Hi everyone,

what is the best way to go about rooting a bonsai over a rock
or creating
air roots?
cheers
andy

They're two different things, aren't they?

Root over rock usually (or often) is created by taking a tree
with long roots and draping them over a suitable rock, slathering
them with muck and tying them down with raffia. Then plant the
tree -- and rock -- deep in a large pot. Let them grow for a
year or two, then slowly let the rock emerge from the soil, maybe
an inch or two a year. At the end of several years, you should
have several large, mature looking roots clinging to a rock. You
can then plant tree and rock in a shallow tray, letting the tips
of the exposed roots grow in the soil in the tray.

The new Sunset book describes the process, except they skip
burying the entire rock. I wouldn't skip it.

"Air Roots" are, I assume, referring to the exposed root style,
where the tree perches on "stilts" consisting of several thick
roots. You develop these via a deep pot, watering from the
bottom so the roots grow downward. It takes a number of years to
get roots thick enough to support a bonsai.

"Air roots" also could refer to aerial roots -- as in the banyan
style. Check our archives for how-to on development of aerial
roots. Get to them via the address below.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - The phrase
'sustainable growth' is an oxymoron. - Stephen Viederman

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You're actually asking 2 questions. Root Over Rock procedure is one thing,
and creating air roots, another.
There are several ways to create a Root Over Rock bonsai. The one I like
best is to fasten the roots to the rock with strips of raffia, then planting
the combination in a prepared bed for a year. When planting, place a flat
tray or tile under the roots in order to keep them from penetrating too
deeply into the soil. The folowing year, if you find that the roots have
"taken" to the rock, move the planting to a bonsai tray. If the roots are
still not beginning to adhere to the rock, place it back in the ground for
another year. Sometimes it even takes a third year. Patience!
Aerial root growth in places like South Florida is easy. The roots find
their own way down. If you're in the North, however, some people use
plastic tubing around each air root to guide them down to the soil. I have
never seen this work, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. In any case,
be prepared for a long wait.
Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Mogg"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 6:57 PM
Subject: [IBC] rooting over rocks question


Hi everyone,

what is the best way to go about rooting a bonsai over a rock or creating
air roots?
cheers
andy


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****
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************************************************** **************************
****
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Mike Page ++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

In a message dated 8/19/2003 7:06:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:

What is the best way to go about rooting a bonsai over a rock or creating
air roots?

There are chapters in Bonsai books on creating root over rock. Basically you
use a larger pot, put soil in the bottom, put in the rock, place your plant on
top of the rock and spread the roots over the rock, fill the pot with soil
covering roots and rock. As the plant puts down more roots you gradually
exposed more and more of the rock by lowering the soil in the pot.
Now aerial roots are another matter. First they depend upon species. Most
Ficus produce aerial roots, but some do so more than others. High humidity
seems to play a role. One idea is to surround the plant with a wire cage and
fill the wire cage with sphagnum moss.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

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++++Sponsored, in part, by Mike Page ++++
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