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

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

This is so cool, I’d love to see an update as I’m researching starting my own raft. Does anyone know what species of trees are good vs bad when creating a raft composition?

 

[Johnnyd]

I think most species will work. If you have a tree that has most of its branches on one side, that would be helpful. It's difficult to see much now with the spring push. I'll send some better one's in fall after the leaves are done.