Picked up a Cottoneaster today. Need a bit of advice.

[Chub]

Another homecenter starter. Saw this Cottoneaster, it's the first one Ive seen. Looked like it had bonsai potential. The trunk is an inch thick and it's 10" from soil line to the top. Could use some advice on what to do with the root mass. Should I break/loosen it up when I take it out of the original pot to plant it? Going to let be as is for a while, it looks like it's not in the best of conditions, so I figure I'll let it come back a bit before I mess with it.

 

[jk_lewis]

Looks like a very good find. Planting in the ground for a year is probably a good idea.

Pauline Muth isn't too far from you -- http://www.pfmbonsai.com/ -- you might contact her.