many times when i buy nursery stock... and stock that is grown specifically
for bonsai... i have to dig down in the pot to get a look at the root base.
this weekend .. i bought a young japanese maple at a bonsai nursery and had
to take off almost an inch of soil to see what the tree looked like down
below. then i had a thought. in doing so... burying the trunk.... can you
inrease caliper and trunk flare??

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Yes, depending upon the species. Actually the only one I know of that
readily expands because of trunk burial is Ulmus, and that's because
suckering branches will spring up at the base and grow like mad.

With most of the classical deciduous species, shallow boxes or tiles beneath
the rootbole that force the lateral roots out builds girth very quickly.

David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
Bunabayashi Bonsai On The World Wide Web: http://www.bunabayashi.com
email:


-----Original Message-----
From: Internet Bonsai Club ]On Behalf
Of Steve Wolfinger
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 5:07 PM
To:
Subject: [IBC] buried trunks


many times when i buy nursery stock... and stock that is grown
specifically
for bonsai... i have to dig down in the pot to get a look at the
root base.
this weekend .. i bought a young japanese maple at a bonsai
nursery and had
to take off almost an inch of soil to see what the tree looked like down
below. then i had a thought. in doing so... burying the trunk.... can you
inrease caliper and trunk flare??

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

With most of the classical deciduous species, shallow boxes or
tiles beneath
the rootbole that force the lateral roots out builds girth very
quickly.


"Very quickly" being a relative term, of course. ;-)

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

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++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

It is my understanding that most roots will thicken faster if they are
buried than if they are exposed. Since thickening of the roots will assist
with thickening of the bottom of the trunk it makes sense that just barely
burying the base of the trunk will help fatten the trunk. Of course if you
bury too deep some trees will decide they are being ground layered and
sprout new roots - this can be either a good or a bad thing depending upon
the existing roots.

Marty



With most of the classical deciduous species, shallow boxes or
tiles beneath
the rootbole that force the lateral roots out builds girth very
quickly.


"Very quickly" being a relative term, of course. ;-)

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++