Rock Involved Plantings

Some of may favorite styles are those that involve rock - root over rock, on rock, etc.

If you have some let's see a few photos.

It is hard to find decent rock in Florida as it is mostly sand here, but when I do my travels about I keep my eyes open.
Here is a Elephant Jade (Portulaccaria afra) growing in a pocket on this limestone rock.
Inspired by Robert Steven's Ficus I just whacked the top and streamlined the foliage. The apex need to fill in but it has only been on this rock for about 3 years.

hi Rob

this was a planting i put together called 'East meets West'

I collected the slates from a local area, (i live in the far west of England) and planted a juniper rigida and a juniper chinensis 'ityogawa' on/in them. The trees have settled in and need wiring and styling now this winter.






cheers Marcus

Hinoki cypress on a rock....the stones were "collected" after being discarded in a trash bin by the Department of Geology at a University I used to work at.
Tom

Hi every body,
here is a picture of my Acer buergerianum. This tree is one of the few imported Bonsai left in my collection. And now after almost 20 years, I still love to see the changes of colors, the beautiful shaped foliage of this Bonsai goes trough over time. In this picture I realy like how the pot color compliment the colors of the foliage.



Cheers,
Hans van Meer.

Tom, do you know what kind of rock that is? its spectacular

Thank you, Buck....a geologist friend of mine has said that he believes it to be predominately composed of iron minerals - oxides, carbonates, and maybe silicates, and added that he had seen such stones in northern Michigan where he is from. Hope this helps

Tom

Root over rock Ficus nerifolia.



Ed Trout

bucknbonsai wrote:Tom, do you know what kind of rock that is? its spectacular

I agree that rock is very cool. Works well with the tree.

Marcus - your planting looks good, interested to see how it develops.

Hans -fully understand why your kept that one, it's a stunner. Reminds me of an imported azalea over rock shohin I had several years ago.
It lasted 5 years (like most other azaleas in my collection -then they expire). The azalea over rock is now a permanent indoor bonsai.

Better photo of the rock portion.


This is it as a permanent indoor bonsai.

This little Lionicera Nitida shohin
Have I made from a seedling planted on a stone. The small tree is 14 cm. and is 4-5 years old. The tree need a better top, and my work will ofcourse continue next year.
If anybody has a design idea, will I be very happy, as it could very well, be better than my idea.



Kind regards Yvonne

Juniper on early stages of development.

Wow..all are very nice guys...

some rock/tree plantings in progress. merry christmas everyone.

best wishes, sam

Hello all!
I want share my Ficus in Rock (13 year)...


I like it.
DuLong

Can't resist to post a new one I am just working on... Streblus asper, they are collected growing on rocks. The slab is also made of real rock.

Here is my Ficus Burtt Davyi clinging to the rock

Xuan

I just can not pick a favorite !!!!! ALL these trees are very good.. take care john

Rob Kempinski wrote:

bucknbonsai wrote:Tom, do you know what kind of rock that is? its spectacular

I agree that rock is very cool. Works well with the tree.

Marcus - your planting looks good, interested to see how it develops.

Hans -fully understand why your kept that one, it's a stunner. Reminds me of an imported azalea over rock shohin I had several years ago.
It lasted 5 years (like most other azaleas in my collection -then they expire). The azalea over rock is now a permanent indoor bonsai.

Better photo of the rock portion.


This is it as a permanent indoor bonsai.

Do they work well indoor Rob?

This a very nice thread Rob.

Good looking trees and rocks too with so many variations. Involving rock tops my favorite styles of planting.


regards,
jun

marcus watts wrote:hi Rob

this was a planting i put together called 'East meets West'

I collected the slates from a local area, (i live in the far west of England) and planted a juniper rigida and a juniper chinensis 'ityogawa' on/in them. The trees have settled in and need wiring and styling now this winter.






cheers Marcus

This is a very nice Marcus. Are these different flat rocks combined as one? IMHO and if it were mine, I'll placed it in a wide flat slab, if no marble flat pot is available. and create a Mountain, Tree and water (imaginary) composition...very lucky in Chinese Feng shui. hehehe.

regards,
jun

xuan le wrote:

Rob Kempinski wrote:

This is it as a permanent indoor bonsai.

Do they work well indoor Rob?

Yes considering the flowers are now made of silk and the soil is cement - I converted the dead trunk to an artificial bonsai. Just couldn't throw the thing away it was so cute. There used to be a thread on this on the old forum. Here are a few historical images.

jun wrote:
This is a very nice Marcus. Are these different flat rocks combined as one? IMHO and if it were mine, I'll placed it in a wide flat slab, if no marble flat pot is available. and create a Mountain, Tree and water (imaginary) composition...very lucky in Chinese Feng shui. hehehe.

regards,
jun

Hi Jun, yes there are 4 rocks -2 large flat front and back rocks, 2 narrow side rocks..they are drilled, bolted and glued together with a space for soil all the way down the middle. At the moment it sits on the ground in my bonsai garden surrounded by moss and gravel but i like the idea of water surrounding the rock - it will be an island rising from the sea.
I will find a slab that can hold water in a hollow, or a subian tray maybe.

thanks Marcus

jun wrote: IMHO and if it were mine, I'll placed it in a wide flat slab, if no marble flat pot is available. and create a Mountain, Tree and water (imaginary) composition...very lucky in Chinese Feng shui. hehehe.
regards,
jun

The Chinese says "背山望水“ (Bei Shan Wang Shui)..Backed by the mountain (strong backing), Facing water (possessing good living sources)..Toward prosperous future with strong foundation... This is the best position for Chinese for their houses, offices..including..(Hm..I won't mention this, a bad luck for Chinese to mention this to face a new year...)

Wish you all for A Prosperou$$$$ 2012 !!!

Rob Kempinski wrote:

xuan le wrote:

Rob Kempinski wrote:

This is it as a permanent indoor bonsai.

Do they work well indoor Rob?

Yes considering the flowers are now made of silk and the soil is cement - I converted the dead trunk to an artificial bonsai. Just couldn't throw the thing away it was so cute. There used to be a thread on this on the old forum. Here are a few historical images.

Hi Rob

In this case will I not bother you with the good old " remember to water" story"

Kind regards Yvonne

I want to share my picture of Long Island Ficus just planted a few monts on a rock

First one Ezo spurce, Picea jezeonsis,
the others European spruce, Picea abies.