Ishitsuki Port Jackson Figs

[GavinG]

For my money (not a lot) the hanging vertical roots on the left harmonise very strongly with the vertical seams in the rock. It would lose a lot if you "fixed" it.

Gavin

[KIRKY]

I wouldn't fix the roots they look right just as they are.
Cheers

[alpineart]

Hi GavinG , mate I'm with you on this one , it is fixed the way it is , swinging in the breeze .

Hi KIRKY , I had to grow them on the rock to make it easier to mount , secure and keep the tree alive . Then i fixed it by pulling the roots off and creating a curtain type effect .

Cheers Guys . Alpine

[Pearcy001]

Sorry if it came across the wrong way alpine, I definitely wasn't saying to fix it.

I was just wondering if you were going to re-"affix" the roots back onto the rock, as that was how you had it in previous photos before you had to alter the setting.

:IMO: I think the roots looked best in the photo where you had curtain roots falling onto the smaller rock underneath.

I think you knew what I mean when posting, just didn't want others to read it quickly and get the wrong idea about what I was saying.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

[alpineart]

Hi Pearcy001 , mate I value all ideas , feedback and suggestions from many people . Originally it was grown with roots attached but the plan was to have the curtain to lessen the weight of the setting and to use the roots to achieve a tapered appearance to the whole setting . Even a 1 kg rock adds to the weight overall , plus the pests found the shaded hollow in between the rock and roots a place to bread or live .

I haven't finished yet more to come with structure and change , its still around 25 kgs wet which makes for a precarious balancing act to move it without the mobile trolley .
Awaiting some new machinery to play havoc with and create a couple more in the process .

Cheers Alpine

[alpineart]

This is the new home for the figs as the height and weight of the old rock is too much to man handle to shows and around the yard or even the house in winter

PB110052.JPG

PB110056.JPG

PB110057.JPG

PB110058.JPG

This is around 100mm shorter and 50% lighter than the current rock its on . Tomorrow I hope to root prune and re- plot the figs onto their new rock .

Cheers . Alpineart

[KineticBonsai]

What are you using to attach the Hebel blocks together?
I got 3 or 4 scrap hebel stones yesterday to have a go at creating some rocks but never thought about joining them to make a big arse rock.
What do use to carve with?
Sorry for the questions, looking for ideas and expertise.

[alpineart]

Hi Kinetic', I use either hebel panel adhesive or sikaflex adhesive , liquid nail and maxibond doesn't work as well although I have used it in the past .If you have a caulking gun a tube of sikaflex is the way to go

I use either drill bits or router bits in a die grinder , an electric drill will work just a bit slower . Tungsten carbide bits wear quicker than high speed steel on hebel , don't know why , just does . Broken drill bits work just as good as sharpened bits so use up those broken bits

If you punch in Hebel in the search box quite a few topics are there including the full process I have used from construction to completion and everything in between .

Cheers . Alpine.

[alpineart]

This morning

PB120059.JPG

re-plotted , root pruned and re-potted

PB120061.JPG

PB120062.JPG

PB120063.JPG

PB120064.JPG

Not the easiest task fitting trunks and roots from one rock to another but it worked out quite well . Only a minor adjustment to a couple of crevices to fit the roots into . This will be allowed to grow on for a while before wiring again and trimming to suit .

Cheers Alpineart

[alpineart]

This has had a major hack and chop to reduce the size and height of the composition 6 weeks ago

DSCN1507.JPG

DSCN1508.JPG

DSCN1509.JPG

DSCN1510.JPG

. It has been very slow to respond but it is making progress. Further reduction is ongoing as it leafs out to force more back budding and to rebuild ramification .Another attempt to regrow the roots at the rear of the setting needs to be done as the heat burnt them off . It doesn't pay to neglect your tree's

Cheers . Alpineart

[bodhidharma]

As i said back in 2012 Alp's "Just getting better and better". Bonsai takes a long time......Doesn't it.

[Pat3222]

What a journey! Inspirational stuff Alpine, thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing more of this one in future.
Cheers

[MJL]

Sometimes I sit and think
...and sometime I just sit ....
and don’t know what to think.

Blimey - what a thread of creativity. You’re a ripper Alpine. Through your creativity you are challenging us all to wonder what is possible and what boundaries we can push.


Bonsai teaches me patience.

[alpineart]

Hi Bodhi , mate you nailed it there , It does take time but its worth the effort .

Hi Pat3222, I hope to keep this thing growing for as long as I can unless a better offer comes in .

Hi MJL , No Limits , No Boundaries , No Rules , works for me just fine .

Cheers All . Alpine