The chopstick in (Figure 3) marks a point in the root ball that divides into a top portion and a lower portion. This is separated by a ring of area with out roots, a natural break for me to remove the last remnants of the remaining claw like root system this plant had. The plant was sawed free of these last root stubs and I was left with an almost perfectly flat compact root system. This root system is only 1.5 inches thick and will now allow many choices for pots in the future. This procedure took three years to complete. Not bad by bonsai years.

The remaining task left was to remove the portion of the roots not needed to sustain the plant. It is through the re-growth of these roots that additional branching and ramification can take place. This root pad may seem very small to some, but I assure you this is just what is needed in the early spring when the engine come alive and starts to send the sap flowing through the veins of the tree. This small root system will start moving and growing with breakneck speed until it fully fills this pot with fresh new white feeder roots by fall. On the bench is a hocky puck size disc of the roots that I cut off. This was about 1" thick. In the photo you can see the remnants of how large the claw like roots were in ralation to the size of the trunk. I would have needed a pot 6" deep to plant this thing in.

Figure 7 show the size of the previous root size compared to how small I have drastically pruned it back. It is only 1" thick and 3" across in diameter.
The deep, oval pot was chosen because it is smaller in diameter than the pot before, and the increased depth will give me someplace for the new final roots to grow for next years showy pot. Probably a low oval glazed pot that compliments the flowers.

Hope this energizes some to try some drastic root pruning to invigorate your tired plants. Until the next installment,

 

AJKeppler