Amurs on a Rock

[jszg]

Here is my humble attempt to get a little Amur Maple grove growing on a rock. If it doesnt work, well, it's not like amur maple is a precious resource.

The rock:


I then did my best to cloak the rock in wet sphagnum moss, maybe an inch or so in depth, as a substrate for the young maples. I then sheaved with saran warp, put into a cut-down 5 gal pot, where I first put a layer of nice soil (not dirt! soil!), the stone, and then more soil. I then did my best to ensure no air pockets.

So I got something like this (the contrast between the moss and Amur bark is poor, but there's 9 of the little guys in total):



This will then be put into a nice spot in the yard, so the roots can escape into the earth. Once they settle into their strange new home, I'll wire the trunks a bit, and probably adjust their exact position. I'd like to get some fusion of the roots going down the rock, could look quite nice in a decade or two.

"Why did you circumsice the pot?" No idea. Tradition, I guess. I'll also have to see if birds or vermin will try to get at the moss, or the saplings.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

There is multiple ways to proceed with Root over rock plantings . And much room for experiment . Your planting has good ideas . I’m a little unsure of your goals . Do you want Root over rock . Ie roots wrapped around rock . Or do you want a grove on top of a rock . Or combo . Sone general thoughts are . Pre prepping the rock bottom . Ie grinding cutting a flat spot so it sits nicely in a pot eventually is often overlooked . There is a balance in these plantings . That must be addressed . In order to successfully get roots to cling to a rock and trunks to fuse or grow together closely . They must be held tightly in place . Or they will not . They will just grow away from each other or roots will just grow into soil that is easier . Plus the end result composition. Will display the roots as a major component . This necessarily requires more root manipulation . Especially early in the growth cycle . Meaning more frequent repots . Otherwise your wasting to much time . Once you get the roots to cling to the rock or grow where you want . Ie fuse . Then you can gain from more aggressive growing . In the past my attempts at this . Best results were attained in a large pot . With roots tightly held to the rock . In regular bonsai soil . With frequent repots . As the repots progress . You disturb the roots less and lengthen the repots . To allow active gains . In ground of course can help . Especially once the roots are established . Hope this helps good luck . Roots over rock is the bomb . When you start with young material . It takes longer to grow bonsai but to many don’t take advantage . Of the fact that you have complete control. Therefor styles like this are attainable . That are not any other way . Largest problem I have found is finding good Rocks . And or enough .

 

[HorseloverFat]

Cool! Can't wait to see what happens!

Just a note: in soil/substrate like that, root growth is slow.. so it will take a good long while to grow enough root-structure BELOW the rock... To expose the rock.

Take it reeeal... REEEAL slow.