PROJECT JAPANESE BOX: Root over Rock

WildChild

I have gathered that this is not a traditional "root over rock" species, but seeing as though I have never really experimented with bonsai - I am willing to give it a try - mainly to learn more about bonsai (I haven't been doing it that long), and just to see where my creative touch can take me.

I have spent the last few days getting as much info as I can about the style, and decided today, during a study break, that now was the time. So I gathered up what I needed:

-A Spade
-Pruning Shears (My trusty sissors as I am a poor 17 year old)
-Plastic Sheeting
-Duct Tape
-An old pot from mum's collection. (She has about 20 terracotta pots and dozens, if not hundreds of plastic pots from plants that have since gone in our AMAZING garden.)
-Potting Mix/Sand
-An old pen. (Don't worry)
-My Spray Bottle

Using my motley collection of improvised Bonsai tools, I set about digging up the Japanese Box that will become my next product. Mum just bought about 19 Buxus microphylla for a new hedge, and one Japanese Box by mistake. And knowing my desire to turn everything her and dad buy into a bonsai, she said I could have it.

In the end, the plant had been in the ground for so little time, I discarded my spade and simply pulled it right out of the ground. A little melodramatic, but today was freezing. Anyway, I proceeded to give it a good smack around to get rid of the loose soil. I gave her a good mist and left her in her pot to be.

Then I realised I had lost the rock that I wanted. DAMN. So I made a trek down the driveway into the bush (my house is one of the last in the suburb ((Kellyville, if any of you are from Sydney))) and found myself a nice old bit of sandstone. After throwing it against the road for a while, I was satisfied that its years above ground had made it stronger than if it were underground and I proceeded back up the drive to my work area... Being the wall in front of the fountain.

Anyway, Yelling to my assistant (my lazy sister) That I needed help (I got a nice "Go away") I proceeded to use my pen to comb out the roots (Mum told me I couldn't use the chopsticks) and untangle the real buggers. Satisfied, I then pruned away a lot of the little ones, leaving enough to cover most of the rock. Now in my infinate wisdom, I did not think to take photos of the process, so just use your imagination.

I then proceeded to place the tree on top of the rock into a conveniant little nook and arrange the roots to my liking. Once that was done, I got my sister to hold everything in place while I taped down the roots, just so they held long enough until the plastic wrap was applied. Once again using my sis, I applied the wrap, leaving roots poking out the bottom. I then proceeded to put it in its pot of regular potting soil, sifted with a bit of bark. The tip of the rock and tree barely poking out.

I then proceeded to take my bowl of horticultural sand and pour it in through the top of the plastic. I then gave it a decent watering, and here is the result!

I think that in August, this little wonder will go (MY GOD ITS STARTING TO RAIN!) Sorry... It's rare... Anyway, yeah, will go into the ground for a year or so until next spring (November-ish) at which time we'll take everything off and go from there! I'll also plant it on top of a buried tile to ensure some good flaring, and so it will fit snugly into its new round flat pot.

And yeah, I chopped off what I didn't like... Sorry... But it had to go.
Anyway, I'll keep you guys posted! I feel welcome here... It's fun!

Attached Images

	7.5.06 A.JPG (50.1 KB, 188 views)
	7.5.06 B.JPG (34.8 KB, 107 views)
	7.5.06 C.JPG (24.3 KB, 92 views)

__________________
"Creating bonsai is not a mechanistic process; we prune with the hand but are guided by the heart..."

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WildChild

No one likes my tree...

__________________
"Creating bonsai is not a mechanistic process; we prune with the hand but are guided by the heart..."

Alasdair

I'm sure there is nothing wrong with your tree. One thing is that box are slow growing so it may be many years before you get anywhere. But you've made a good start, it seems you have done everything right and have made a good start. If all goes well you will have an excellent base to build upon.

Al

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

Bonsai Barry

Wow, you certainly are able to give a ste-by-step narrative of the procedure. I hope it works out for you. (I've never thought of using plastic wrap to secure the tree to the rock. Will the roots be able to absorb enough water?) Post some more photos once it gets some additoinal growth on it.


Good luck.

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Bonsai Barry

"Our talent lies in our choices."

rockm

You have a few issues that you will have to overcome using boxwood as root over rock.

The first, and probably most problematic, is box's habitof pushing shallow, dense, fine roots. They do not push thick primary roots like tridents. That makes achieving the long primary roots necessary to drape over the rock and into the soil extremely difficult to get.

The second issue here is the initial choice of material. A root over rock tree usually has a trunk that is similar to a cascade--not a bolt upright trunk like this one. A trunk with more lateral movement complements the rock. Long tall trunks de-emphasize the rock.

Thirdly, the plant here appears rather weak and the treatment you're giving it now will probably weaken it further. I would move the tree (along with the rock into the ground and out of the container. That could give it a bit more breathing room in the health department.

WildChild

At the end of the month it is going into the ground and will remain there for a few years - I have decided against lifting it in Spring 2007, it will probably come out Spring 2008. I am going to let it grow, no pruning, and we'll see where we are. I am also going to start a few more of these in the next week or so. Thank you for your advice, but something tells me this thing will die, but nevertheless, one can only hope.

__________________
"Creating bonsai is not a mechanistic process; we prune with the hand but are guided by the heart..."

WildChild

Tommorows the day for him, then we leave for a loooooooooooong time.

__________________
"Creating bonsai is not a mechanistic process; we prune with the hand but are guided by the heart..."

WildChild

Update: 11/6/06

Little bugger went into the ground today, and at the advice of my local bonsai nursery, It will remain there until spring 2007 - if not Spring 2008, and if it survives will be quite a nice tree. I am going to start next weekend 2 more root-over-rock trees. One a Ficus, the other a Trident maple, or maybe an elm. I have quite a nice Elm sitting in the garden that I bought as Nursery stock last year that would make a nice shohin R-O-R. It has been a month since I started, so hopefully it will survive the transfer. I'm not going to prune, chop anything for several years - just leave it.

Anyway, here be pics. I also cannot expect any more growth until september - but hopefully the roots will like me.

Attached Images

11.6.06 B.JPG (63.8 KB, 108 views)

__________________
"Creating bonsai is not a mechanistic process; we prune with the hand but are guided by the heart..."

WildChild

Somehow it's starting to put on new growth. I took it up to my local bonsai nursery and was advised that it might be okay for next spring. I'll update this as stuff happens.

__________________
"Creating bonsai is not a mechanistic process; we prune with the hand but are guided by the heart..."