American Hornbeam Raft

[Johnnyd]

I have been looking around for material to create a raft for a while. A club member offered to sell me this American hornbeam. The tree had a dead area on the lower trunk. This tree looked like a perfect candidate for a raft/bridge tree.


I was originally attracted to this maple raft I saw on bonsai Eejit.(I'm not sure who's tree this is) I especially like the way the hollows draw your eye. I want to create the same kind of drama with this native tree.


After looking at a few books and videos on the subject I started the project.
In the fall I removed all the branches from the side I would lay down. I removed the bark and cambium from where I needed roots to grow and placed that area on a block of sphagnum moss.


My plan is to let it grow out all year and try to bend a branch in place for a thread graft near the rootball. I did a little carving also where another hollow will be on the back of the tree.

 

[BobbyLane]

good potential, i would love to create one too at some point
did you watch the recent raft stream on mirai?

 

[Firstflush]

Now THAT! is a fun project. Keep us posted.

 

[Johnnyd]

good potential, i would love to create one too at some point
did you watch the recent raft stream on mirai?

Yes. I like what he did with that piece of material!
I think the idea of creating a 'wild bramble' effect was authentic.

 

[just.wing.it]

Cool! Hope it works out for you!
Keep us posted.

 

[Shogun610]

Very cool … so you just planted it on its side w rootball in same container or can you build a raft but deprecate the rootball from tree also?

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

That’s going to be so sweet!!! Great vision John!

 

[Johnnyd]

Very cool … so you just planted it on its side w rootball in same container or can you build a raft but deprecate the rootball from tree also?

Thanks Shogun! There is a bit of a process that varies slightly according to who you ask. I'll try to note them here if may help. (This is the short version. Probably good to do research)
1) build a box
2) in spring reduce rootball in stages (yearly)
3) expose cambium and apply rooting hormone
4) place those downward exposed areas on a block of sphagnum moss. Fill the rest of the box with bonsai soil.
5) let it grow all year
I found an older Peter Adam's book with instructions. Also I watched a Ryan Neil video.

 

[Johnnyd]

That’s going to be so sweet!!! Great vision John!

Thanks Sal! I'll try to update it this week. I worked on it before winter.
I miss my NJ club. Good times there but I don't miss the winter.

 

[Johnnyd]

I've been looking forward to repotting this tree! Decided to go in the penjing direction and place one end on an aquarium rock.

 

[BobbyLane]

Very nice