Bonsaikapilaas : Roots Exposed Style in Bonsai

Root exposed style / Neagari style in Bonsai.

In nature when soil erosion or cyclone takes place huge plants uprooted. Sometimes 50% of the roots will remain in ground, and the plants starts growing by giving new life to the tree. This type of trees is called as roots exposed style in Bonsai. Here this Ficus plant made in to a beautiful Root exposed style or Neagari style. Learn Bonsai in a natural way by creating essence of Nature.

How to make Roots exposed style

this image selected from google images

Nursery plant is made into root exposed style

Root exposed style is some portion of trunk line is replaced with roots which are exposed above the soil of the pot and give a strong and pleasing look to the plant.Most of the Ficus plants can be made into Root exposed style. In root exposed style selection of the plant depends on how strong the roots are and how long the roots. It is better to select a nursery plant which is root bound or pot bound plant.

Here we can see the plant how strong the roots are, they are over grown and are coming out of the pot.

this type of roots will be strong and can give a plant a strong hold to stand on roots. Now remove the plastic bag with out disturbing the roots.

Then carefully loosen the soil around the roots with a chopstick with out hurting roots.

Sometimes nursey plants will come with black or clay soil. Black or clay soil have the habit of extremely compact in nature. When it becomes dry soil contracts and there will be cracks in the soil. when the plant is coming with that type of soil keep the plant is a bucket of water for ten minutes and gently remove the soil around the

roots delicately with fingers. Below is the picture of plant kept in water for so time and soil is removed gently . The Best season for making root exposed style is during rainy season or just in early spring . that time plants root development will be more and plant will be in just growing stage. we did it in August month at the end of rainy season.

Below plant is also ficus species . Ficus plants they grow fast and they develop root system very fast and have sturdy roots, good for root exposed style.

Below photo is Ficus variegata

I selected Ficus variegata plant because of its variegated double colour leaves which adds more beauty to Bonsai style. When I bought from nursery it is more than three feet tall and having long roots and they are coming out of the pot. Usually in Bonsai design depending on the trunk line thickness we decide the height of the plant. here the plant is having thin trunk line. So the height is reduced till the first branch , and the first branch is made as main trunk line .

Below picture shows clearly How the first branch is wired and merged with main trunk line. our group is having Monthly workshops. In one of our Bonsai Lovers Workshop root exposed style is demonstrated and members participated with great enthusiasm.

After having a cutting , pruning and given a shape to the trunk line. Now we concentrated on root system ramification. Plant is removed from the garden plastic bag and gently soil is loosed with out disturbing the roots because for Root exposed style the main importance is root system.

Here in second picture we can see the roots clearly how strong and how long they are.

Now Roots are tied around a Bamboo stick to create some space space between the roots and tied with tape. Its gives a clear view of the roots and it adds beauty to the trunk line with out any crisscross roots. Instead of bamboo we can any place plastic pipe. I have chosen Bamboo because of its natural capacity of holding moisture which helps roots to have some moisture which gives coolness to the roots while growing.

Second step placing the plant is a good garden soil

Now the entire root ball with Bamboo to be placed in good soil for its further roots development. Take a plastic bag or pot , if it is a plastic bag, first make some drainage holes to allow the water to go out. Then fill lower portion of the bag / pot with with brick pieces or pumice stones for proper drainage. Fill one third of the bag with Bonsai soil and place the plant with Bamboo stick and top up with bonsai soil. the Bamboo stick should be immersed in soil completely.

Here is this picture we can see the entire root ball is inside the soil.

Now place the plant in a shady place for fifteen days where morning or evening sunlight is available. After fifteen days slowly move the plant to a little sunny place, not in to direct sunlight. Because plant is is under stress of having repotting. if we keep the plant in direct sunlight evaporation of water from the leaves will be more and plants survival chances will be less. Then after one month when the plant settles move it to direct sunlight. But ficus variegata can't tolerate afternoon heat of summer months. T that time Plant to be moved in to a shady place. Allow the plant grow and water it daily. Till one half year leave the plant like that , only do some cutting and pruning on branches to have a nice style.

After One and half year

After one and half year remove the plastic bag. If it is a bag the removal of bag is easy , when compared to a pot. Gently remove it and open it loosen the soil. then carefully remove the bamboo stick.

After Removing bamboo Plant is placed in a Bonsai pot.

We can see the development and plant is given a shape.

This photo was taken June 2020 , recent one. Now the roots are strong and giving Bonsai plant sturdy look of Root Exposed style. The colour of leaves is a highlight to the plant.