Organogenic Bonsai Pot

[NOZZLE HEAD]

This is a large barnacle on a rock I found, and I want to use it for a tree, but I will never be able to repot it due to the interior shape. Any species suggestions for zone 8?

It will make a good container for an accent plant as well, any suggestions?
Share your organogenic containers.

 

[fredman]

Ha, I like out the box pots. This is a beauty.
I used to hollow out pumice blocks and put azaleas in it.



Problem as you say comes repot time. The roots grows into the cavities and you have to risk breaking things to get it out of there.
I don't have many ideas for your one...maybe a cork bark jade...

 

[Forsoothe!]

So call it a temporary pot that you will break one day when you need to repot. If you can't use it because you don't want to break it, what's it good for? Get some use out of it and go on from there.

 

[penumbra]

Definitely consider a dwarf plant and also the pH preference. I imagine the pH of your proposed planting vessel is about 8.
A succulent should do quite nicely. Some of my dwarf euphorbia and other succulents grow less than an inch a year.

 

[DBPooper]

Carve out the inside to make it more pot like (slight taper, easier to repot) keeping the rim and outside because it's natural and awesome looking, drill drainage and tie down holes, fill and seal (cement patch possibly).

 

[rodeolthr]

As @penumbra already stated, since the majority of it is made of calcium, it will leach into whatever soil you put into it and create a high pH situation.

 

[NOZZLE HEAD]

Carve out the inside to make it more pot like (slight taper, easier to repot) keeping the rim and outside because it's natural and awesome looking, drill drainage and tie down holes, fill and seal (cement patch possibly).

It is quite porous and has a 3/8” hole at the low point, so I’m good for drainage.
The rock it is grew on is basalt and I don’t want to drill through it.

 

[NOZZLE HEAD]

Ha, I like out the box pots. This is a beauty.
I used to hollow out pumice blocks and put azaleas in it.


View attachment 313495
Problem as you say comes repot time. The roots grows into the cavities and you have to risk breaking things to get it out of there.
I don't have many ideas for your one...maybe a cork bark jade...

I have a coupe of pumice containers as well, I only use them for accent plants.

 

[NOZZLE HEAD]

Definitely consider a dwarf plant and also the pH preference. I imagine the pH of your proposed planting vessel is about 8.
A succulent should do quite nicely. Some of my dwarf euphorbia and other succulents grow less than an inch a year.

 

[ShadyStump]

You might just plant whatever you want to grow in a smaller pot that can fit hidden inside your barnacle. A little waterproofing/sealant agent on the barnacle itself might also help protect it if you do plant directly in it.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

A number of North American native junipers do well on alkaline soils.

Bittersweet vine, Cladrastis, likes alkaline soils.

I would need to hit the books, but there are a number of pines that do well on alkaline soils. Also trees listed as salt tolerant tend to do fine on alkaline soils.

Maidenhair fern does well on limestone soils.

If you use an entirely inorganic mix, What ever you plant in there can get root bound ans survive for quite a long time.

 

[Rivka]

I would take the largest container you can get to slip into it properly and then use that to be the internal form for a concrete casting. Basicly filling the internal space between the natural stone and a eventually removable liner pot. Then you can always work a tree in the liner, repotting and root trimming when needed and slip it back into its nice home when done

 

[LittleDingus]

I'm late to the party, but I use cypress knees as pots sometimes. Same root issue plus eventual rot issues. There are spray rubbers (look for leak seal) that can fill the cavities and prevent roots from entering. Epoxy works well too.