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Refining a young exposed root black pine

December 15, 2017 by Jonas Dupuich

One of my favorite techniques for developing exposed root pines is bending the roots. To recap some of this work done last year, here are before and after photos on a 13 year-old pine.

Before bending the roots

After bending the roots and wiring primary branches

Now that the basic form of the tree is set, the fun work can begin – branch refinement. I find this stage of development fun because pines can develop quickly. Here’s the same tree one year later.

14 year-old exposed root pine

I like the soft feeling of the unwired foliage that developed after decandling. Some wiring, however, is needed as the apex points one way, the main branch points another way, and both sides stick out too far in relation to the size of the trunk.

Before wiring, I thinned the needles.

After removing extra needles

And here’s the tree after wiring.

After wiring

The tree is far more compact now, and after another year of decandling, I can start thinking about what kind of pot makes the most sense for the tree.

✕

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Filed Under: Bonsai Development Tagged With: Black Pine, Exposed root

Previous Post: « Cutback on root over rock trident maple
Next Post: Wiring and repotting crabapple seedlings »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Verb Maddox says

    December 15, 2017 at 7:58 am

    Excellent pine work.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      December 15, 2017 at 7:59 am

      Thanks, Vern!

  2. carol ebreo says

    December 15, 2017 at 8:32 am

    Would like to see how you first developed the roots and how long it took and what kind of pot? Also what will you do with the stump at the end ???

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      December 15, 2017 at 9:01 am

      Hi Carol – following these articles gives an idea about how these are created and developed: https://bonsaitonight.com/tag/exposed-root

  3. Jeremiah Lee says

    December 15, 2017 at 8:38 am

    Looking good!!!

  4. Dane says

    December 17, 2017 at 6:59 pm

    Love the rotation of the front and the increased flare of the roots in the last photo. 14 years well spent.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      December 17, 2017 at 7:50 pm

      Thanks, Dane!

  5. Robert Gardner says

    December 20, 2017 at 6:09 pm

    what type of pot did you grow the roots in. I have several 8 inch deep plastic pots about 4 inches square. approximately how many years does it take to development long roots like you have. I have several plack pines to try with along with a few ponderosa seedlings that are 4 years old and about 5 inches tall.
    any info that you can give will help.
    thanks bob g.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      December 20, 2017 at 8:54 pm

      Hi Bob – thanks for the note. The tree started in a tall homemade container maybe 14″-16″ deep, 3″-5″ across near the top and likely wider below (possibly in a colander). It’s almost 14 years old and the roots have been exposed for at least 3-4 years.

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