Dragon - Roots Over Rock (Schefflera arboricola)

[Big Vine]

Here is a brief picture story tracking the progress of a cutting I took from a garden center plant back in May.

May 4, 2009


It only spent a couple weeks in the glass of water before I decided to plant it into a small pot. (I now skip the glass of water and move straight to a pot for all cuttings)

July 11, 2009


After nearly 2 months in a pot, the plant has grown a sufficient amount of rootage to work with for beginning the root-over-rock phase.

Picture the rock in the photo above as an upside-down mushroom.
My plan was to position the plant onto the lighter brown 'stem' portion of the mushroom. The larger, darker portion would be the 'mushroom top' which, when turned upside-down, would rest flat on the potting surface.




The overhead view in the two photos above shows how I secured the roots to the rock using two segments of picture frame wire. Entire rock was put in a plastic container, and then the base was covered with potting media. I then used an aluminum foil collar to act as a retaining wall for more potting media to cover the upper-most roots.



And as you can see above, I also removed several leaves to help ease the burden on the root system.



November 10, 2009


Finally, this last photo shows the plant in its current state.
I decided to remove all of the old potting media and remove the picture frame wires; the latter of which I feared might be over-constricting and damaging the roots. I was pleased to discover that the plant had secured itself to the rock on its own and no longer needed the wires. I took this opportunity to plant it into a larger pot and replace the media with my current potting mix.

The plant will now be allowed a rather lengthy growing-out period.
Gradual removal of the 'soil' covering the rock will likely begin in the upcoming spring.

BV

P.S. Note about why I included 'Dragon' in the title...
'Hawaiian Dragon' is one of three major stylings (the others being 'Sumo' and 'Roots') pioneered by David Fukumoto at his FukuBonsai nursery in Hawaii. Plants in this styling typically contain sharp bends and coil-like, swirling trunks and/or prominent surface/aerial roots. 'Hawaiian Dragon' is the styling in which I have chosen to train this particular plant.

[Gnome]

B.V.

What can I say except good job, both with the work and the presentation. I see that you put some thought into the rock which looks interesting and I am happy to read that you re-thought the potting mix you used initially. Although I can't tell too much about the mix you chose, I'm certain it is better than the first.

Can you provide us with an image of a Schefflera in the dragon style? I have been to the website you mentioned but have found it a little difficult to navigate.

Thanks for posting and please give an update when you think it is appropriate.

Norm

[rainbowgardener]

Is this the website you were talking about:

http://www.fukubonsai.com/4a1b.html

There are several images of dragon style Schefflera. I didn't have trouble except you have to scroll down near the bottom of the page.

[Big Vine]

rainbowgardener's link contains the perfect example photos---thanks!

And thanks for the remarks, Norm.
I built my own screens and sifted some suitable, yet inexpensive materials available locally in bulk quantities for the aggregate (inorganic) component. Both the aggregate and organic components in my mix are now a lot coarser and much better-suited to indoor culture than any previous mix I have ever used.

Will definitely provide updates on an as-needed basis.
BV

[Big Vine]

Nearly 2 months have passed, and the plant has grown an additional 6 leaves...


Upon further reflection, I have decided NOT to proceed with the 'Dragon' styling. Instead, I have chosen to opt for a 'simpler' banyan style. My goal is to somehow keep the supporting rock as exposed as possible whilst ending up with a modest canopy which does not detract too much from the rock.

The plant will be allowed another full year of undisturbed growth, at which point a severe trunk-chop/reduction will take place to help introduce taper (sometime early in the spring of 2011).

In the meantime, there is an emerging aerial root which is begging to be guided down toward the rock (will update as this plan springs into action).


BV

[Big Vine]

Nothing momentous to report, but I wanted to show my efforts at getting the aerial root to extend using the 'straw method' I read about in Jerry Meislik's book on Ficus. The straw was put in place within the past week or so.



Even IF I am successful in getting it to extend, the root is unlikely to remain in the final design, because the trunk-chop will almost certainly take place below it. Still, it can be used as an air-layer for the top of the plant for when it comes time to make the big chop (spring 2011).

I know this is supposed to be a 'bonsai' photo gallery, so I must apologize to those wanting to see 'bonsai' per se. As I said before, this plant is actually a cutting taken less than a year ago, so there are still many years to go before it resembles anything close to 'bonsai.'

Nevertheless, I'm hoping it's okay to keep posting periodic updates on this little fella here...a continuing photo-journal, I suppose.
BV

[djlen]

Very nice presentation BV. I'm sure that this will inspire others to be creative with their plants.....especially Schefflera. It's such a versatile plant to work with and the possibilities are endless.
I hope you will update this thread for us so we can watch it's progress. It's off to a great start!!!

[a0c8c]

I know this is supposed to be a 'bonsai' photo gallery, so I must apologize to those wanting to see 'bonsai' per se.

I disagree with that, since all bonsai trees started at a point like this. The shear fact that it's wired over a rock already, puts it way ahead of over most bonsai trees it's age.

[Big Vine]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.
I will begin gradually exposing the rock once the growing season really gets underway (probably by April or so).

Stay tuned for that...
BV

[Gnome]

BV,

How's the aerial root coming along? It would be a shame to spend the effort encouraging it only to later cut it away. Maybe by the time further work is necessary another option will present itself. Any recent pictures?

Norm

[Big Vine]

Here is a pic of the plant taken on Feb. 11th...


And this one ^^^ was taken on Feb. 15th.

As you can see, the aerial root has only lengthened a slight bit from when I first put the straw in place. The initial straw opening was cut a bit too large; consequently not trapping as much moisture as it could have been. I have since replaced the straw to make for a tighter fit near the top (bottom pic), and I have noticed that this has helped.

Plant genetics also plays a big role in aerial root development.
This is a local garden center plant; likely selected for its foliage and not much else. My other Schefflera arboricola, on the other hand, were from a bonsai nursery specializing in these plants where only those showing strong aerial rooting characteristics were retained over multiple generations (inferior specimens were culled). I have had much more aerial rooting on these plants, and the aerial roots which have emerged lengthened and developed much more quickly.

If you look at the bottom pic, you will notice a bud emerging just above and slightly to the left of the aerial root. I will retain this growth point, and therefore the first trunk chop will be made just beyond its location. It's a little farther from the base than I originally intended to chop, but it still very much fits into the design and will allow for incorporation of the developing aerial root you see in the straw.

Thanks for the questions, Norm.
BV

[Gnome]

BV,

I'm glad you'll be able to keep the root. I am surprised at how slowly it is coming along though.

Plant genetics also plays a big role in aerial root development.
This is a local garden center plant; likely selected for its foliage and not much else. My other Schefflera arboricola, on the other hand, were from a bonsai nursery specializing in these plants where only those showing strong aerial rooting characteristics were retained over multiple generations

I had never really given it much thought before but now that you point it out it's obvious. We select for many other characteristics so it really does make sense.

Up here in the North country we don't see a lot of this type of thing and at first aerial roots seemed so foreign to me I could not appreciate them, but I'm coming around.

Norm

[Big Vine]

Yup, makes a HUGE difference, Norm---check this out!

January 20, 2010


February 5, 2010

That's the difference 2 weeks can make on a Schefflera arboricola with strong genetics for aerial rootage.
BV

[Big Vine]

The aerial root (in the straw) has begun growing down below the rock over the past few days, and I've also gradually removed the collar to expose everything that was hiding underneath it. Gravel was gradually removed, and you can see in the following 'before' and 'after' photos where I trimmed off a lot of the finer hair roots and other debris obscuring the rock.




If you look closely at the trunk in the first two photos, you can see two growth points which have begun sprouting. If you look REALLY closely, you'll see that there is another emerging at the very base of the tree.

Considering this plant is from a small branch cutting taken less than a year ago, I'm fairly pleased with how things are developing thus far.
BV

[JTred]

BigVine, all I can say is wow. Your pictures are really inspiring. I've promised myself to stick to just one indoor tree until I graduate (too much trouble to truck more than one tree to school with me and back during breaks and summer), but your scheff has really got me reconsidering my decision. I'm impressed with how quickly and strongly they grow even during the winter. I may eventually cave and get one just because.