When to cut JBP roots

pwk5017

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Ok, I have searched for the exact time to cut the roots of JBP seedlings, and the best I can find is "when the stems turn violet". I am not sure I have ever seen the stems turn violet in my 3 years of growing them. Here are the seedlings, could someone help me out?
 

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yenling83

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cut them now, you can usually start to cut them as soon as the little seed shell comes off and the leaves start to open.
 

pwk5017

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Thanks for the replies, guys. I have performed the procedure before, but never in the hundreds. I didn't want to kill 500-750 seedlings because I didn't time it properly.
 

junmilo

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Why do you cut roots of seedlings? I have germinated some pine seeds just a week ago, they look like the ones in ur photos...but i will post photos of the seeds and the little seedlings...

so What's the point of cutting roots at this early stage in their life?

Thank you

J
 

pwk5017

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This is a process created by some japanese nuerseryman in japan. His article was published on how he grows awesome JBP shohins in 10 years(i question his results in 10 years, but thats beside the point). Anyways, to properly answer the question, you treat the seedling like a cutting to encourage the beginnings of an awesome nebari. From my previous experience, I ended up with 3-7 roots emerging from the point on the stem where I originally cut. This is a far superior start to producing an excellent nebari than constant root pruning. Two means to an end, but one has proven to be more effective.
 

junmilo

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Hi Thank you

but..the seedling are sooo young and how is it possible the seedling will not die?

The thing is while my pine seeds were germinating, When i see one, i move them into a single pot..so basically 1 tree per 1 pot...

the soil content is a mixture of Mycorrhizal fung + soil + crushed lava rocks + river rocks(very very small ones) for good drainage.... and the pine seedlings are growing like crazy...

So should i still cut them? or just leave them as is?

Thanks

J
 

tnaz71

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but..the seedling are sooo young and how is it possible the seedling will not die?
I first did this last year on about 100 JBP seedlings. Some did die but about 80% lived. When I did mine I just stuck them in a mini greenhouse and misted several times a day. Basically treated them as a cutting for the first 3-4wks then let them be.


So should i still cut them? or just leave them as is?

It's your call. By cutting them as pwk5017 said it just starts developing the nebari early on & save's time dealing with it later in the tree's life. If you have a lot of them try to do a few and doesn't hurt.
 

tanlu

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My JWP seedlings are also at that stage where I'm wondering when to cut the roots. Will they respond that same as JBP? I know JBP are far more vigorous. These seeds were hard to come by so I want to make the right decision.

T
 
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