Toothpicks and Surface Roots

Tobias

Hi Folks,

I'm curious to know whether anyone here has tried the following procedure outlined in Koreshoff's book:

When repotting, drill very small holes around the base of a tree. Apply rooting hormone. Insert toothpicks in holes. Repot, covering toothpicks and holes with soil.

The purpose being to correct ugly rootage that is not and will never be conducive to attractive surface roots; this is a way to essentially start the root structure all over again, starting with the future surface roots. The toothpicks are used so that the new roots that grow will grow along the toothpicks.

So, has anyone ever tried this procedure with success or failure? Did I at least do a decent enough job describing it so that you know what I'm talking about? If people have had success with this then I'm planning on using the procedure this spring on at least ficus nerifolias and benjamina 'too littles.' I'll potentially use it on other species (Zelkova? Portulacaria? Serissa?) if people have had success/I feel drastic measures are needed to create nebari (3 years in bonsai=I've just recently figured out how to buy decent nursery stock/"prebonsai")

Thanks in advance friends,

Toby

__________________
~Self-proclaimed dendrophile!

Advertisement