Kishu on a cliff

[bpancakes]

Starting to pull stuff out of the frozen mulch. Junipers first.

Unwired and peeled the bark off the jin - was surprised it was still flexible and I think I saw some cambium still slightly alive.

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View attachment 587663

Dang, super nice

 

[RJG2]

I have a question for RJG2. Yesterday I found a rock that looks much like yours and I have a small juniper that I could use for a presentation like you have detailed in this thread. My question is: is the muck used just to shape a container for the substrate for the roots or is it actually worked into the roots? My rock has a "cliff face" that is rather flat, rather than grooved like yours, and so I may need to see if I can chisel out a groove to hold the soil better as well.

In this case the muck is pressed in and throughout the roots - but with the expectation the roots make it to the substrate/pot below. They don't necessarily need to though - there are a lot of rock planting examples where only muck is used - especially taller compositions with many plantings.

 

[Javaman4373]

This is the rock I mentioned. It is about 14 inches tall. I was able to chisel out a depression on the slanted face a bit, but that will take more work. Another
question: do you do something to anchor the rock to the pot?

 

[RJG2]

Another
question: do you do something to anchor the rock to the pot?

I didn't with this one, but yes, that's common.

I have to be careful not to tilt it when I lift it.

With the height and lean of yours, I would definitely tie it in somehow. A common method is to give the rock a concrete base to wire over the same way you'd wire in roots.

Here's an example from @Eric Schrader:

Creating Small Juniper Bonsai Rock Plantings

Bonsai rock plantings imitate the awe-inspiring state of trees in harsh natural environments struggling to find nutrients. Read this article to learn how to create and maintain healthy black pine juniper bonsai rock plantings!

www.bonsaify.com

 

[Javaman4373]

Well I have made a start on my effort. I put a base on the rock with casting resin and then tied that into the pot. So the rock is nicely stabilized. I then made two efforts to get some decent Hagedorn muck and I think the second try was the most successful. I used the recipe a responder posted in the link in this post. Here is the result so far. I am thinking I may need to change the moss to a different species, but this is what I had quickly available at the moment. The tree is going to need some styling and growth, if it likes this transplant. It had gotten quite pot bound in its previous pot. I am thinking those two thin branches to the left might be better as jin.

 

[RJG2]

Well I have made a start on my effort. I put a base on the rock with casting resin and then tied that into the pot. So the rock is nicely stabilized. I then made two efforts to get some decent Hagedorn muck and I think the second try was the most successful. I used the recipe a responder posted in the link in this post. Here is the result so far. I am thinking I may need to change the moss to a different species, but this is what I had quickly available at the moment. The tree is going to need some styling and growth, if it likes this transplant. It had gotten quite pot bound in its previous pot. I am thinking those two thin branches to the left might be better as jin.
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Nice work! You should give it its own thread!

 

[RJG2]

Nice work! You should give it its own thread!

And include the resin casting process if you took pictures.

 

[RJG2]

Just refreshing the soil in the pot to akadama/Japanese pumice. I think the smaller DE/American pumice was staying too wet with the amount I had to water the top.







Should probably trim back that weed "shrub" at the bottom - it's going a little crazy.

Might need to do something with that jin too, it has sagged a bunch.