"A good root base gets better with age, a bad root base gets worse" How to deal with problems with your bonsai roots, includes pruning and styling ideas.
this has been the best most instructive video on tree development I have seen- especially because it's an area that has nagged at the corner of my mind. Everyone of my trees can benefit from this. They all have different sets of problems- but slowly-hopefully surely I will be able to work with them to bring about a good outcome. I know proper timing is important- but the rather warm winter has sent the Armur maple into bud break and some ficus plants can't wait so I must get busy soon. thank you, thank you.
Most of my trees are still in the pre-bonsai stage and I've always been a bit nervous when it comes to repotting. This video has made me realise that it's something I really need to start working on.
Just do it! I was just thinking yesterday, people seem to assume bonsai is relaxing. Repotting or heavy trimming something is an anxious and thrilling experience for me.
Wow Nigel, this is fascinating. When I started getting interested in Bonsai 25 years ago, roots were the last thing to consider. You've literally turned my understanding upside down - thank you! 😊
This made me feel good. I removed a really nice root a while ago - felt sorry for a bit, but now I see I did a good thing, because it was too high up the trunk. I guess it will leave a nice scar that will make the tree look a bit older.
How could I have missed this video subbed for like 18 months or more.. A true pearl and still holds quality - well done Nigel! I always thought drawing and illustration give education a special depth and focus on subjects. Real life footaga is nice but sometimes not so clear to the viewer whats going on :)
I learned a lot from this Nigel. Extremely helpful. I have always been concerned about cutting too much of my larger roots so your methods made sense. I shall try some of these suggestions out.
'I haven't regretted killing the trees' lol, i agree very much. XD amazing to see how much that ficus has grown in 5 years! it almost looks like a different tree by now.
Wow... Should have watched this video about the detailed root pruning before I potted my new bougainvillea. Saw a few steps I missed like pruning a thick route going in the other direction. Oh well, let's see if I get lucky.
it's hard to believe that we are less than six weeks away from bud break in my part of the country. Our Japanese magnolias are days away from blooming. My tropicals don't seem to realize that it's winter and they are indoors, (I'm not telling them either.) I've got a brand new Dremel, so I'm having to sit on my hands to keep from waving at everybody. Thanks for the vid Nigel, always great hearing from you.
I had a small acacia tree in a deep pot I had root trimmed it and did not know why this video had helped me I have found a natural tree it has a large tap roots and not much small feeders I had put it I put it in a normal flower pot to help get more feeder roots I think it is a fear I have
I had not seen the video until just recently. I am slow on the uptake but running as fast as I can to catch up! Still want it in print if possible. I have "bookmarked" this video because I am sure I will refer to it again and again.
Nice presentation Nigel. Well thought out and executed. However. ....... "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" I won't be correcting the roots of my "Octopus" tree even though you have shown me how! Seriously though thanks for some good info.Cheers.Sid
+Kennet De Bondt Thanks Kennet, the snow continues here, but the days are getting longer and the sunshine a little brighter. The tropical trees are beginning to grow again!
Wow Nigel, u can draw really well. Thanks for the detail on roots. I have collected a privet with roots on one side only. It kinda looks natural as the trunk flows well that way curving up. But I don't know if I should try make a wound like u said in the video to grow more roots on the other side. What is ur thought on this?
Privet will grow roots really easily. I would try planting the tree and see if roots develop in the next few years, if nothing happens on the one side, then I would try creating a wound and maybe even use root hormone on the cut.
Questions. I have several small trees. A sugar maple, ( outside), a trident maple, ( outside ) 6 small juniper procumbens "nana", ( outside) 2 Chinese elms, ( inside for now, outside after temps stay at 50°or above) 2 Serissa foetida, ( inside for now, outside after 50° or above )a Ficus benjamina, and a Ficus neriifolia, ( inside only ) All in my first year of care. I am scared to death to re pot, but I need to know how the roots are doing, and if any work needs to be done. Can you advice me when root pruning and re potting should start in my area? Southwestern Virginia. I was thinking late March for the ficus, maples, elms, and serissa', and early June for the Junipers? The Junipers are also in need of pruning in the worst way on the foliage. But every time I start to pinch the foliage back so the tree doesn't look so badly over grown, I get bad browning of the foliage. The foliage is in need of getting cut back quite a bit to get the shape back of the typical nana style. Any help is GREATLY appreciated.?
+Blaydrnnnr Hi Blaydmnnr, the hardy trees, such as your maples and elms, should be re potted when the buds begin to swell in spring. If the buds begin to open, it is considered too late. I used to re pot my tropicals in early spring, but lately I have been re potting them early to mid summer. I let the tropicals get used to the outside sun and grow freely for the first part of summer, then, when they have gotten lots of vigor, I re pot them. This seems to work well, the roots have nice warm summer weather and they recover quickly. Check out this video for pruning and pinching Junipers..... ua-cam.com/video/ZJYYKiHHIJI/v-deo.html
Nigel Saunders Thank you for the response! I watched the video you linked to. I forgot I DO have a 4" Shimpaku that I have not tried ANY pruning on as of yet, so thank you for that. Any idea of the right time of year to do this to a Shimpaku? Or my Junipers? I am assuming my junipers can be pruned in the same manner? They are badly over grown and need to be greatly pruned back to their style. I'm very afraid of browning the foliage or even killing it. You mentioned tropicals, I again assume you mean my Ficus'. My ficus never go outside. I may try to re pot and root prune in the early summer. But since they are indoor only, not sure if time of year will have much to do with how they survive the re pot. Spring is on the way, so I am trying to get a plan together. Thanks for your time. I know your VERY busy, I thought about sending you pictures of my trees so perhaps you could give me better advice, and make it easier to respond. Thaksagain!
hi nigel I am hoping to take up bonsai planting of trees but I cant find someone to guide me , is it possible for you to name a book on basic planting and care of said plants. l do enjoy looking at your videos. Many thanks . Gloria.
Unfortunately, there seems to be less and less bonsai books published now a days! I would check out some of the bonsai blogs and videos on line. You will find a world of useful information. You can even take online courses! I would check your local library for books on bonsai, ours has quite a few, but the book stores have none. Good luck Gloria and happy growing!
Hi Nigel! I know it's a late reply to the video, but I need some serious advice I've got 5 acacia saplings that I started in August (I'm in South Africa) and I feel they should get repotted now to start training the roots. They've got a pretty strong tap root (acacias have this as a standard), but also have some decent adventitious, radial-ish roots. How do I proceed? Should I just cut the entire taproot off and hope that the rest can handle the plants water etc requirements? Or should I just trim the taproot lightly and follow the instructions for the tap root in this video? I really don't want to kill the tree! Please help, pretty please :)
Hello Jasper, I will have the same questions soon with my trees! I don't know the answer, but I'll try different methods on the various seedlings I have. I'll soon learn how much root you can remove without killing the tree. After care is very important to keep the tree alive if you remove the taproot. Keep the tree in a bright position, but out of the direct sunlight. Keep the surface of the soil misted so the surface roots don't dry out while the tree adapts without the taproot. I would try removing the taproot on maybe just one at first and see how it goes. Good luck, let me know how it goes, thanks!
So I chopped off the entire taproot - eek! After I did that I misted the roots and the cut with some liquid rooting hormone and it seems to have survived. Got some new growth in the crown and it seems to be thriving. I think maybe the trick was that I watered it with a nice homemade kelp (ecklonia maxima) tea and put some kelp pieces in the soil mix - apparently kelp really helps with transplant shock. All in all, yay! Will keep you updated on its progress. Thank you so much for your great channel - it's honestly the best bonsai resource I've managed to find on the web 👌
Hey Nigel, I recently purchased a pre bonsai Lime berry and did a severe root pruning and mild defoliation in order to fit it in a smaller pot with bonsai soil. For the past two days I have watered it twice a day and left it outside in partial sun (acclimated to full soon prior to me buying). However the leaves have begun to wilt. Should I bring it inside to reduce transpiration? or leave it outside and defoliate it completely?
You can try placing a clear plastic bag with some ventilation holes in it, over the tree to keep the humidity high and stop the wind from drying out the leaves. Be careful the tree doesn't too hot inside the bag, I would keep it out of direct sunlight, except for the morning and the evening when the sun isn't as strong.
+Luckma1 Yes, but I would worry about the root growing into the wire. I have seen people tie up their roots with natural rafia to re position them. The rafia breaks down before the roots get damaged. I have also seen people use a wooden base with nails to position and guide the roots under the surface of the soil.
Interesting video, but I would like to point out that roots do not have nodes and internodes. And one line diagram of a planter and plant in it show narrow front and wider posterior side. Unusual for your videos
A better way to describe the process would be a forced bifurcation through pruning. The shape of the radial root base does need to be adjusted to fit the eventual pot the tree will go in. Usually the pots are longer than they are wide, the roots need to be pruned accordingly.
l must say l have never come across such a detailed study or description for developing the roots. could you please explain when to prune the roots, ie the season best suited and how to balance the top growth during root pruning.
+Dubsy Dabster First again, I'm going to have to start publishing the next one in the middle of the night or something, I don't know how you do it! Thanks for watching, take care.
It's 1am and I can't stop watching your videos
Thank you, the problem is, that I keep making more!
@@TheBonsaiZone no problem here!
this has been the best most instructive video on tree development I have seen- especially because it's an area that has nagged at the corner of my mind. Everyone of my trees can benefit from this. They all have different sets of problems- but slowly-hopefully surely I will be able to work with them to bring about a good outcome. I know proper timing is important- but the rather warm winter has sent the Armur maple into bud break and some ficus plants can't wait so I must get busy soon. thank you, thank you.
+Robert Pawlsoky Thanks Robert, good luck with your roots!
Most of my trees are still in the pre-bonsai stage and I've always been a bit nervous when it comes to repotting. This video has made me realise that it's something I really need to start working on.
Just do it! I was just thinking yesterday, people seem to assume bonsai is relaxing. Repotting or heavy trimming something is an anxious and thrilling experience for me.
Wow Nigel, this is fascinating. When I started getting interested in Bonsai 25 years ago, roots were the last thing to consider. You've literally turned my understanding upside down - thank you! 😊
Very good to hear, I love bonsai trees with really nice roots!
What an amazing presentation. I've learned so much from you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thank you!
Thank you for all the effort you put into this video! The illustrations and the knowledge are amazing, not to mention the voice over by Jennifer!
Thank you Nigel, it was so detailed and discussed every situation one may face. Very helpful indeed.
This made me feel good. I removed a really nice root a while ago - felt sorry for a bit, but now I see I did a good thing, because it was too high up the trunk. I guess it will leave a nice scar that will make the tree look a bit older.
This is exactly what I was hoping to find! Thanks for creating and sharing!!
How could I have missed this video subbed for like 18 months or more.. A true pearl and still holds quality - well done Nigel! I always thought drawing and illustration give education a special depth and focus on subjects. Real life footaga is nice but sometimes not so clear to the viewer whats going on :)
Thanks Tybold, glad you found it!
I learned a lot from this Nigel. Extremely helpful. I have always been concerned about cutting too much of my larger roots so your methods made sense. I shall try some of these suggestions out.
+Curtis Lee I hope it works well, cutting roots is always stressful.
Thanks Nigel, that really was an informative video, and one of the few I've seen that really even addressed how to create great nebari.
'I haven't regretted killing the trees' lol, i agree very much. XD amazing to see how much that ficus has grown in 5 years! it almost looks like a different tree by now.
Dis a great video full of quality info, Nigel. U da man
Thank you Stephen!
I should have watched this before my repots... going to try my best to follow while repotting from now on, thanks
Wow... Should have watched this video about the detailed root pruning before I potted my new bougainvillea. Saw a few steps I missed like pruning a thick route going in the other direction. Oh well, let's see if I get lucky.
You can always catch it next time, it's best to work on the roots slowly, then do too much and kill the tree.
very detailed explanation..thanks to share....👌👍
Thanks, glad you gave it a view!
That is a fantastic video Nigel 😀🌳
I am going to start Bonsai caring from today and hope by following your instructions I can grow very good Bonsai Trees😊
Happy growing Kam!
Thank for good luck sir
Awesome video. Thank you so much for all the detailed knowledge 🙏🏼
Thanks, one of my favorite videos!!! Glad you liked it!
awesome video thanks for sharing the knowledge
Glad you liked it JD!
it's hard to believe that we are less than six weeks away from bud break in my part of the country. Our Japanese magnolias are days away from blooming. My tropicals don't seem to realize that it's winter and they are indoors, (I'm not telling them either.) I've got a brand new Dremel, so I'm having to sit on my hands to keep from waving at everybody. Thanks for the vid Nigel, always great hearing from you.
Thank you!!!! Nigel for share your greatest experience and knowledge.
although I do not understand English, but I liked the graphics, big hug my friend
I always love the roots of your trees. great video for educating.
Excellent video!
Awesome narration
Hi Nigel!
Excellent video,very well explained,help me a lot,thank you very much for share your knowledge.
Greetings from México!!
Amazing video!
I had a small acacia tree in a deep pot I had root trimmed it and did not know why this video had helped me I have found a natural tree it has a large tap roots and not much small feeders I had put it I put it in a normal flower pot to help get more feeder roots I think it is a fear I have
I had not seen the video until just recently. I am slow on the uptake but running as fast as I can to catch up! Still want it in print if possible. I have "bookmarked" this video because I am sure I will refer to it again and again.
Thanks, I'm glad you found the video useful!
very helpful video Nigel. Always great videos my friend.
Great tutorial, Nigel!
Is your wonderful handout available in print? Your video was the best presentation I have seen on how to develop a root base. Thanks! Again, as usual.
I do have a handout somewhere, I gave a presentation to the club many years ago!
very nice video
great presentation .... loved it.
Thanks Nigel very informative
Nice presentation Nigel. Well thought out and executed. However. ....... "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" I won't be correcting the roots of my "Octopus" tree even though you have shown me how! Seriously though thanks for some good info.Cheers.Sid
+Sid Pavey (Sid's Trees) I agree, your octopus tree is perfect the way it is! Thanks, Sid.
+Nigel Saunders Aw shucks. Now you made me blush! Keep warm.
Sid
very very useful...thx Nigel👍
Glad you enjoyed it Hendar, that's my daughter's voice, I think she did a good job!
Exellent! As usuall...
And what a s..y voice!!
greets
Kennet
+Kennet De Bondt Thanks Kennet, the snow continues here, but the days are getting longer and the sunshine a little brighter. The tropical trees are beginning to grow again!
Very informative!
Thank you, it's all about the base!
Nicely explained....👍
Thank you, an oldie but a goodie!
excelente explicación!
Good presentation Sir ,
thank-you! more documentary style vids plz!!!! =)
I'll try!
Wow Nigel, u can draw really well. Thanks for the detail on roots. I have collected a privet with roots on one side only. It kinda looks natural as the trunk flows well that way curving up. But I don't know if I should try make a wound like u said in the video to grow more roots on the other side. What is ur thought on this?
Privet will grow roots really easily. I would try planting the tree and see if roots develop in the next few years, if nothing happens on the one side, then I would try creating a wound and maybe even use root hormone on the cut.
Ok. I will have to be patient and wait. I hope it lives first
Nigel Hello, greetings from Venezuela ... It is a beautiful bonsai and an instructive video. It is a ficus retusa?
+adri shogun Yes, I think the term ficus microcarpa is correct and retusa is a variety .
Questions. I have several small trees. A sugar maple, ( outside), a trident maple, ( outside ) 6 small juniper procumbens "nana", ( outside) 2 Chinese elms, ( inside for now, outside after temps stay at 50°or above) 2 Serissa foetida, ( inside for now, outside after 50° or above )a Ficus benjamina, and a Ficus neriifolia, ( inside only ) All in my first year of care. I am scared to death to re pot, but I need to know how the roots are doing, and if any work needs to be done. Can you advice me when root pruning and re potting should start in my area? Southwestern Virginia. I was thinking late March for the ficus, maples, elms, and serissa', and early June for the Junipers? The Junipers are also in need of pruning in the worst way on the foliage. But every time I start to pinch the foliage back so the tree doesn't look so badly over grown, I get bad browning of the foliage. The foliage is in need of getting cut back quite a bit to get the shape back of the typical nana style. Any help is GREATLY appreciated.?
+Blaydrnnnr Hi Blaydmnnr, the hardy trees, such as your maples and elms, should be re potted when the buds begin to swell in spring. If the buds begin to open, it is considered too late. I used to re pot my tropicals in early spring, but lately I have been re potting them early to mid summer. I let the tropicals get used to the outside sun and grow freely for the first part of summer, then, when they have gotten lots of vigor, I re pot them. This seems to work well, the roots have nice warm summer weather and they recover quickly. Check out this video for pruning and pinching Junipers.....
ua-cam.com/video/ZJYYKiHHIJI/v-deo.html
Nigel Saunders Thank you for the response! I watched the video you linked to. I forgot I DO have a 4" Shimpaku that I have not tried ANY pruning on as of yet, so thank you for that. Any idea of the right time of year to do this to a Shimpaku? Or my Junipers? I am assuming my junipers can be pruned in the same manner? They are badly over grown and need to be greatly pruned back to their style. I'm very afraid of browning the foliage or even killing it. You mentioned tropicals, I again assume you mean my Ficus'. My ficus never go outside. I may try to re pot and root prune in the early summer. But since they are indoor only, not sure if time of year will have much to do with how they survive the re pot.
Spring is on the way, so I am trying to get a plan together. Thanks for your time. I know your VERY busy, I thought about sending you pictures of my trees so perhaps you could give me better advice, and make it easier to respond. Thaksagain!
hi nigel
I am hoping to take up bonsai planting of trees but I cant find someone to guide me , is it possible for you to name a book on basic planting and care of said plants. l do enjoy looking at your videos.
Many thanks .
Gloria.
Unfortunately, there seems to be less and less bonsai books published now a days! I would check out some of the bonsai blogs and videos on line. You will find a world of useful information. You can even take online courses! I would check your local library for books on bonsai, ours has quite a few, but the book stores have none. Good luck Gloria and happy growing!
Hi Nigel!
I know it's a late reply to the video, but I need some serious advice
I've got 5 acacia saplings that I started in August (I'm in South Africa) and I feel they should get repotted now to start training the roots.
They've got a pretty strong tap root (acacias have this as a standard), but also have some decent adventitious, radial-ish roots. How do I proceed? Should I just cut the entire taproot off and hope that the rest can handle the plants water etc requirements? Or should I just trim the taproot lightly and follow the instructions for the tap root in this video? I really don't want to kill the tree!
Please help, pretty please :)
Hello Jasper, I will have the same questions soon with my trees! I don't know the answer, but I'll try different methods on the various seedlings I have. I'll soon learn how much root you can remove without killing the tree. After care is very important to keep the tree alive if you remove the taproot. Keep the tree in a bright position, but out of the direct sunlight. Keep the surface of the soil misted so the surface roots don't dry out while the tree adapts without the taproot. I would try removing the taproot on maybe just one at first and see how it goes. Good luck, let me know how it goes, thanks!
So I chopped off the entire taproot - eek! After I did that I misted the roots and the cut with some liquid rooting hormone and it seems to have survived. Got some new growth in the crown and it seems to be thriving. I think maybe the trick was that I watered it with a nice homemade kelp (ecklonia maxima) tea and put some kelp pieces in the soil mix - apparently kelp really helps with transplant shock. All in all, yay! Will keep you updated on its progress. Thank you so much for your great channel - it's honestly the best bonsai resource I've managed to find on the web 👌
Hey Nigel, I recently purchased a pre bonsai Lime berry and did a severe root pruning and mild defoliation in order to fit it in a smaller pot with bonsai soil. For the past two days I have watered it twice a day and left it outside in partial sun (acclimated to full soon prior to me buying). However the leaves have begun to wilt. Should I bring it inside to reduce transpiration? or leave it outside and defoliate it completely?
You can try placing a clear plastic bag with some ventilation holes in it, over the tree to keep the humidity high and stop the wind from drying out the leaves. Be careful the tree doesn't too hot inside the bag, I would keep it out of direct sunlight, except for the morning and the evening when the sun isn't as strong.
I will try that. Thank you!!
can i "wire" roots? i mean not complete wrap around but to correct the movement at some points.
+Luckma1 Yes, but I would worry about the root growing into the wire. I have seen people tie up their roots with natural rafia to re position them. The rafia breaks down before the roots get damaged. I have also seen people use a wooden base with nails to position and guide the roots under the surface of the soil.
+Nigel Saunders Thank you very much. I am more concerned about too much copper for the plant
Breakfast with Ode to Joy (Beethoven) and Philosophy of Bonsai Roots (BonsaiZone).
It will be a good day.
Thanks Sophia!
Interesting video, but I would like to point out that roots do not have nodes and internodes. And one line diagram of a planter and plant in it show narrow front and wider posterior side. Unusual for your videos
A better way to describe the process would be a forced bifurcation through pruning. The shape of the radial root base does need to be adjusted to fit the eventual pot the tree will go in. Usually the pots are longer than they are wide, the roots need to be pruned accordingly.
l must say l have never come across such a detailed study or description for developing the roots.
could you please explain when to prune the roots, ie the season best suited
and how to balance the top growth during root pruning.
tree killer!!! lol
I wanna bonsai cannabis
Go for it!
@@TheBonsaiZone do you think id be able to make a stable root base and thick tree like stock? Er essentially a trunk
Wtf downvotes these videos?
It's all part of UA-cam, people click on a video expecting to be entertained and they get this!
foist
+Dubsy Dabster First again, I'm going to have to start publishing the next one in the middle of the night or something, I don't know how you do it! Thanks for watching, take care.
+Nigel Saunders try it!
Wowzers. Of 7 years ago! Oh the memberberries
Good presentation Sir ,