Dragon - Roots Over Rock (Schefflera arboricola)

[applestar]

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)

Good luck with that

I remember my dorm room window garden plants kept increasing until by the time I graduated, I had so much stuff (including some that I'd stored at the school over breaks/vacations) that I had to rent a U-haul trailer and STILL had to "donate" almost all except my favorite plants to the senior dorm with a green house.

[Gnome]

Big Vine,

This is coming along nicely. I think you will be glad that you were able to keep the aerial root, it seems to be located in a position that will stabilize the whole arrangement.

Norm

[Big Vine]

JTred...I'm glad the photos are of some inspiration!
Just to give an idea of indoor growth rate, one of the Scheffs I recently measured (the one just to the left of that one in the last pic) had its main stem grow 8 inches over the past 5 months---and these were the coldest/darkest months of the year! I think you'll be happy if you try out Scheffs under decent supplemental lighting.

Norm...thanks for your feedback.
I definitely agree with what you say about that aerial root fitting into the design.

My overall plan is to shift growth to the left so that the plant is more centered over the right side of the rock (I.e. rather than jutting out so far to the right as you see in that last pic). This will require performing a major trunk chop just beyond those new emerging growth points at some point in the near future. But before I do this, I want to make sure that the aerial root is established well enough so that it does not merely languish and wither away when I remove the main portion of the tree that it is supplying...hope that makes sense.
BV

[a0c8c]

This is my inspiration for doing root over rock with one of my bougainvilleas. I have it in a big pot growing over a clay pot right now, and once it gets another one or two years worth of groth, I'm gonna pick a nice rock and follow suit. I'm not doing it full on bonsai though, I'm gonna find a large rock and do more of a full sized plant over rock. I'm doing this since I'm not entirely certain I have a dwarf bougainvillea or not. I'm gonna keep it relatively small though.

[maveriiick]

This is my inspiration for doing root over rock with one of my bougainvilleas. I have it in a big pot growing over a clay pot right now, and once it gets another one or two years worth of groth, I'm gonna pick a nice rock and follow suit. I'm not doing it full on bonsai though, I'm gonna find a large rock and do more of a full sized plant over rock. I'm doing this since I'm not entirely certain I have a dwarf bougainvillea or not. I'm gonna keep it relatively small though.

I don't think Bougie would be that good of a tree for this. I have a number of bougainvilleas and based on my experience with them, their root structure is very weak, and Bougie roots are known to be the plants Achilles tendon (weak and fibrous and break very easily and also the reason why roots are needed to dryout between waterings to avoid root rot). Anyways, just my 2 cents.

I am thinking of a root over rock with a Fukien Tea. Tree grows slowly but root structure is usually very attractive and strong.

[a0c8c]

Alot of what I've read says they'd work for root over rock, and their twisted roots look good on a rock.

[StickFish]

Oh, wow! I must say, Big Vine, that I've been considering trying a root-over-rock bonsai, but now I have to. I hadn't been sure of the process for doing something like that, but you've posted everything I'd need, pictures included.

My only question is, can you do this with a tree that's already grown? Or do you have to start them early?

Thanks for such a great documentary! I'm really looking forward to seeing more!

[Big Vine]

Thank-you, StickFish.

My only question is, can you do this with a tree that's already grown? Or do you have to start them early?

The short answer is that I would think that both methods generally work when using suitable material.

Even though I started with a very young plant and 'married' it to the rock at an early age, I am still finding that some of the (now exposed) roots are not quite positioned to my liking. Actually, let me re-phrase that. In general I do like the way the roots are positioned, but I'm not overly pleased with the way they are merely 'draping' over the rock instead of actually 'clasping' onto it.

I have made adjustments with several of the roots in an attempt to begin correcting this, and I will post photos shortly.
BV

[manIK]

Looking forward to the update.

[Gnome]

Big Vine,

In general I do like the way the roots are positioned, but I'm not overly pleased with the way they are merely 'draping' over the rock instead of actually 'clasping' onto it.

I suspect that eventually, with the passage of time, the roots will take on a more mature feel and the arrangement will begin to become more cohesive. It will be interesting to see where this stands at the end of the season.

Norm

[Big Vine]

BACK (before & after)
[img]https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/Big_Vine/Plants/2010/IMG_6480.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/Big_Vine/Plants/2010/IMG_6545.jpg[/img]

Note the root on the far lefthand side (see above) which has been moved to the front of the tree (see below). There is one to the left of it (in the photos below) which I also re-positioned

FRONT (before & after)
[img]https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/Big_Vine/Plants/2010/IMG_6481.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/Big_Vine/Plants/2010/IMG_6546.jpg[/img]

The tree drooped a bit once I moved that root to the front side of the rock, and so I had to wedge that black thingy in there (between tree and rim of pot) for support. There is one other major root I may also decide to move. Either way, I won't be doing much else until the aerial root grows and strengthens and forms a 'support pillar' of sorts (which will allow me to remove the black support thingy you see wedged between the tree and the rim of the pot).
BV

[Bonsai Nutcase]

BV, I love how you improvise! Get 'er done!

[Big Vine]

Thanks Angela.
Since that pic was taken I've had to improvise yet again with a different 'support pillar' type object in a slightly different position, but it's basically accomplishing the same thing.

I've also trimmed off a few of the leaves to allow more light to get at the two new branches emerging from the inner/lower portion of the trunk.

Now I just need to wait, let the tree grow, and let that aerial root really thicken up.
BV

[Slim Genre]

Great thread, I have a couple schefflera I'm going to root over lava rock and a ficus I want to increase aerial rooting on... the straw method has worked to some extent. You cover both topics well, can't wait to see further developments.

[RedKestrel]

Wow, absolutely amazing! I figured that the root-over-rock must go something like that, but this is excelent! These pictures are deffinitely worth a thousand words, if not a lot more! I can't wait to try this now! Thank you for sharing these wonderful pics!

[luigonz]

Big Vine,

what percentage inorganic to organic is your potting medium?

if I had to guess I would say 4 to 1?

I am simply asking because my schefflera doesnt seem to be as vigorous as yours.

thanks
-al