Pot-less forever?

Drunken_Irish

Morning Boys an Girls

Quick question for ya's... I been lookin at some of the gallery pic's, and this lovely arrangement by Midwestbonsai got me thinkin...


When you create a display like this,.. is it a temporary thing? I mean, do the tree's have to go back in their pots after? (same question to growing over rock)? If not, can they stay like this all year round? and how do you water an feed them?

K, sorry, a few quick questions

Have a nice day

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Alasdair

Good question. My thought about this were that you could leave them and they would be fine on the tray, until i killed my favourite buddleia. I put it on this lovely little slab, all covered in moss. It flowered and everything. Then it died. Being a rather flat, wide rootball meant it dried out very quickly and cooked my little tree.

Just a further question on top of Irish's, How do you root prune a root-in-rock tree?

Al

__________________
I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth

Drunken_Irish

Am guessing the root over rock would have to be a permanant thing, cause the tree wont wanna move when it gets a foothold. Still think these and the displays on a flat dish must take serious lookin after!

taipan(deceased)

Hi Irish, It can be temporary or you can leave it that way for the rest of its life if you want...No the trees don't have to go back into their pots afterwards...But you could repot them to increase your trunk size...

I water mine with....The Hose!...New fangled contraption I know and it doesn't compare with a $500 bonsai watering can...But it works well enough...

The soil is the secret...Its called Muck...There are many recipes...But mine is 50% fresh cow pie-to 50% clay....It should end up with a plasticine quality to it...

Clay is packed with nutrients and prevents the tray from drying out too fast...

Bonsai is full of illusion..Much like magic...

If you like those scenes run a search in google images on Chinese "Penjing" and "Saikei"

It'll blow you away!

Happy growing Irish
Tai

Drunken_Irish

Lmao, Cheers Tai,

I thought muck was an Irish term, cause Irelands 90% muck. The golf course I used to work on was total clay based (a real ********* to drain in winter). Never dawned on me that it would be benificial in ma new hobbie.

Thanks Bro, i'll have me Ma mail over some good ol Irish much fer x-mas

Drunken

phithu

Hello,

I am not a specialist but I started a few trees in the shape Ishitzuki, that is roots over the rock. I've put some pics of one on this post:
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthread.php?t=15499
As it is a recent one it might show that the roots are growing around the rock and there is no way to take the tree away without doing a lot of damage.
A good day to you,
Philippe

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Le Bugey terre de gastronomie!

Drunken_Irish

Hiya Philippe, an welcome to the forum.

Thats a lovely wee tree ya got there. Hope it grows well for ya, then ya can share yer growing styles with us all. I'm gonna go on the look-out fer a good brick an have a go at Ishitzuki maself

Thanks again
Drunken

taipan(deceased)

lol Irish, Yeah I'll take a pound of Irish muck off ya hands!

I've tried normal modelling clay and volcanic clay...both are good...

I love your climate description.....Cold....I'd give anything to get away from my airconditioner now...coldest I get is 21 C when i stick my head inside the machine...

I forgot to mention that the tree itself would more than likely be rootpruned and fresh soil added every few years to keep them healthy...

There is two ways of doing it...One way is to completely remove the tree and re-soil and root prune...

The other way is to take something like a 1/2"- 1" piece of copper pipe and cut holes in the soil, removing the old soil and replcing it with new fresh soil in the hole...

That's it man...


Happy growing, and have a pint of Guiness for me at your local Pub!
TAI