My debut to root over rock

RNbonsai

Mame
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I found the rock when I brought my wife and kids to see my family in California, many of whom they have never met. There’s a lot of family issues and it will likely be a long time before we see each other.

We had a vacation emergency when we had nowhere to stay and it was prom weekend.

The hotel we found unfortunately turned out to be a whore house. That was weird with my pregnant wife and 4 kids. We had found and booked the hotel at around 10pm, got to it at 11pm, left by 11:30.

I called my cousin at 11:30 and asked if we could stay there, he enthusiastically said yes. Two hours later we got to his 300acre property with mountains, a creek and his little double wide. I assumed he would be sleeping.
We pulled in and he walked out before we got out of the car. He and his pregnant wife woke up, made us an awesome setup, made food and more importantly, made us feel like welcomed family. Wow that sounds more like a therapy session...

I found the rock on his place that weekend while gold mining in his creek.

TLDR: the rock means a lot to me, I’ve wanted to match it with a tree since I found it. I have 0 root over rock bonsai, only knowledge is from reading posts here. I’m not in love with the style but have felt the need for this rock to have a tree since finding the rock almost 2 years ago.

the trees were pulled out of the ground behind my house in Texas with no intention of bonsai- they were just in the way. I looked at em and thought they might fit the rock and the did.

Hopefully this lives- if not a fun learning process.

also- what tree did I rip from the ground? Does it stand a chance?
 

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James W.

Chumono
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Seems like plenty of healthy roots. Looks like a project in the making.
Keep us posted.
 

AaronThomas

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Looks like a nice composition in the making.
Careful using wire to secure roots to rock... once roots start to grow...The wire can cut into them leaving a nasty scar. I use electrical tape...You can hug the roots up nice and tight to the rock but the tape is still elastic enough to allow the roots to grow normal. I also taped in a number of different places to ensure the roots don’t grow away from the rock should my plastic wrapping becomes loose.
Good luck!
 

RNbonsai

Mame
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I wasn’t sure how to beat secure the roots, I looked for some rope but didn’t have any that would work. I though about electrical tape but couldn’t find any laying around.

It was a very much work with what ya got project. I tried to wire it so it wouldn’t hurt the roots but not sure how I did.
Hopefully I can remove the wire whenever I take the bag off
 

misfit11

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Not sure what species this is. Looks sort of like a Boxwood but IDK. Maybe check out Yaupon Holly. Lots of folks in your area have these but I’m not familiar with them here in CA. Looks like a good start.

BTW, this has got to be the first and only time on this forum where someone started out a thread with... “Well, the hotel turned out to be a whorehouse and my pregnant wife and four kids weren’t into it...” Gold! Pure gold, man! 🤣
 

AaronThomas

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I would definitely remove the wire and wrap the upper portion with electrical tape or something similar. You have enough of the composition above soil to where it would make a difference this season.
 

Tieball

Masterpiece
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Curiosity. The rock is rather slim and pointed at the bottom. How you planning to place that rock in a pot to be stable in the soil?
 

Michael P

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I can't tell for certain, but it looks like Chinese privet or Quihou's privet. Both are common invasive exotics (a.k.a. weeds) in Dallas. But they make good bonsai and are really hard to kill! Good start.

It's fun to have trees or rocks in your collection that have some emotional connection or story. This one has it in spades. One tree in my collection was dug by a friend who didn't realize it was growing in an illegal marijuana plantation. He is lucky he was not shot. The tree's name is Mary Jane. Someday I will post a thread about her.
 

RNbonsai

Mame
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Haha thanks misfit
To pull the wire off from under the bag I would have to completely pull it up and repot it- should I do that? I could tonight if it’s worth iy
 
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