NEWS

"Root Washing" for Pine Exports — Where Skill and Care Meet Quality

Here's an introduction to the root-washing process essential for exporting pine trees, along with the workflow and attention to detail at Ohtsu Shorakuen 🌲✨

Root Washing Is Essential for Export

To ship Japanese pine trees overseas, "root washing" is a must 🌲 Root washing is the process of rinsing soil off the roots with water to clean them thoroughly.
Plant quarantine regulations in each country require the complete removal of soil from the roots to prevent the introduction of bacteria and microorganisms from the soil.
Many countries, including Taiwan, enforce this rule, making it impossible to export trees with soil still attached ✈️

Root Washing Pine Trees Requires Great Care

Pine trees require extra caution during root washing 🌿 In the world of bonsai, it's widely known that completely removing all soil from conifers can cause them to wither. This is because pine roots live in symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi, which play a vital role in keeping the tree healthy.

Additionally, excessive root trimming can cause specific branches to die off. That's why careful work grounded in experience and expertise is so important.

Cutting too many roots can upset the balance between the upper part (foliage) and lower part (roots), potentially causing the tree to die.

Our Workflow at Ohtsu Shorakuen

Here's how we handle the process from root washing to packing 🛠️
First, we soak the root ball (soil portion) of the pine in a water tank to soften it.
Then, we use an air tool to remove about 70–80% of the soil, and wash off the remaining 20–30% by hand. (Our focus: work as quickly as possible while minimizing root damage.)
Once the soil is fully removed, we soak the roots in a fungicide and vitality solution.

Finally, we trim the roots evenly, wrap them in a growing medium made of peat moss and perlite, and pack them up for loading into the container. pH adjustment of the medium is key—by keeping it slightly acidic, which most plants prefer, we help maintain healthy root conditions throughout the long journey 😊

One Tree a Day, Delivered with Care

We work at a pace of one tree per day. (This varies depending on the size of the tree.)
It takes time, but we value the belief of "never pushing a tree beyond its limits," finishing each one with care and precision ✨
We put our hearts into every step so that each tree arrives healthy and vibrant at its destination.

※ The content of this article includes views based on our own experience and hands-on insights from the field.