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An Experiment
Posted: February 4th, 2014, 9:52 am
by Duckbed
Hi All,
I've decided to embark on a little experiment. With some inspiration from looking at Vietnamese bonsai images (you know the ones in big pots filled with Water planted up on rocks or slabs. Is there a name for this specific style by the way?)
Anyway. It's a little different to these but I'll see what comes from it.
Here's the construction. If anyone has ideas i'm very interested to hear them.
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Now to pack it with Soil and Sphagnum moss and put little Movement in the trunk... Will post this photo shortly!
Hope you like the idea
Rick
Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 4th, 2014, 10:06 am
by Duckbed
And photo of the tree packed with Soil and moss and trunk bender.
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Once it's settled I'll bring the top down and I want to keep it very humid to encourage aerial roots.
First lesson. Liquid Nails ain't gonna cut it! It doesn't like the moisture so I'll be reworking this with a bit of Clear silicone I think.
Cheers
Rick
Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 4th, 2014, 1:06 pm
by kcpoole
Builders Epoxies are usually good. Alpine uses lots of things to stick rocks together so look at his posts
Car Bog is also waterproof too.
Ken
Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 4th, 2014, 3:24 pm
by alpineart
Hi Duckbed , mate liquid nails and maxibond is not real good for sticking rocks for bonsai use , silicons are in the same basket . They wont stand up to the constant moisture and release hydrocarbons for several days during the drying and curing process . If you have set this up the same day even 2 days later the hydrocarbons remain in the damp soil and will kill your plant , basically gassing the roots .
Sikaflex is the better product for this type of work , builders bog has been mentioned , ceramacrete tile glue is another excellent bonding agent . Either way if they release gasses/toxins when drying allow a week for all the fumes to be released , then soak in water for a day . Water type bonding agents need time to dry also or they will deteriorate and your work will fall apart .
Cheers Alpineart
Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 4th, 2014, 4:46 pm
by Duckbed
Thanks guys for the tips. Back to the drawing board...and the Hardware store.
I'll let you know when its back together and hopefully can post some progress.
Cheers,
Rick
Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 4th, 2014, 6:51 pm
by deejay335
Looks great - tempted to give it a shot myself. Well done

Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 18th, 2014, 4:58 pm
by Duckbed
back again
- Re-worked this with Ceramicrete this time and it seems to be holding together allot better. Time will tell.
- I rebuilt the Pillars onto a larger flat rock which I can just sit in the pot rather than gluing into the pot itself.
- added the tree and filled the spaces with soil
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- Repacked with Sphagnum Moss and filled the base with water.
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- I left some of the roots long enough to be able to dangle in the water also to see if this would promote development of the roots. (thoughts?)
- It's now in the Hot house to keep it really humid and hopefully promote Aerial roots too.
I'm thinking of adding DL to the water in the pot?? do you think it would smell it and grow towards it....
Any tips to get the root structure to build more quickly?
Cheers
RIck
Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 19th, 2014, 6:36 pm
by Neli
I just started researching the subject and found this...I was told figs can grow just in water over a rock if provided nutrients...
Have a look here:
https://www.google.co.zm/search?q=m%C3% ... AQ#imgdii=_"
Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 20th, 2014, 12:38 pm
by Duckbed
Thanks Neli, These are the images that inspired me to try a miniature! I really need to do what ever I can to promote the root development now so I suppose it's just Feed, Feed, Feed and be patient.
Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 20th, 2014, 4:16 pm
by Neli
I did some research on the subject here:
http://www.sabonsai.co.za/forum/index.p ... getnewpost
Want to make one today.
The roseberry chicken inspired me.
Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 21st, 2014, 12:20 am
by BassD
Is this the name of the Vietnamese style you're after?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B2n_Non_B%E1%BB%99
Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 21st, 2014, 1:20 am
by Neli
The name of the style is actually raspberry chicken. and I am serious.

Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 21st, 2014, 12:08 pm
by Duckbed
Neli wrote:The name of the style is actually raspberry chicken. and I am serious.

It can't be!
I'm working on some bigger trays and am going to put a few of these together to see how they go!
Rick
Re: An Experiment
Posted: February 21st, 2014, 11:21 pm
by Neli
I am really serious! Google translated the Vietnamese name as that...Check the link I gave you for SABF...I made one today.