creating nebari

[Dave E]

what is the best way to fatten up roots that are just under the surface-leaving them burried under the surface,or exposing them above the surface?

or does it not make a difference

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

keep burried

 

[Giga]

keep burried

This, plus thread/approach grafting down the road to refine where you need it

 

[Eric Group]

keep burried

Yep, and adding fertilizer cakes right over where the roots are is supposed to help fatten them up as well.

 

[sorce]

I read from Owen somewhere about some species that get fatter exposed.

Sorce

 

[Dav4]

what is the best way to fatten up roots that are just under the surface-leaving them burried under the surface,or exposing them above the surface?

or does it not make a difference

Probably the most important thing is to remove the roots that are growing downward, leaving only those growing laterally from the trunk. Planting it on a flat board with the roots arranged outward like spokes on a wheel and covered with soil will also prevent the roots from growing downward.

 

[lordy]

For azaleas I use sphagnum moss to cover the entire surface of the soil. It is supposed to aid in the growth of surface roots, and if left alone long enough they will create a larger nebari.

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

Actually it is simple in my opinion. You create the best condition for the roots to grow where you want them. You keep them evenly moist a inch under soil level. You can adjust you moisture level by watering often, putting something under that area (board) or placing stuff above it so the conditions are good (fertilizer, moss, rubber tubing...). And yes you remove the growth you don't want. It all sounds simple, but you have to do it. I guess that species that grow thick bark soon might thicken up the roots faster above the ground, but they need to be there before you expose them...

 

[M. Frary]

Leave them buried and make sure they are the only roots just under the soil. As they pump water and nutrients to the tree they grow along with it.
Think multi stemmed trunk compared to a single. The single one thickens up faster because it's the only one. The multi trunk trunks grow but don't thicken up as fast.
If you have a bunch of roots the whole mass thickens up but nut noticibly. But if you only have 9 roots those will plump up.
And to guarantee the roots don't grow downward most people plant on a tile. I actually have been planting my trees in development on the bottom of the bucket or pot with nothing under them. Another Al Keppler technique. No soil on the bottom,no roots going down. Makes a ton of sense.

 

[Owen Reich]

I read from Owen somewhere about some species that get fatter exposed.

Sorce

Stewartia monadelpha roots thicken more quickly when exposed; sometimes too much.

 

[0soyoung]

Growing in dense, 'sticky' clay dirt will produce a small number of thick roots radiating from the trunk. To some extent, this is part of the magic of ground growing. In media like bonsai 'soil' that offers very little, if any, resistance to root extension a large number of thin roots tends to be produced.

 

[Vin]

I read from Owen somewhere about some species that get fatter exposed.

Sorce

I think he was talking about some humans

 

[JudyB]

Stewartia monadelpha roots thicken more quickly when exposed; sometimes too much.

Good tip, I have one that I'm working roots on right now. Will experiment with this. Thanks!

 

[sorce]

Stewartia monadelpha roots thicken more quickly when exposed; sometimes too much.

Thanks for the drop by!

Sorce