, save one BC.

__________________
"Although profoundly "inconsequential," the Zen experience has consequences in the sense that it may be applied in any direction, to any conceivable human activity, and that wherever it is so applied it lends an unmistakable quality to the work."

~ Alan Watts (1915-1973)

pootsie

That is still a pretty broad question, dude. Have you checked out this handy collection of links
Never too early to start working on it. The longer it's put off, the more catching up there is to do.

IMHO, nebari is the most important single element of a good bonsai, and should be the firts thing to be addressed with any tree --- which is why my entire collection is still in training pots or the ground.

pootsie

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p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

pootsie

Here is some stuff I've done:
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthr...9938#post149937
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthread.php?t=9273
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthread.php?t=8544
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthread.php?t=9363
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthread.php?t=11527

I just did a bunch of work lately, so there's more to come!
pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society