Trident Root Over Rock - Japanese Style

[Scott Martin]

When I was staying at Aichi-en nursery, I was particularly taken with their root over rock tridents that had been developed over many generations.

Here are some pics to get things started...

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You will notice the strong bends in the top of the trunk which while not being 'traditional' makes this first tree really interesting and appealing.

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This sort of ramification only comes after years and years and years of dedicated work.

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[bodhidharma]

This sort of ramification only comes after years and years and years of dedicated work

"Sigghhh"..yes it does. Thanks for posting, i will now go and burn my trees Just kidding, i am always inspired when i see that. Ahh Japan, i will go back soon.

[Gerard]

Thanks Scott, very inspirational.
I have been enjoying the pictures and information from your recent trip and I am not too proud to sat that I am a little jealous.

[emi93m]

Wow magnificent I must say I have only seen Trident Root over rock of that calibur once in my life in the flesh it was at a Bonsai Nursery in Sydney but I wont mention names as last time this place was mentioned it caused a storm. Anyway love the pics and thanks for posting ......keep them coming!

Regards
Mick

[Scott Martin]

Bodhi the trees are amazing over there but they've got about a 200 year head start on us so I'd like to think within the same time frame our trees in Australia will be better!

Gerard yep the trip was unique and don't worry Mick I've got plenty more pics and stories to come yet. At the moment work seems to be getting in the way.

[Steve Warren]

"INCREDIBLE TREE" thats all I can say. Just curious, any idea how old a tree like this will be.
I wonder if I can grow one in the limited years I have left (apprx 40-50)

Regards
Steve W

[The Hacker]

Hi Scott

Very very nice I have a small one on the go but not sure if I have a enough summer's left in me to get to that sort of standed

Regard's

The Hacker

[Scott Martin]

Steve W the majority of these trees were started by Mr Tanaka's grand father. I am not sure of the exact age but it would be safe to say they are around 40 years in development. Hacker they all start small, the trick is the field growing and the techniques to grow them that are the most important factors.

I sat down one night with Mr Tanaka & Peter Tea and asked specifically about these root over rock tridents. Here's a few points that have stuck in my head -

1. Do not use the trident until it has been grown in the field for about 2 years. The trunk should be about 2-3 cm in diameter.

2. Pick an interesting, strong rock. Do not put the roots into the crevices as these are a point of interest and you want to highlight them.

3. Wire the roots to the rock using copper wire (not aluminium). The reason for this is that copper is much stronger and will not stretch like the aluminium does. Make sure the wirre ir very tight. It will cut into the roots but do not remove the wire. Let the roots heal over the wire.

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You can see here where the wire has cut in. There were trees when you looked hard enough you could see the wire still!

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Here is the same tree and as you'll notice, your attention is not drawn to the wire cut. After it was mentioned to me that this is their technique, I did notice show trees at Kokufu and the Green Club with similar scars.


4. The tree and rock is then placed into the ground and the dirt is mounted up onto the roots and rock in a mound. Then slowly the dirt is removed, little by little and the catalyst for the strong, thick root growth is the sun. They mentioned that when the roots are exposed to sunlight they take off and start to thicken. The roots start to spread and embrace the rock and become one.

5. Do not worry about the branch structure or ramification at this stage, just focus on the roots and the rock. Then work on the trees development.

[Jow]

Great Info Scott, thanks. All i need is some ground.....

Joe.

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Scott,

Tridents root over rock are my favourite. They are very inspirational creations. Thank you for posting Scott.

Best regards.

[Steve Warren]

Scott,

I envy your Japanese experiences, thanks for the info. There maybe hope of getting something reasonable in my time.
Do you know if the fertilize the tridents heavily( I presume so) and so with what.

Regards

Steve W

[Scott Martin]

Steve W we didn't really get into the fertilizer side of things, mainly the winter care and lime sulphur spraying details as it was winter there. I did buy heaps and heaps of the tea bags that they use to put their fertilizer in on the trees. They are clean, easy to know how much has been applied and easy to remove too. I've got them ready for some autumn fertilising with Dynamic Lifter in them.

I hear you about the ground Joe. I'm just in the process of upgrading home to 1650m2 and have some great plans for growing beds. Just need to find rocks like these somewhere. Any ideas? I definitely don't want to use the volcanic rock that seems to be everywhere. I was going to freight a couple back but the cost was just too much.

Here's a couple more trees.

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If you look closely at this one you will see where the wire has cut in. But by the next photo it really isn't an issue.

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[John Henry]

Hi Scott great pic one of my favourite styles.I have a black pine over a similar rock the tree is still very much in the training stage.
thanks JohnM

[alpineart]

Hi Scott , mate ROR have been a favorite style of mine for quite some time . I can't believe that copper wire is left inside a root on a bonsai , i guess it's been done for decades possibly centuries , but i wont be doing it . I certainly wont be creating tree's of this caliber in my time either , unfortunately . I guess i'm stuck with my meager methods .Thanks for sharing these , definitely food for thought .

Cheers Alpineart

[anttal63]

Once again some great info Scottie !!! i will attempt to take some of these ideas to the growing fields !!! Thanks man...