Transition potting with tons of top roots issues

[Matt3839]

Hi guys, I have two Hinoki that I wanted to move from nursery container to lower wood boxes. As I began to try and dig out the nebari with a chopstick I quickly realized that the roots were so plentiful I felt like I was just tearing apart the tree. I ended up taking very little off the bottom because I dug out about three inches of top roots.

Is this normal, and how do you guys deal with issues like this? I still have one more Hinoki to repot and it’s one I really like the structure of so I’m a little more nervous about its health. Thanks everyone!

 

[Gabler]

It's normal for trees to have upward-growing roots when they're planted too deep. Don't remove more in one season than the species can handle. If you removed too much of the root ball, wait till next spring to reduce it further.

Unfortunately, I don't have any hinoki cypress, so I can't say how much is too much in one season.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

First off, from my experience, Hinoki like to be slightly moist, so make sure the media reflects this.

Anyways…. it’s best to remove no more than 1/3 of the roots the first time. Off… from the bottom. If this is too high for your box plans, simply create another wood box on top of the ideal box height planned.

This is the safe option. It will allow the tree to be worked next year.

In a couple years, simply repot and remove the upper box... The next repot after the tree might be ready to put in a bonsai pot if the top hamper is ready.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Shibui]

I ended up taking very little off the bottom because I dug out about three inches of top roots.

This is obviously clear to you but it could mean a whole lot of different things depending how I interpret 'dug out about three inches of top roots'
There's a big difference between removing fine roots and removing thicker roots. I'm guessing you didn't chop off 3" of thick roots growing direct from the trunk?
That leaves what @Gabler mentioned. Commercial grown trees are potted on from smaller pots to larger pots at regular intervals. It's quicker and easier to throw the root ball into the bottom of the bigger pot and fill with new soil. It's not best practice but the trees still grow and who will ever know? (except crazy bonsai growers). The fine feeder roots grow out and into the new soil and eventually up into the new soil on top of the old roots. This is the price we pay for buying cheap, mass produced plants for bonsai.
Removing those feeder roots from the top is just the same as removing a similar amount from the bottom (where they would have been if the trees had been potted on correctly) you have also achieved your goal of reducing the height of the root ball - just not in the way you planned - so all is well.

Is this normal, and how do you guys deal with issues like this?

Quite normal when dealing with commercial plants. Even more common with cheap stock.
If I come across it I deal with it pretty much as you did (assuming I've interpreted correctly)

 

[bwaynef]

We're all speculating as to what you mean. Post a picture. You'll get better responses.

Don't be afraid to take some pictures, post here, and wait for the responses to guide you. Just cover the soil/pot with a wet towel and leave it be while you wait for guidance. (Out of the sun and other sensible precautions, obviously.)

 

[Matt3839]

Hi sorry I was planning to take photos but I just got so consumed with the job I didn’t manage to have any time.

I combed the top roots out with a chopstick and just clipped them. Any major roots were left un-cut. I think I was just surprised at how difficult and plentiful the roots were towards the surface of the tree. I did my best to comb them out first and then make decisive cuts, so no I didn’t just arbitrarily just cut 2-3 inches of roots.
Not too much was taken off the bottom of the rootball, but I’ll probably be less aggressive with the next tree and build a taller, less wide box. And I’ll take some pictures for you guys.

The only one I have is a before and you can see how many roots grow near the surface:

This is probably 2-3 inches above where the trunks basal spread is, and it’s that packed with roots almost all the way down.

 

[Shibui]

Thanks for the photo. As usual, it's worth a thousand words and confirms my speculation that these trees were potted way too deep when last potted on.
Also confirms that you've done exactly as I would have in the same situation. and that your trees should be fine. If anything does go wrong from here it won't be the repot or root pruning that caused it.
Don't be frightened of root pruning the next one. It will need to be done at some stage to show the main roots. Better to do it now. Next year the tree will have even more branches and foliage to support so removing the same roots will be even more stressful for it then IMHO.
Also make sure you do tease out or cut some of the roots in the lower root ball before potting these on. There's a tendency for circling roots to keep doing than instead of heading out into the new soil if you don't disturb that circling root pattern a bit.

 

[Matt3839]

Ok noted. Just did a second repot and it was a little less stressful. I took about 3 inches off the top and maybe a half inch off the bottom. Still about a 7 inch rootball that was slightly combed out per your advice shibui. There’s some coarse roots coming out of the trunk above the nebari but I left them for now as I didn’t want to cut too much. Will deal with them in a year or two maybe if the tree is vigorous.