ROOT OVER ROCK
Tree variety
Maples are best material, mountain or trident are excellent.
Ideally use an air layer or perhaps a cutting rather than a seedling.
Grow for two or three years in a split downpipe at least 1 ½ times as tall as the intended rock.
1st year – allow to grow unmolested and feed generously, prune to first nodes in winter.
2nd year – prune new shoots to first node in late June. Remove all nodes longer than 2cm.
Create planting in February or March of third year for best results.
Rocks
Make sure you can lift your rock comfortably.
Should be without visible lamination and non-porous.
Rocks should possess both movement and relief.
Rock can be regarded as trunk for design purposes.
Best rocks are found in tidal locks or lakes.
Other Materials
Kato soil is made from 3 parts coir fibre 1 part clay + bonemeal + wetting agent.
Mix dry and add water until mouldable.
Course open bonsai mix to promote vigorous growth.
Moss sheets will retain moisture and aid watering.
Downpipe should be split to ease removal of tree later, include a few drain holes.
Use garden twine to secure the moss.
Use a stable clay pot to plant in.
New roots will grow into Kato but especially between the Kato and the rock.
Planting
Remove tree from pipe by wedging and sliding
it out and untangle the roots.
Plant tree to rock and avoid a vertical trunk.
Overlap roots often and tuck them beneath the rock so that they will fuse and clasp the rock.
Secure using aluminium wire.
Coat the entire planting with Kato soil, cover with moss and bind with string.
Aftercare
1st year. Feed and water generously and allow to grow unimpeded.
Prune to first node in late winter removing all long internodes.
2nd year. Prune to first node in June removing any internodes greater than 2cm.
Wash away Kato soil with hose in third spring to reveal rock.
The rock is the focus of this style not the tree.
Roots can be altered and improved if desired once they are fused.
Tree variety
Maples are best material, mountain or trident are excellent.
Ideally use an air layer or perhaps a cutting rather than a seedling.
Grow for two or three years in a split downpipe at least 1 ½ times as tall as the intended rock.
1st year – allow to grow unmolested and feed generously, prune to first nodes in winter.
2nd year – prune new shoots to first node in late June. Remove all nodes longer than 2cm.
Create planting in February or March of third year for best results.
Rocks
Make sure you can lift your rock comfortably.
Should be without visible lamination and non-porous.
Rocks should possess both movement and relief.
Rock can be regarded as trunk for design purposes.
Best rocks are found in tidal locks or lakes.
Other Materials
Kato soil is made from 3 parts coir fibre 1 part clay + bonemeal + wetting agent.
Mix dry and add water until mouldable.
Course open bonsai mix to promote vigorous growth.
Moss sheets will retain moisture and aid watering.
Downpipe should be split to ease removal of tree later, include a few drain holes.
Use garden twine to secure the moss.
Use a stable clay pot to plant in.
New roots will grow into Kato but especially between the Kato and the rock.
Planting
Remove tree from pipe by wedging and sliding
it out and untangle the roots.
Plant tree to rock and avoid a vertical trunk.
Overlap roots often and tuck them beneath the rock so that they will fuse and clasp the rock.
Secure using aluminium wire.
Coat the entire planting with Kato soil, cover with moss and bind with string.
Aftercare
1st year. Feed and water generously and allow to grow unimpeded.
Prune to first node in late winter removing all long internodes.
2nd year. Prune to first node in June removing any internodes greater than 2cm.
Wash away Kato soil with hose in third spring to reveal rock.
The rock is the focus of this style not the tree.
Roots can be altered and improved if desired once they are fused.