Bald Cypress - Exposed Root Ideas

[MrG]

Hey Bnuts,

I recently acquired a pretty sweet BC that I personally love the form of. Just did a first styling on it yesterday. I’m now contemplating how to address some floating roots in future repots.

I’ll show several photos below - one with all the roots showing and the second is what I did last night - I wounded bottom of roots, then added akadama and sphagnum alternating to build up a mound to the roots and begin new rooting. I err on the side of action and understanding when my trees are healthy enough to take the action well, and so far so good on that front.

My question is, what would you all do with the ends of these exposed roots? Jin? Cut hard and hope for healing to create downward slope to new rooting? Any ideas are welcome.

All best,
MG

 

[Srt8madness]

If it were mine, I would work to get it in a wider container, lower the height of the rootball and raise the soil level to make the big roots appear as if they are going into the soil.

 

[MrG]

Definitely hear you on this @Strt8madness . I should have mentioned this additional consideration:

If I raise the soil line in a repot enough to cover those root ends completely on right side, it will greatly reduce width of nebari on the left, which is lower. See the “before” photo for this.

So I was thinking of essentially trying raise the soil line as little as possible so as to keep that left extension visible, and terminate the right side roots before they begin arcing upward again. EDIT: the point at which the sphagnum ends is about where those roots stop sloping downward.

Hope that helps with some context!

All best,
MG

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Can you tilt it to the right to get the right side into the soil and develop some roots and slowly readjust to the left as they mature?

 

[Cadillactaste]

I think the above poster gave great advice.

My title is Neagari Gal ... I, of all people can appreciate exposed roots. But ... these are chopped off at the ends. Not truly desirable.

But...I'm all for you finding some neagari. That would be cool.

 

[MrG]

Thanks again all! Agreed, @Orion_metalhead that sounds like a great idea. I’m definitely leaning towards repotting it next year slanted to the right and then correcting the angle over the following years.

All best,
MG

 

[Orion_metalhead]

You can mound up the soil on that side this year to help kick start the process. Load that side of the pot with organic fertilizer. Next year you might already have a bunch of new roots to work with.

 

[MrG]

You can mound up the soil on that side this year to help kick start the process. Load that side of the pot with organic fertilizer. Next year you might already have a bunch of new roots to work with.

Yea that’s essentially what I’m trying to do in the photos I posted, but I couldn’t mound it high enough. I think I’ll make a boundary out of a net pot to be able to go higher on that side. Thanks again man!

MG

 

[Cajunrider]

Hey Bnuts,

I recently acquired a pretty sweet BC that I personally love the form of. Just did a first styling on it yesterday. I’m now contemplating how to address some floating roots in future repots.

I’ll show several photos below - one with all the roots showing and the second is what I did last night - I wounded bottom of roots, then added akadama and sphagnum alternating to build up a mound to the roots and begin new rooting. I err on the side of action and understanding when my trees are healthy enough to take the action well, and so far so good on that front.

My question is, what would you all do with the ends of these exposed roots? Jin? Cut hard and hope for healing to create downward slope to new rooting? Any ideas are welcome.

All best,
MG

The way your roots look right now is the very reason why the pictures of most my trees in development show very little roots.
In all of your pictures, the roots are way overexposed. If I were you, I would do the following.
1. For all blunt flat cut roots on the very top, I shave the roots on a 45 deg angle.
2. Repot the tree in a deeper pot and bury the roots, making sure that there is an inch of soil over them.
3. Let the roots develop secondary roots on the angle cut for a year.
4. Split the top roots and carve if necessary to get nice looking root spread. Let them all heal nicely.
5. In subsequent years, slowly remove to top layer of soil to expose the now well developed nebari.

If you carefully look at trees by @johng, @BillsBayou, Randy Bennett etc. you will see that the roots are well developed and don’t have any blunt cut ends.

PS: In the future, I will make some posts in the BC study thread to show how I do the above steps.