am I exposing the roots too much?

[killarkai]

Hello, I repotted a bunch of my bonsai recently and noticed 2 of them not recovering particularly well. As in they still look ok, but do not show signs of growth, there are 0 new leaves after a few weeks. One of them is a Norway Spruce and the other is a Buxus Harlandii.

The others that were repotted at the same time are already recovering and growing new leaves (mostly junipers)

I have been reading on the development of nebari, and had trimmed the center roots as adviced, and exposing the thicker roots a little on the top of the soil.
Am I exposing too much of the roots? Could that be the reason that these 2 bonsais are not growing/recovering?

[Firecat]

Hmmmm.
The needle thingy I'd cover the long root completely.
Before doing that I'd mark with a couple of wire loops along the root and after a few months cut the root about half way by just sliding cutters into the soil and 'CLUNK'.
then forget about it for another few months and brush the dirt back a little.
I have a couple of big roots like that on a squat but I like them as they are.
The other thingy ma jig looks like it's growing A OK and if it's still growing exposure that much is doing no harm..."Don't let them dry out"

Steve.

[KIRKY]

Personally I would cover the roots. The idea of exposing roots is to show off a spreading nebari. You dont have that. You also risk the roots that are exposed to drying out and dying. Once you have a nice spreading nebari then you gradually expose roots
Cheers
Kirky

[Firecat]

Personally I would cover the roots. The idea of exposing roots is to show off a spreading nebari. You dont have that. You also risk the roots that are exposed to drying out and dying. Once you have a nice spreading nebari then you gradually expose roots
Cheers
Kirky

a re think on my comment as KIRKY mentioned..even if you fill the roots on the second tree with 'fines' and tightly tamp it into the gaps then cover with medium soil with all the bark bits picked out it will both protect what you have and promote larger 'thick skinned' roots for later exposure.

[KIRKY]

I would just bury them deeper. The one with the ine roots Buxus? I would tidy those untangle/comb them out straight and then bury deeper.
Cheers
Kirky

[kcpoole]

the above suggestions are good ones. No reason to expose the roots like these.
cover them but better to pot them deeper.

Ken

[Daluke]

Are there a lot of fine feeder roots growing from the thick one?

[killarkai]

thanks for all the replies! already fixed up the box and gonna work on the spruce tomorrow!