Removing untapered,cylindrical roots.A new plant can often be obtained from the root cutting.
One sided or deficient roots can be improved by:
- grafting a rooted cutting near the base
- making a deep hole at the desired point and covering with soil
- pressing a low branch into the soil so it can root
Low branches can be ground layered to provide a root.
On the surface untapered cylindrical roots, one-sided roots, long roots that meander around on the surface of the soil or coil under the tree like a cushion should be corrected. At the same time a bonsai root system should be aimed for under the soil.
Aerial roots are a blessing if pressed close to the trunk to make an impressive nebari, but a curse if starting high up on the trunk, causing local thickening and ruining taper.
If aerial roots are desired as a part of the design to create the image of an old banyan, they should be trained to fall straight to the ground from the spreading branches.A plastic drinking straw slit along its length can be useful as a sheath to guide such roots to the soil.
A blessing!
A curse. Remove at once!
