Tag-Archive for ◊ root over rock ◊

Author:
• Monday, April 04th, 2011

I was given a ficus tree a few years a ago because the original owner could no longer care for it. After years in my collection I finally was inspired to change the style of the tree and hopefully turn it into a great bonsai. It all started with a large rock in my yard and a very horizontal ficus.

Here is the before picture.  As you can see the tree is just a shapeless mound and really needed to be restyled.

The rock had a rounded bottom so I chiseled it flat so it would sit securely in the pot.

Here is a video that shows how I went about creating the root over rock.  Please keep in mind this is a strangler fig and is known for growing on top of other trees and the slowly enveloping them by lowering aerial roots to encase the tree.  In this case the tree will slowly attach to the rock.  Therefore I didn’t have to bury the rock to produce roots to cover the rock or wrap it in sphagnum moss to keep it moist.

Finally the finished (but not styled) Root-Over-Rock.  It still needs to be wired out and some branches removed but I see great potential in this tree.


Category: Root Over Rock Ficus | Tags: , , , , Comments off
Author:
• Thursday, September 21st, 2006


There are times when things just come together, and this is one of them. By rewiring this tree, and repotting it the tree now looks stable and balanced. I still need to develop side branches near the top but that won’t take long. Next step is to begin leaf reduction next spring and then this tree will really be something to see. Sept 2006


Category: Buttonwood | Tags: Comments off
Author:
• Monday, August 21st, 2006


When I returned from Japan this tree looked different to me. I say that the branches were too straight and too far from the trunk. I bent them all down and closer to the trunk. This made the trunk look much bigger and now the branches matched the movement of the trunk. I also repotted the tree into an oval pot, however I found it to look to unstable. I added a rock to help thicken the base and found this tree worked very well as a root over rock. Aug 2006


Category: Buttonwood | Tags: , Comments off