thank you all, iv got a book by Dan Barton, which told me about the mesh at the mesh thing. iv got 2 plants 1 in a normal pot and the other is in a shallow bonsai tray, the plant in the pot seems to be growing much faster! i cant really put it outside or either the greenhouse or my polytunnel as the temp gets to cold at night for jac's. ill try and make a large shallow tray, and a bigger window cill to fit it!
could anyone recommend any other good authors/books on bonsai cultivation?
thanx again

"the complete practical encyclopedia of bonsai" . For books in english many of colin lewis' publications are outstanding. Although the complete practical encyclopedia gets many issues beginners like me and you have straightened IMO.