Head on the chopping block ----------J.B.pine - why cut the seedlings roots

Anthony

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Okay folks I took the time to read through almost all of the J.B.pine entries.

I going to offer this.

The reason for cutting the roots of the J.B.pine seedling.

Drawing on Bonsai Today 12 ------ growing pine seedlings into Bonsai efforts.

Firstly, with 30 years of observation of J.b.pines from seeds, I can tell you, that
as a soft wood, the pine will naturally form surface roots.

You can enhance this by drilling say 6 holes on the edges of a tile and tying down
the roots using twine, not wire.
Twine rots with time and allows the root to grow.
[ Artilce suggests year 3 or 4 ----- memory here ]

Anyhow, when you cut the seedling's roots, it brings the roots and adventitious shoots
closer.

Why do this?

When you try to thicken the trunk you need a shoot to grow 30 to 36 inches to get an
inch of trunk thickness.
Additionally, someone mentioned that the Japanese used the idea that a 1 inch wound was
easy to heal, probably and optimum situation.

Note, if you look at the Bonsai Today images, where the wounds for trunk thickening were
located and if you can imagine the roots thickening with age.
The wound formed would be absorbed by the roots rising up as they thickened.
The images are there in the Bonsai Today article.

We bypassed the above by using cuttings.

Also note the last pages, the author suggests a 2nd way that gives a more
balanced result, other than the super trunk thickening technique.
Which we prefer to use.

Later, I will drop off an image of a J.B.pine, considered famous from the 50's.
See the roots.

By the way our test subject in the clay pot, is going guns, has three extension shoots.
The answer was to add the 1/3 strength Miracle Gro, fertiliser until it dripped out
of the pot.
3 slow passes with our fertiliser can.
Good Day
Anthony
_____________________
This what we use when fertilising the trees.

***** Please note our container is only 5 inches tall [12.5 cm ]***********

https://www.restaurantsupply.com/town-food-equipment-37596
 

Anthony

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@Clicio ,

here you are - an image as promised -
from the book -

Bonsai - photos of now famous Miniature Trees - editor Kenji Murata


jbp root 3.jpg

close up of roots - notice the spread - happens naturally as the tree ages from seed

bproot 1.jpg
 

jeanluc83

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So... what are you saying here?

You imply that you don't need to cuttings because pines will naturally develop surface roots but then you say that you are using cuttings. Which is it?

close up of roots - notice the spread - happens naturally as the tree ages from seed

Bull! The roots of this tree have been worked significantly over the life of the tree and did not just "happen naturally". They may not have been due to the tree being grown using a seedling cutting but that doesn't mean that they just happened.
 

Anthony

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@jeanluc83,

[1] We use cuttings to jump ahead of the 3 to 4 year seedling stage.
For -
[2] The trunk thickening technique which is satisfied by the hardwood cutting.
See Bonsai Today 12

[3] 30 years of observation and growing shows the J.B,pine forming
surface roots naturally, as is often seen in softwoods.

[4] If you watch on-line, many pines shown have an upside down v shaped root system.
Not surface roots as seen above.
Which is more in keeping with the roots formed on cut seedlings.
Good Day
Anthony
 
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