Root over Cast Bronze?

I have several pieces of cast bronze similar to the picture.

Would cast bronze be a suitable as the 'rock' for a root-over-rock bonsai?



thanks in advance for all replies.

jim

I don't see why not. The roots are apt to grow into and through pieces like the one you pictured. This is probably deform the casting over time as the roots continue to grow.

Bronze is an alloy that is primarily composed of copper and tin. Both are slightly toxic to plants and people, but bronze tends to not corrode very fast which is why it is used for statues and plaques. Your image looks more like brass to me since it has more a yellow sheen than the typical red-brown of bronze, but that may be due to the lighting. Brass is a copper-zinc alloy that is not a corrosion resistant than bronze which is why it sees more use in spots out of the weather. It is also easier to cast due to a lower melting point. Zinc is also slightly toxic to plants, but should not be an issue in a bonsai pot.

I know for certain that it is bronze. I cast it myself at a local college from ingots supplied for this purpose.

Thanks for your input. I'm going to give it a try on this smaller piece before moving on to something larger.

Thanks!

Lost wax casting?

Marty Weiser wrote:Lost wax casting?

Molten bronze poured over water beads. The instructor didn't initially want to do it for fear of a violent reaction, but it worked very well. I also have quite a bit in aluminum.