Jade Dragon - Root Over Rock (Not Mobile Friendly)

I really like the "Hawaiian Dragon Style" of Fukubonsai with its swirling, narrow trunks with great movement and feisty energy, and I really like Jades and Portulacaria. Bet you couldn't guess that from my username, right? I have cool jade that already is showing a wavy, arcing nature and I thought it would it would be a good fit for this style.

The goal is to make a powerful sweeping dragon perched on a rock and peering over the edge of cliff, so naturally, a root on rock is pretty much the direction where it's going.

I found this cool rock in a pile by work and it actually looks pretty close to what I'm looking for. It has some jagged nature to it and has the feeling of a small mountain. Not really sure of the type of rock, but I think it looks cool. The only problem is that it comes to a little bit of a peak along the ridge, so I'll need to situate the base of the trunk on one side (or flatten it off somehow). I was thinking of putting the trunk in this little dip I found.

I know jades aren't known for their powerful roots, but I think I might be able to pull this off. It will be my first root over rock!

Advice/Help is appreciated!


Inspiring Images - Reaching out off of the cliff, and curving downward

But, what is not mobile friendly about this post?

It's not that bad, but lots of large photos that people may not want to hit against their phone data bandwidth. Just being considerate.

No one can upload a pic file larger than 1Meg, so your kind concern is misplaced, I think.

Regarding your project, it is a nice inspiration --> go for it. Successful RORs I've seen use rocks that are rough, similar to lava stone. This give lots of little nooks and crannies for the roots to get stuck in and then over grow. You stone has smooth surfaces that don't offer much for the roots to hang onto - may be possible, nonetheless, but it is more challenging.

How about this guy? He's very inspirational.

KingJades said:

Fukubonsai

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No offence or anything, but that's a funny name...
I'd say, sounds like a cool project!

just.wing.it said:

No offence or anything, but that's a funny name...
I'd say, sounds like a cool project!

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Yeah, it does sound sorta weird when you read it the first time, but the the main guy's name is David Fukumoto so it probably sounded like a good idea. He mostly works with Schefflera (which I'm also growing) but I thought the Jade I had would work as well.

David Fukumoto Dragons - that's right! More Inspiring Images, but bonsai this time!!

KingJades said:

Yeah, it does sound sorta weird when you read it the first time, but the the main guy's name is David Fukumoto so it probably sounded like a good idea. He mostly works with Schefflera (which I'm also growing) but I thought the Jade I had would work as well.

David Fukumoto Dragons - that's right! More Inspiring Images, but bonsai this time!!

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Very cool!

I advise against using Fantasy images as inspiration, unbalanced designs.

Secondly, note how the limitations of the Schefflera were taken into account. Root design with a green hat.
Much like the Chinese and Ficus.

Best of luck.
Good Day
Anthony

Anthony said:

I advise against using Fantasy images as inspiration, unbalanced designs.

Secondly, note how the limitations of the Schefflera were taken into account. Root design with a green hat.
Much like the Chinese and Ficus.

Best of luck.
Good Day
Anthony

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Maybe it got lost in the story, but the idea to is to essentially emanate the idea of those fantasy images. I'm not going to try to position the tree in the same way. My end idea looks very similar to the first Fuku dragon schefflera, only instead of being able to support itself on its long roots (not a very jade thing to do), I want to rest it on a rock to give it that "height".

The important part of the design (to me) is that it starts from a high place, curve down and have the tip higher than the low point of the curve.

Maybe I should have just said I want to make a jade cascade on a rock with a strong central, curvy branch.

Take this.


Put it on the rock. (PS my first VIRT!!!!)


As I was looking for images to use in my virt, I stumbled across this gem. It's a portulacaria doing exactly what I'd like to do. But, this does make me think that I'll want a bigger rock.....


With a few cuts (arguably of the part that everyone else likes) and some exaggeration of the dip, you get what I'm going for.

Anthony said:

I advise against using Fantasy images as inspiration,

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That's why I threw Godzilla out there. He isn't fantasy. He's a hero to millions of Japanese people.

King Jades,

how looking at some images of trees in nature doing what you want to do - say trees on rocks in the ocean.

How about drawing an image of what you want to do?

Be prepared to simply carve the stone.

Basically, study, design and not copy.

http://cdn.allwallpaper.in/wallpape...-rocks-calm-sea-beach-1920x1080-wallpaper.jpg

Here once again - apologies - made from clay, with a porous glaze - old image.

Next step to take out of the whole, " rock" is hollow and reposition roots.

Note the walls of rock on the left, [ has no trees ] the image I sent and the walls in this effort.

Then using moss to help lead the roots down into the soil.
Hope this helps.
Good Day
Anthony

Any progress on this project? I recently put a rooted jade cutting on a rock and I was wondering if anyone else has tried this. Then I found your post.