Making a rock to turn a regular bonsai into root over rock

tazzer

I have a japanese maple i rescued last year. It was dug up from a yard during cleaning and I grabbed it (with permission) from the trash. It stood about 6 feet tall and had a trunk about 1-1.5 inches in diameter.

I have since chopped it as much of the higher growth died off due to the shock. It is now healthy and is growing a new leader. the problem is that right below the soil line, the trunk splits. As a result, I dont think it will ever have good nebari. Personally I am fine with this, but was wondering if anyone has ever tried to make a rock for an existing tree.

I have seen mixes for making artificial rock. I was wondering if there was anyway of building a frame around the roots with plaster paris or paper mache in order to create a custom fit rock.

I would think this would severly stres the tree as the roots would have to be exposed for atleast several hours.

Has anyone ever tried this? Or have any ideas of how this could be accomplished?

Or is it not worth the effort?

Thanks

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kcpoole

If you were going to attemp this then wait until the tree is dormant in mid winter as you can then bareroot the plant for an extended time. They are shipped in this state usually, and will not suffer any problems unless the roots actually dry out. Keep moist and you are good.

The problem I see with building a rock to fit, will be getting it to look any good. Sculpting is an art form and is very hard to do well, but if you are that way inclined then go for it.

You could try to find a rock to fit the gap by a bit of sculpting, but you will have to same problem as above to make it look realistic.

Might be better to airlayer off the top of the tree and build a new Nebari from scratch which with a Maple should not take too long

Ken

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zen

You might be able to get a rock that "kinda" fits and then rebury the base,(carefully scrape away some of the outer "bark" on the root, right where the base splits, but only down to the green cambium layer and dust with rooting hormone,so that it will send out new roots that will fit nicely over the rock) in something like a plastic nursery can or gallon milk jug with the top and bottom removed, up to above the rock.
Give the roots time to conform to the rock I'd say at least 2 full growing seasons (about 2 yrs.).
When you get ready to expose the stone and roots beneath, do so over the next 2 yrs. about 1-2 inches at a time so that the roots will have a chance to lignify.
You might even want to wrap something like sports wrap (some folks have used pantyhose) to really hold the roots against the rock in the spot where the split is. This will help to get to any new roots to "fuse" with the existing roots on the inside of either side of the split, giving an appearance of greater age and maturity.

Of course waiting 4 years is a while just to see if it even worked,...you probably have about that same amount of time to wait on a decent nebari if you air layer,...so it's really up to you, on whatyouwould rather wait for.
Of course if the "root over rock thing" doesn't work out you might still have another 3-4 yrs. in developing roots from an air layer then.
Patience pays off in this artform/hobby, though and if the root over rock does take and look nice you could have a very nice, and more unique tree.

P.S. Good Luck,....any pics?

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rockm

Skip the rock. Deal with the root problem. Inserting a rock into an already established split looks very articificial and probably always will.

Dealing with the split roots isn't that hard. You can cut the smallest one off or air layer above the split.

bonsainotwar

Usually I would say that is the case,but look at this: http://www.artofbonsai.org/critiques/lenz.php

rockm

Do you know the history of how that particular tree was planted on that rock? If it's a Lenz tree, I'd bet the tree was planted over the rock a decade or more ago and left to grow in a field. That's really the only way roots will cling that tightly to a rock (And from what I can see, it's a REAL rock--which makes also pretty big difference, as artifical rocks age like--well--artificial rocks, fading, chipping, scratching, breakdown of material, not to metion pressure from roots gripping the stuff over time. Real rocks age like real rocks ). If timeline isn't the case, then it boils down to being an artist with abilities like Mr. Lenz...which is another post .

Sticking an artificial rock in a gap between roots and leaving it as a "finished" composition will always look contrived and artificial and will look even more so as time passes.

tazzer

Thanks all,


It was just an idea that had popped into my head and was curious about.

As for timing, since it was just trunk chopped last year, its got quite a few years before it becomes a bonsai.

Looks like an airlayer is hte best option.

Thanks again