Root-in-rock pot

[ABCarve]

For me this is a new style of pot made to simulate a rock outcropping. The rocks are a little more convincing in person. The bottom detaches from the top so that root pruning can take place. Both parts are held together with wire at 3 points. I'm looking for some advise on planting.

#1 idea- Use trident maple whips in the smaller planting holes (maybe 5 or 6)bringing them together to form one trunk and hopefully they fuse together. Each of the whip would be radial to the main trunk to form the nebari. Will this even work and if so how long? I would hope to enjoy it in my lifetime.

#2 idea- Just create a mix species planting with dwarf material. I know watering penetration could be an issue but there is always the possibility of dunking it in the pond.

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Poink88]

Trees grow/thicken and will eventually crack the top holes. What then?

 

[ABCarve]

Trees grow/thicken and will eventually crack the top holes. What then?

I'm not sure if that. I've seen trees that grow around things.... like wire. Although I'm sure given enough time it will become an issue. So maybe you're on the side of #2- forest planting and just replace as needed. I think in either case I won't be around to see it happen.

 

[PaulH]

My dogs leave things that look like that all over the yard....

 

[Poink88]

I'm not sure if that. I've seen trees that grow around things.... like wire.

Wires do not crack.

 

[ABCarve]

My dogs leave things that look like that all over the yard....

I thought that myself when I saw the photos I took. I does look more realistic in person. This is another after planting.

 

[GrimLore]

I thought that myself when I saw the photos I took. I does look more realistic in person. This is another after planting.

That looks very soothing - Nice!

 

[raydomz]

Very nice!
Great to see some different things being done.

 

[PaulH]

I thought that myself when I saw the photos I took. I does look more realistic in person. This is another after planting.

Nice. I like it.

 

[ABCarve]

Has anyone out there tried fusing tridents in a pot?

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Has anyone out there tried fusing tridents in a pot?

Don't know about a pot, but Doug Philips has fused them in a short time in the ground.

Click me

 

[pjkatich]

I think you did a nice job on the pot and I look forward to seeing it planted up.

Thanks for sharing the photos.

Cheers,
Paul

 

[ABCarve]

Well....here it is planted up. Kingsville boxwood, tsuga canadensis jervis, dwarf spruce?, dwarf cedar?, and assorted ground covers. Might take some time to fill in. I hope the trees survive in that trying to shove their roots thru the holes in the pot was like putting 20 lbs of ____in a 5 lb. bag.

 

[lordy]

So, with a two-piece "pot", how did you anchor the trees, and then insure there was soil around the roots?

 

[ABCarve]

So, with a two-piece "pot", how did you anchor the trees, and then insure there was soil around the roots?

The trees are only anchored by the soil (they seem very secure). The soil is added from the top but the trees and plants are added starting at the bottom. I use a chopstick and other bent devices put thru adjacent holes to work the soil in. Just work your way to the top. When root pruning is required, I'll cut the wire which holds the bottom and top together, remove the roots, fill it with soil and replace the bottom. That's the plan anyways???

 

[GrimLore]

If you can keep those "damp" you might consider making a small cut around the base of each tree with some clonex gel. The result would be roots over the top as well... Either way that looks really nice!

Grimmy

 

[ABCarve]

Update

Here they are a little farther down the road. The large open one had some restyling with different trees and arrangement. The short needle Mugo has got some of the needle cast my larger one does. The enclosed one is like playing with mame without all the watering problems of a small pot.

 

[jk_lewis]

Nice work. I look forward to watching it mature.

 

[ABCarve]

updates. Can't seem to get the flowering in one pic....but here's what flowering now.

 

[sorce]

Amazing.

Sorce