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In his book, Brook Zhao, for example, goes into great detail about how to style a tree that leans out over a riverbank.
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In the trees I'm referring to, the tree isn't leaning. It is totally upright, but it is cantilevered out on huge roots, that go into the bank. The whole trunk just ends at a spot out maybe a meter or more out from the bank, and a few, maybe three, huge roots are suporting the whole thing.
From the other side, you wouldn't realize the tree isn't growing in the ground near the river.
I have thought about this for over a year. While reading Andy's ebook a few night ago, I realised the shape the pot would have to be. This had been a block to me, because the soil level would need to be vertical, and bonsai pots aren't normally that way.
I think it needs to be long sideways, shallow front to back, L-shaped cross-section with endcaps.
The soil cros-sectoin would be retangular, with the top edge having moss to represent the vegetation that is always along riverbanks. The soil on the front would be exposed.
When growing it should be tilted back slightly, to help the water penetrate andto help keep the soil in the pot. For show it could be stood completely upright. This would tilt the tree just a bit forward as they generally should be.
The tree is commonly hackberry, and I read tht they make nice bonsai. but this one may have to be grown from scratch, to get the roots right.