Exposed Root attempt.

Toraidento

Shohin
Messages
264
Reaction score
214
Location
Savannah, GA
USDA Zone
8b
So I wanted to do some exposed Root pines this year. I've seen people use corrugated black plastic pipe and large drainage layer size pumice to grow the roots through. I fixed up a couple colanders and wanted to see what you guys think? If this will work descent or not.
I'm gonna use regular coarse soil in the bottom Colander. Use a 3/8 to 1/2 size pumice in the pipe and coarse soil at the top to start cut seedling. The top of the pipe will basically be a nursery liner. I will do the coarse soil, with potting mix in the center. Cut the seedling on a 45degree angle and attempt to grow the seedling down the pipe. I think this should work fine.
The thing I'm wondering is the way I wired the plastic pipe to the Colander. Is the gonna be an issue later. I have the wires threaded thru the pipe and wire to the colanders. Will I be able to pull the wires out of the roots when it is time, or do you guys think the crossing wires will grow into the roots and be an issue to get out a few years down the road.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20200128_153331.jpg
    IMG_20200128_153331.jpg
    140.4 KB · Views: 23
  • IMG_20200128_153305.jpg
    IMG_20200128_153305.jpg
    179.7 KB · Views: 25
  • IMG_20200128_153356.jpg
    IMG_20200128_153356.jpg
    165.4 KB · Views: 23
  • IMG_20200128_153350.jpg
    IMG_20200128_153350.jpg
    176.7 KB · Views: 23
Last edited:

Leo in N E Illinois

The Professor
Messages
11,337
Reaction score
23,253
Location
on the IL-WI border, a mile from ''da Lake''
USDA Zone
5b
You should have no trouble pulling the wires out at the base of the plastic pipe, where it is mounted over the colander.

Nice construction. Should work.

Remember, when you begin to remove the upper bands of the plastic pipe, to be deliberate in designing the root system. Strip too early and fine roots will die. Wait until fine roots are thicker, and then be deliberate in selecting which you keep and which you eliminate. If you remove the pipe too early, the fine roots will die off at random, which can leave you with an ugly root system. Go slow, and you can design your root system they way you design pattern of branches.
 

Colorado

Masterpiece
Messages
3,104
Reaction score
8,227
Location
Golden, Colorado
USDA Zone
5b
Looks pretty good, I agree with Leo, but I’m not sure how you’re going to properly water the bent one.

Should be a fun long-term project. I’ve got one of these that is about three years in.
 

Toraidento

Shohin
Messages
264
Reaction score
214
Location
Savannah, GA
USDA Zone
8b
Looks pretty good, I agree with Leo, but I’m not sure how you’re going to properly water the bent one.

Should be a fun long-term project. I’ve got one of these that is about three years in.
I was hoping the bent over one would be the better of the group.
 

Colorado

Masterpiece
Messages
3,104
Reaction score
8,227
Location
Golden, Colorado
USDA Zone
5b
I think you’re probably better off doing them straight, and then manipulating the exposed roots into the desired position once you remove the cylinder. Obviously that will depend upon how thick the roots are.
 

Toraidento

Shohin
Messages
264
Reaction score
214
Location
Savannah, GA
USDA Zone
8b
I think you’re probably better off doing them straight, and then manipulating the exposed roots into the desired position once you remove the cylinder. Obviously that will depend upon how thick the roots are.
That was the other thing. I've seen wires used to bend and shape roots after they have thickened. But I wasn't sure how much I was gonna be able to get movement. The bent pipe was the center of the 10 foot stick of pipe I bought. It was folded in have and tied together for easier storage I guess. This article from BT# 30 shows heavy gauge wire run along roots and wired to them.
In one Jonas' articles from Bonsai tonight.com, he show removing the plastic cylinder (old nursery pot tops) working the roots. Then using plastic to rap roots and replace soil so roots can continue to thicken. I'm thinking this will be many years down the road to avoid removing cylinder to soon.
The colander is the other worry. I'm thinking as it breaks down. I will have to put it in other colanders and eventually move the whole thing to a pot. I'm thinking by then, I should have enough of a root ball to tie the whole time in a new colander, or pot.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20200129_023618.jpg
    IMG_20200129_023618.jpg
    161.4 KB · Views: 12
  • IMG_20200129_023636.jpg
    IMG_20200129_023636.jpg
    155.7 KB · Views: 11
  • IMG_20200129_023639.jpg
    IMG_20200129_023639.jpg
    122 KB · Views: 11
  • IMG_20200129_023645.jpg
    IMG_20200129_023645.jpg
    131 KB · Views: 12
  • IMG_20200129_023650.jpg
    IMG_20200129_023650.jpg
    126.7 KB · Views: 8
Last edited:

Toraidento

Shohin
Messages
264
Reaction score
214
Location
Savannah, GA
USDA Zone
8b
Looks good I'm getting ready to try this on my azalea.
I made these for JBP. You won't need colanders for azaleas. Being they already have fine roots. You'll probably wanna use some sort of pot to attach the corrugated pipe to. Azaleas also like a bit more moisture than pines, another reason not to use colanders. I have some azalea cuttings and I was thinking about what I could do with them
 
Last edited:
Messages
144
Reaction score
237
Location
Michigan
USDA Zone
6a
I made these for JBP. You won't need colanders for azaleas. Being they already have fine roots. You'll probably wanna use some sort of pot to attach the corrugated pipe to. Azaleas also like a bit more moisture than pines, another reason not to use colanders. I have some azalea cuttings and I was thinking about what I could do with them
[/QUOTE]
Yeah I'm going to use a trade gallon pot that it came in and a painted water bottle with 2 sizes of akadama and sphagnum.
20200128_224250.jpg
20200128_111243.jpg
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
Messages
32,908
Reaction score
45,579
Location
Berwyn, Il
USDA Zone
6.2
I would be wary of the corrugations grabbing roots and spinning them to no end.

It could make things interesting but I think it's more likely to ruin it.

At least on the bent one, I'd cover the bottom horizontal corrugations.

Sorce
 
Top Bottom