First potted tree - exposed root? shohin?

[HenryO]

Hey guys this is the first ever plant I have put in the bonsai pot. 96% sure the species is Ilex Crenata, but its possibly Vomitoria. I collected it a number of months back, and due to an itchy trigger finger, planted it when I probably should not have. Regardless, here it is. I had to pot it in a funky way, and ended up with a somewhat exposed root blend of style. The thing sticking off the very bottom end of the plant is some of the old taproot, which I will likely cut off. It doesnt really even reach into the potting medium. Me being a smart guy, I reduced the root ball by about 80% in one go. I guess I'm just posting for thoughts and scruples.

 

[jkd2572]

Please add to your profile what zone and where you are. It will help us with answers and welcome.

 

[HenryO]

Right, I handled that, thanks

 

[Neli]

I would concentrate first on getting the plant to settle , grow, and develop a good root system before winter. Let it grow for now to strengthen, and you can try exposed root style. It can make a good bonsai if styled well.

 

[HenryO]

Ya im just trying desparately to keep it alive for now. the leaves are pale, and it looks sickly, but I was exoecting that. ill definitely wait until next spring or summer or even longer to do anything

 

[Cadillactaste]

I am such a newbie myself...am I the only one...visualizing the roots over a rock easily with what is going on here? Can that be done?

As to Shohin...looked it up just the other day: though I have seen some say it can go to 10 inches. This site says otherwise. But a specific size...small...but larger than a Meme
* Shohin - (Bonsai): Definition - MiMi.hu
en.mimi.hu › Bonsai
'Shohin' is a Japanese word. It means 'tiny thing' and in the bonsai world, shohin bonsai refers to trees that are within a certain size, 6' - 8' to be specific.

This too:
http://www.shohin-europe.com/ARTICLES-shohin-sizes.htm
Shohin size
Shohin, Mame, Kifu, Chuhin

Shohin-bonsai are 20 cm / 8 inches and under.
(Most important is that the Shohin fits with the size of the rack. 20 cm is the maximum height, but trees measuring up to 23-25 cm is also seen depending on their style).

(Mame Bonsai or bean-size bonsai is less than 10 centimetres / 4 inches in height. Also the with must not extend 10 cm / 4 inches but there are no official measures and it is just a guideline of the smaller shohin).
Not only the size is a measure of the bonsai belonging to the Shohin category. At the same time, the balance of the tree is important.

Example 1): You may have a tree where the width of tree is more than 40cm, but less than 25cm in height. The physical volume and size of the tree makes its all over volume to heavy to be a Shohin. Maybe the size is right regarding the height of the tree, but a heavy or massive root base makes the feeling of the tree out of style suiting the aesthetics of shohin-bonsai.
Example 2): The tree is maybe 30 cm in height, but because it is the “bunjin” style (“literati”), having few branches, little mass of leafs and therefore having the appearance of being a small thing (shohin), and acceptable as a shohin.
On exhibitions, also larger trees are exhibited. This is a list of the exhibited sizes that is used by the All Japan Shohin-bonsai Association:

Shohin-bonsai (up to 20 cm / 8 inch high)
Mini (maximum 10cm / 4 inch – the rules of measures are exact and also includes long Jins at Junipers e.g.)
Chuhin (middle size, maximum 45cm / 18 inch)
Kifu (over 20cm, / 8 inch - around 25-35cm / 10-14 inches)
Bunjin / Literati (may be up to 70-80 cm high / 27-32 inches but no exact demands in this group)
In Japan a registered collection of very high quality Shohin-bonsai is present at the All Japan Shohin-Bonsai Association. Excellent Shohin-Bonsai and pots are registered at Gafu-ten Yuga Collection, and in this case the more or less limited sizes are a little less important.

Basic guidelines of size qualification
It is to mention that the sizes described here are general and basic guidelines, because there are no official and exact classifications regarding sizes. In the case of exhibitions it is the judges and/or exhibition organisers alone who finally select the standards and judges the trees for selection.

 

[Neli]

Well it will depend on how flexible the roots are, and if you will be able to bend them to the shape of the stone. This roots look too thick to me. But one of those instant ROR trees can be manufactured using small stones glued/ cemented together, to appear like one rock.