Root prune or train?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hi all,

last fall I rooted Meyer lemon cuttings in take out containers and I'm finally started the process of up potting my last remaining survivor! For those of you curious what I rooted them in, I used 100% loose peat moss and didn't have holes drilled into the containers. My only issue is that the roots grew out badly from the cut due to crowding. I had rooted 4-5 cuttings in the same small initial pot. This cutting was one of the ones smushed against the pot wall before I moved it to the take out container. Here is its root system now

At the time, I didn't know much about rooting cuttings and the bottom cut was slanted from pruning it off the mother tree

Is there some kind of bonsai technique for training roots? That curved one looks the most dangerous but it's one of the 2 largest root branchings. I'm not really sure how to proceed. Does anyone have any experience or advice for this kind of situation? The very curved root is still a bit flexible but I'm not sure if it would stay straightened without anchoring it to something

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Vladimir (Zone 5b Massachusetts)
8 years ago
I would not root prune.
kvetchlambkin (nyc 7b) thanked Vladimir (Zone 5b Massachusetts)
kvetchlambkin (nyc 7b)
Original Author
8 years ago
That's what I'm worried about, the canopy is too small to justify a root pruning. In the future when this cutting becomes a larger tree with a thicker root system, would it be okay then to prune off that semi-circling root? I just imagine the root girdling itself in the future
Related Professionals
Morgan City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · New Braunfels Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tyler Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Grand Rapids Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Napa Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lafayette Landscape Contractors · New Orleans Landscape Contractors · Westminster Landscape Contractors · Chambersburg Landscape Contractors · Port Saint Lucie Home Builders · Muskogee Home Builders · Knoxville Home Builders · Brainerd Home Builders · Binghamton Home Builders · Saint George Home Builders
Vladimir (Zone 5b Massachusetts)
8 years ago
Yes, prune it later. Good idea.
kvetchlambkin (nyc 7b) thanked Vladimir (Zone 5b Massachusetts)
tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
8 years ago
In bonsai root training is done in some cases like yours. You would need a bonsai wire to train it. However, I think that citrus root will snap off from the base if you try to bend it too much. It is usually more flexible when it is slightly lignified.

So best is to leave it alone for now and prune it later when the plant is more established.
kvetchlambkin (nyc 7b) thanked tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)