Design question on BC with pig tail

[Cajunrider]

I have a BC with this dangling pig tail of a root.

 

[19Mateo83]

Split that sucker

 

[dbonsaiw]

What happens if you leave the pig tail as is - will it thicken up and maybe "fuse" with the main trunk? I actually have a BC with the same issue and was going to ask you this question. If the root will in fact thicken substantially, perhaps it will eventually look like a flared nebari???????

 

[Jrmcmich]

I have a BC with this dangling pig tail of a root.

Turn it into am elephant looking tree

 

[rockm]

I have no idea why you would leave that on there. Inverse taper here we come

 

[Cajunrider]

What happens if you leave the pig tail as is - will it thicken up and maybe "fuse" with the main trunk? I actually have a BC with the same issue and was going to ask you this question. If the root will in fact thicken substantially, perhaps it will eventually look like a flared nebari???????

I can only see that when there is a structural demand on the tree. In pots, I have seen pictures of those pig tails lasting decades but never fuses.

 

[Cajunrider]

I have no idea why you would leave that on there. Inverse taper here we come

If I leave the tree alone, inverse taper will surely come as you said. However, if I split the bottom and expand it by 2" in diameter, then that pig tail would be a kinky portion of the split, but it won't cause inverse taper. The only issue is that I will have to wait until next year to do it. The tree was just dug up. There is no bud yet. I am waiting until I have good roots down below before splitting the trunk.

 

[Joe Dupre']

I vote to cut it off beyond flush. Leave a bit of a depression, enlarge the scar and maybe carve a hollow. Celebrate it as part of the look of an ancient tree.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Here's a wild idea. I did this on the base of a juniper that has a touch of reverse taper. Fill in the area with a piece of driftwood carved to fit exactly in the space and give the impression of a solid wide base.