Rootballing, germinating from seed, and bonsais in pots to replant later in the ground
Question
1. I saw a technique called rootballing, where you peel off the bark of a tree around a branch and cover it with soil and it sends out roots. Then you disconnect if from the tree and plant it. This also allows it to produce fruit more quickly. Is this allowed halachically?
2. My plan is to plant the branch with roots in a pot and make it a bonsai, and place it on my porch. I also am planning to take seeds of various fruits and germinate them, like avocados – also to prepare bonsais. Perhaps eventually, if I move and have a bigger garden, I might transplant it into the ground and it will grow bigger. Is it ok halachically to grow a tree as a bonsai?
Answer
Halachic Considerations for Bonsai and Orlah
Rootballing and growing trees as bonsai are halachically permissible. However, it's important to be aware of the orlah implications:
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Branches and Cuttings: The orlah count begins only once the branch is planted in soil. It does not continue from the mother tree.
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Germinated Seeds: Similarly, the orlah count starts once the seedling is planted in soil.
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Pots on Porches: If you grow the tree in a pot placed on a non-soil surface (like stone or concrete), the orlah obligation is derabanan (rabbinic).
However, if you later replant it into the ground, the orlah count resets, and the obligation becomes de’oraita (Torah-level), requiring three new orlah years.
What Can Be Done Practically?
To avoid restarting the orlah count later, you can:
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Use Pots with a Hole: Plant your bonsais in pots that have a hole of at least 2.5 cm in diameter at the bottom.
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Place Them on Soil: Position these pots directly on an area of your porch that contains natural soil (you mentioned you have such areas).
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Regular Root Maintenance: Every month or so, trim the roots that grow out through the hole. This ensures the tree remains movable.
By doing this, the orlah count begins immediately, even while the tree is in a pot. If you later decide to replant it in the ground, the orlah years already counted will still apply, and you won’t need to start over.