Bonsai q: I saw an umbrella tree on a rock. It had great thick roots. How do I make the roots go like that?

It almost looked like a fig tree, it was beautiful and I want to try it myself. Any help?


Thank you

Bonsai q: I saw an umbrella tree on a rock. It had great thick roots. How do I make the roots go like that?
Rock plantings in the art of Bonsai are very unique indeed and if done right, can add a very nice specimen to any collection!





First of all you need to have your desired plant for this planting. This should be done in the fall after the plant or tree has gone dormant, usually Oct. to Nov. This way, it will be less stressed out and the roots will take root easier. Take out the chosen plant and carefully remove all the soil that has accumulated around the root ball. A chopstick believe it or not works well for this, or if you have the bonsai tool called a "root hook" it will work better yet. Carefully "comb" the soil out from between each feeder root. Try not to break any. After this has been done, take the roots and gently form and drape them evenly over the chosen rock (rock should be small enough for this task and somewhat grooved) allowing them to extend down below the rock its self. Before this is done, you should make up a batch of homemade "mud". Take some soil, preferably a sandy loam consistancy, but with a little more "clay" content to stick better to the roots and rock. This mixture will be your organic "glue". Mix this up to make a sticky, muddy cement, the kind you used to play in as a youngster!...LOL. Take the rock with the roots formed over it and bury it into your bonsai pot. Take a couple lengths of copper coated bonsai wire and wire the rock and roots to the bottom of the pot. Use the drainage holes to secure it down. This will help hold the roots to the rock until they grow themselves. Bury it about halfway up and form the extending roots outward on the bottom of the pot. You will need to add your bonsai potting soil in the bottom 1/3 first before doing this. This way the roots have a good growing medium to start with. After burying the rock and roots and wiring it down, you can fill up the pot to the desired level. After this, take your sticky mud mix and apply it to the rock and exposed roots, being sure to cover it with enough muck to fully cover the rock and roots. This will hold the roots to the rock and allow a growing medium also for the roots. You can also purchase some moss "spores" and sprinkle them on this muck. When it begins to grow it will help hold this mix together. When you water, you'll want to use a spray bottle and lightly mist the muck to the point of soaking it. You don't want to wash away this muck, as it needs to stay put for around 2 or 3 growing season (this process takes time and patience). You will probably need to do this daily so the roots do not dry out. Also water the potted soil like you would normally water a potted plant. After a couple of growing seasons, you should be able to "wash" and remove this mucky mixture from the rock and "viola" you will have a buried rock with beautiful exposed roots draping over it and into the potted soil! You can trim up some of the smaller feeder roots to make it look a little more presentable at this time. Hope this answers your question.





Added Info: Some plants that are very good for this root over rock planting are:





1.) Cotoneaster "horizontalis"


2.) Ficus


3.) Trident Maple


4.) Procumbens "Nana" juniper


5.) Chinese "Elm"... (one of my favorites!)





**Billy Ray**
Reply:Your very welcome! And Thank "you" for choosing a best answer. Report It