Kinzu orange root pruning

[WB461]

I bought this tree in March, zone 7b. I mistakenly left it indoors until April. Repotted in May to Akadama and lava with some Kanuma mixed in. I looked at the only videos I could find, but not sure what I should do about the roots. One video showed roots being pruned at the surface. Should I do this? When? What size roots and how many?

 

[badatusernames]

I’m curious to hear anything about this. I can only take a guess at what I’ve seen:

These seem to grow windy twisty “tap roots” with fleshy roots growing from them. My plan is to effectively use the “tap root” if that’s what it is as the basis of the tree. I’ll slowly cut the fleshy roots off as I expose that base, so the tree takes energy from roots lower down.

When enough twist windy base is revealed and at a size I like, I’ll chop the tree and really then start growing the bonsai.

I believe keeping them inside is OK - leaving them outside is too cold for them, I believe they need to be treated like pomegranate and olive, not below 40F, so if you have somewhere sheltered that stays at or above that temperature, with good light, you should be fine.

I’ve heard that John Romano keeps his indoors during the winter, but I may be mistaken.

 

[WB461]

Halo Jones was the person who said they need to be outside, although protected. She said if they were inside and warm all winter they would not flower and fruit. They need some cold. I can only tell you that I am in 7b and it was inside until early April, which is basically beginning to warm here. I did not get any flowers or fruit.

Unless I hear otherwise, I may cut one root and see what happens. I am abeginner and don't want to lose the tree. Thank you so much for responding!

 

[WB461]

PS. Did the pictures show up? I am relatively new and thought I had posted pictures, but I can't see them here.

 

[Carol 83]

PS. Did the pictures show up?

No. I keep mine inside for the winter and put it back out in the spring with all of the tropicals.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

PS. Did the pictures show up? I am relatively new and thought I had posted pictures, but I can't see them here.

Welcome to the site! The photos did not show up. If you are having trouble you can drag and drop them right into your post (if you are on PC). On cell phone, check out this post:

How to post photos from your cell phone

This is a quick tutorial to help people who want to post photos to the site using their cell phone. This is an Android tutorial, but functionality should be the same across different handsets/operating systems. (1) First, take a photo (or photos) with your cell phone. (2) Open...

www.bonsainut.com

Otherwise... Kinzu (dwarf kumquat) is a full tropical. Treat it like a traditional citrus tree and you'll be fine. They love heat and humidity. They do not like the cold and dry. They are a variety (not a cultivar) and they seed true to type - so you can grow them easily from seed. Not sure about the advice that they need the cold... I have never heard this before. I got my Kinzu from Kaya Mooney when he was in Florida, and his trees certainly didn't get any cold.

 

[WB461]

These are the roots. Should I cut?

 

[WB461]

Welcome to the site! The photos did not show up. If you are having trouble you can drag and drop them right into your post (if you are on PC). On cell phone, check out this post:

How to post photos from your cell phone

This is a quick tutorial to help people who want to post photos to the site using their cell phone. This is an Android tutorial, but functionality should be the same across different handsets/operating systems. (1) First, take a photo (or photos) with your cell phone. (2) Open...

www.bonsainut.com

Otherwise... Kinzu (dwarf kumquat) is a full tropical. Treat it like a traditional citrus tree and you'll be fine. They love heat and humidity. They do not like the cold and dry. They are a variety (not a cultivar) and they seed true to type - so you can grow them easily from seed. Not sure about the advice that they need the cold... I have never heard this before. I got my Kinzu from Kaya Mooney when he was in Florida, and his trees certainly didn't get any cold.

Thanks! I ended up cut and pasting.

 

[The Barber]

View attachment 550809These are the roots. Should I cut?

Wait till spring before you do any root work. I'd mount more soil and cover the root base on the tree first and top with shredded sphagnum to help keep the mounted soil from washing out. You'll want more roots before you remove those.