Advanced Bonsai Technique: the Root over Rock Style
Have you noticed those exquisite draping of miniature bonsai roots over rocks to simulate the conditions of trees that are stunted by rocky terrain? After you've learned how to grow bonsai, it is high time to learn how to train and style it so that it will mimic nature and showcase it in an artistic miniature on a pot. Here's how to style your maple bonsai tree so that it will look as if it is growing on a rock.
The root over rock style is quite popular among bonsai enthusiasts and growers. The sight of tree roots that are made to cling and grasp a rock, at the same time allowing the roots to spill over the rock and disappear into the soil, is intricate and dramatic when seen on a bonsai tree.
The first step in order to achieve the root over rock style is to prepare the subjects €" the bonsai tree and the rock. Choose a rock that's attractive and appealing. Moreover, make sure that it is of the right size with respect to the Japanese maple and the container. As for your bonsai tree, it must have an extensive root system to make it hardy enough to be styled this way. The roots need to be tough and long so that they can be arranged and trained to drape over the rock. The rule of thumb is that the roots have to be one and a half times longer than the height of the rock that you are going to use.
Remove all unsightly foliage and wash off the soil from the root ball. You must be careful when you do this because you might damage the roots. Use your hands when removing the soil and never shake the tree in order to loosen the soil. Position the rock and place the tree on it. Decide on the best aesthetic arrangement. Use grafting tape to secure the roots in place. All the roots must protrude from the rock bottom. Plant the tree into a pot which contains clean sandy soil. No part of the rock must be visible during planting, although the bottom tree trunk must be seen on the surface.
Water the bonsai. Leave the miniature tree in the pot for up to two years so that the roots will then thicken considerably. If you see that the roots have firmly attached to the rock, then that's the time to display the rock underneath by carefully removing some of the soil which covers it.
For a much more detailed and updated information about maple bonsai cultivation, styling, and maintenance techniques, visit http://www.maple-bonsai.com/€">Maple Bonsai.
The root over rock style is quite popular among bonsai enthusiasts and growers. The sight of tree roots that are made to cling and grasp a rock, at the same time allowing the roots to spill over the rock and disappear into the soil, is intricate and dramatic when seen on a bonsai tree.
The first step in order to achieve the root over rock style is to prepare the subjects €" the bonsai tree and the rock. Choose a rock that's attractive and appealing. Moreover, make sure that it is of the right size with respect to the Japanese maple and the container. As for your bonsai tree, it must have an extensive root system to make it hardy enough to be styled this way. The roots need to be tough and long so that they can be arranged and trained to drape over the rock. The rule of thumb is that the roots have to be one and a half times longer than the height of the rock that you are going to use.
Remove all unsightly foliage and wash off the soil from the root ball. You must be careful when you do this because you might damage the roots. Use your hands when removing the soil and never shake the tree in order to loosen the soil. Position the rock and place the tree on it. Decide on the best aesthetic arrangement. Use grafting tape to secure the roots in place. All the roots must protrude from the rock bottom. Plant the tree into a pot which contains clean sandy soil. No part of the rock must be visible during planting, although the bottom tree trunk must be seen on the surface.
Water the bonsai. Leave the miniature tree in the pot for up to two years so that the roots will then thicken considerably. If you see that the roots have firmly attached to the rock, then that's the time to display the rock underneath by carefully removing some of the soil which covers it.
For a much more detailed and updated information about maple bonsai cultivation, styling, and maintenance techniques, visit http://www.maple-bonsai.com/€">Maple Bonsai.
Source...