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Best repotting of the year

June 10, 2011 by Jonas Dupuich

The technique comes from a crafty gentleman named Ebihara. It involves nails, chopsticks, plywood and a drill. Below are photos of the first steps in a slow process that can yield a truly impressive rootbase. Hats off to Jeff for giving it a try!

Zelkova roots

Zelkova roots

A thin rootball

Nice, thin, root system – so far, so good

Affixing the board

Tyler watches Jeff and Boon with curiosity and possibly a hint of skepticism

Tree attached to plywood

Zelkova affixed to plywood

Add nails

with nails

And chopsticks

and chopsticks

Wired into place

Wired into the pot, awaiting bonsai soil

Although I’m very excited to watch the tree develop, I don’t envy Jeff the repotting he has in store a few years from now.

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Filed Under: Bonsai Development Tagged With: Repotting, Zelkova

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. matthiew quinn says

    June 10, 2011 at 7:39 am

    very interesting … the screw is underneath the wood going into the trunk ?
    And the chop sticks, i guess, are to give a little high and attitude, or change the direction of the roots or is there an other motive ?

    Matt

  2. Andrew says

    June 10, 2011 at 7:46 am

    I am wondering the purpose of the nails.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Andrew

  3. LeeBee says

    June 10, 2011 at 9:20 am

    It looks like the nails are guides for the roots to insure radial growth.

  4. Mandy says

    June 10, 2011 at 9:57 am

    It’s good that you posted pictures on how to properly repot a bonsai. In this way, we can do repotting easily and perfectly. Thank you!

  5. John says

    June 10, 2011 at 10:37 am

    Nails hold roots in spread position, and provide side to side movement. Chopsticks provide some vertical movement- undulation. View the roots tjhe way you would the branches. The Ebihara technique is covered in the May (5) 2001 Kinbon. JOhn

  6. Howard says

    June 10, 2011 at 10:00 pm

    Nice pics of the technique. Anybody know how Mr. Ebihara is doing?

  7. matthiew quinn says

    June 11, 2011 at 6:55 am

    thank you john, im just surprised about the vertical movement … i figured that was the answer , but it just seems odd since one of the “rules” is no knee roots sticking out… not that im one for rules… i love the vertical axe being used for roots, adds lots of character.

  8. John Kirby says

    June 11, 2011 at 8:39 am

    Matthiew, I understand confused me at first, if you look at the ebihara maples in the pictures on this blog (Ebihara tag) you see the little vertical movement, breaks the mootony

  9. Ann says

    June 11, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    I think I’m with Tyler – slightly skeptical. But hey – maybe it’ll survive all that trauma – will check back regularly for updates!

  10. jrwbodine says

    June 11, 2011 at 9:55 pm

    Tree is doing very well growing and growing. Can’t wait till the next repot. Thanks Jonas.

  11. Gary Swiech says

    June 12, 2011 at 6:32 am

    I believe the roots should flare out at a 15º angle and then flatten out.

  12. bruwno says

    June 13, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    great idea, are those galvanized nails?

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