bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Plastic Slabs, good idea or not?

Nice idea and execution of it.

Polystyrene, however, is a very unstable plastic to use for bonsai applications. It breaks down pretty quickly, especially out in the sun. UV rays disintegrate polystyrene quickly. first it fades, then it crumbles. This can take a couple of months to a year. Sooner or later, though, it will crack, crumble or turn to whitish dust.

UV unstabilized plastic isn't the best material for slabs. That's why alternative, lighter wieght material, like automotive filler "Bondo" and "ciment fondue" are used. Straight concrete is too heavy and can crumble without reinforcement too.

22-Dec-2005	#2
rockm bonsaiTALK ArchMaster Join Date: Oct-2003 Location: Fairfax, Va Country: USA USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 4,561	Nice idea and execution of it. Polystyrene, however, is a very unstable plastic to use for bonsai applications. It breaks down pretty quickly, especially out in the sun. UV rays disintegrate polystyrene quickly. first it fades, then it crumbles. This can take a couple of months to a year. Sooner or later, though, it will crack, crumble or turn to whitish dust. UV unstabilized plastic isn't the best material for slabs. That's why alternative, lighter wieght material, like automotive filler "Bondo" and "ciment fondue" are used. Straight concrete is too heavy and can crumble without reinforcement too.