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Eric explains the preliminary steps to creating exposed root bonsai from three, two year old black pines. Eric grew these Japanese black pine from a commercial seed source, and they've been growing in 3“ x 9“ Anderson bands. Learn how to address the roots we typically see after removing these trees from the Anderson bands! 00:57 Eric screened the bottom of the bands when he first put the young seedling in. He uses pumice, and then finer soil at the bottom. The intent is for the young seedling's few roots to run down through the pumice to get “little wiggles“ in them and then start dividing toward the bottom of the Anderson band. Using the bands works well because you don't get circling roots. 02:01 Eric shakes out the loose granular soil, pulls apart the roots stuck together, and scrapes off peat moss soil. He's focused on the medium size roots that have some wood on them. 04:45 Analyzing the root structure provides cues for the design of the tree. Eric separates major roots into root clumps so he can move
