• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Bonsai Tonight

An educational website about bonsai development

  • Blog
    • How-to Guides
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Bonsai
    • Books
    • Soil
    • Soil (wholesale)
    • Supplies
    • Tools
    • Video Consulting
    • Northern California Bonsai Resources
  • About
    • Workshops

Different approaches to exposed root pine bonsai

January 27, 2017 by Jonas Dupuich

After discussing exposed root pines for the last few posts, I thought I’d wrap up the series with a few photos showing some different approaches to the style.

The tree below is 23 years old. About midway between the soil and the first branch, the trunk splits into several roots that have essentially fused together. This makes the tree look like it has a single trunk – not exactly what comes to mind when we think of exposed root pines.

23 year-old black pine

I wrote about the tree in my second post back in 2009 – you can see it here.

The tree below has more clearly exposed roots. I used a tall container with a 6″ diameter that allowed the roots to spread out as they descended. The rebar is being used to lift the apex of the tree and will stay on for one more year.

13 year-old exposed root black pine

The next pine is also 13 years old. I started decandling it a few years ago and it’s beginning to fill in. I plan to move it to a bonsai pot this winter.

13 year-old exposed root black pine

The last pine I’ll share today is unusual in that it has a large trunk that splits into many small roots that continue the tree’s taper. Like the two trees above, it’s 13 years old. The foliage is more compact because I’ve been decandling it for a few years now and it’s been wired twice. I plan to expand the foliage over the next 2-3 years at which point I’ll look to exhibit the tree.

13 year-old exposed root black pine

Bay Island Bonsai 18th Annual Exhibit This Weekend!

Speaking of exhibits, this weekend marks BIB’s 18th annual exhibit. This year’s exhibit promises to be a good one as a couple of the trees were exhibited in last year’s U.S. National Exhibition in Rochester, New York.

Saturday features an auction of member trees, and a member sales area will be staffed both days. I’ll be among several vendors with a selection of trees, tools, supplies and an assortment of pots from makers like Mitsunobu Ito of Ehime, Japan, Roy Minarai of Greenville, South Carolina, and various Japanese and Chinese pots both new and old.

Mitsunobu Ito pots

Roy Minarai pots

Japanese and Chinese pots

For those who haven’t been before, the show is a lot of fun. And for those of you who have visited past exhibits, I look forward to seeing you again this year! See exhibit time and location details here.

Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight

New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by Kit

Filed Under: Styling Tagged With: Black Pine, Exposed root

Previous Post: « Improving exposed root pine bonsai with a single bend
Next Post: Prize-winning trees at Bay Island Bonsai’s 18th annual exhibit »

Footer

Follow Bonsai Tonight

Subscribe

Instagram ● Facebook ● Twitter
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • About

P.O. Box 6560, Alameda, CA 94501 · 510-915-2025 · jonas (at) bonsaitonight (dot) com

© Copyright 2009-2025 Bonsai Tonight · All rights reserved · Privacy · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish. Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT