Good candidate for ROR

[Toraidento]

So found this the other day. Had stopped in a Penske to have an issue with my Semi worked on. While they were working on the truck I went for a walk. Lord knows my fat ass can use some exercise. Picked this up thinking about a Trident I have that I don't wanna do a Ground layer on. I'm hoping I can marry the 2 into a ROR.
You guys have any thoughts, is this a good candidate for ROR? If not with the Trident I have, maybe something else. I have one other angle in mind, I'll flip it over and take a pic tomorrow.

 

[just.wing.it]

Nice rock!
ROR?....its a bit smooth....but maybe.

 

[Lorax7]

It’s hard to tell without a size reference in the pictures. One important factor to keep in mind is that the tree is going to grow while the rock will not. So, the size of rock you need is bigger than what intuition tells you seems like a reasonable size.

 

[Adair M]

Good rock! Black rocks make good ROR rocks.

Start off with a young seedling. They have soft pliable roots that can be wrapped tightly onto the rock. Toothpick sized roots. Anything larger will never really grasp the rock.

 

[Toraidento]

Good rock! Black rocks make good ROR rocks.

Start off with a young seedling. They have soft pliable roots that can be wrapped tightly onto the rock. Toothpick sized roots. Anything larger will never really grasp the rock.

So trying to take something like these two would not mesh? At least not with a fairly decent outcome?
Was thinking of cutting that ugly root off going straight down, and trying to maybe lay the tree up the slope and let roots go down around the back side some how. Do a chop, and have the tree kinda flow over the edge. Haven't dialed anything in yet. Placement on rock still way up in the air.
I bought 3 of these Tridents last year. 4th maybe 5th year trees. Two of them have bad roots. The thought was to layer both, and start new root base. But I've thought if I can do one a different way, and try a couple different techniques. Come out with knowledge, and some variety in my garden. I'm that much better for it

 

[ralf]

Good rock! Black rocks make good ROR rocks.

Is there any rationale behind the dark colour of the rock, Adair?

 

[Shibui]

Definitely better to start with young, flexible roots. Even 2yo maple roots are too stiff to bend round corners or to push into hollows so the end product has spaces under the roots that take years to grow out. You may be lucky and have roots that can fit this stone. Only trying will tell.

Is there any rationale behind the dark colour of the rock, Adair?

Tridents have pale bark. Pale roots on a pale rock means it is hard to appreciate which is tree and which is rock. Pale roots on dark rock stands out so the viewer can easily appreciate the flow of the roots (or lack of it!)

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Is there any rationale behind the dark colour of the rock, Adair?

Contrasts better with the roots, appears heavier, more “solid”.

 

[Toraidento]

So here's a couple different angles. Having it sit at this angle takes out the vertical line from the different colors in the stone. Does that make a difference on how, and where to grow the tree?

 

[Toraidento]

I would still like to try something like this. Chop the tree and have it flow over the edge like the tree grew off a cliff. But if it doesn't turn out looking right? I don't wanna use the time, tree and rock. That I can put into making a better compilation with a young seedling.

 

[sorce]

takes out the vertical line

I like this idea but the other orientation works better overall IMO.

I think the vertical line will be ok.

Still hard to see a place where rhe tree can sit....

From the beginning, I've though about trying to use it as a standalone waterfall stone.
Might be a few hundred years before the "water" line is eroded in ...but....you CAN assist it. Water,acid...

I can't see a tree on it at all if I really want to.

Sorce

 

[ralf]

Tridents have pale bark. Pale roots on a pale rock means it is hard to appreciate which is tree and which is rock. Pale roots on dark rock stands out so the viewer can easily appreciate the flow of the roots (or lack of it!)

Contrasts better with the roots, appears heavier, more “solid”.

@Shibui & @Brian
Thank you, guys, for your explanations. Clear and solid.