Ficus rumphi Bonsai on a Rock

 Ficus Rumphi on a Rock

Ficus rumphi Bonsai on a Rock

This is a variety of Ficus rumphi plant. This is a variety of ficus. This plant is also called as Bodhi Vrush. There  is a little difference between leaf of Ficus religiosa and ficus rumphi. Ficus religiosa  that is peepal tree leaves tip is long and sharp, while ficus rumphi leaves  tip is short and sharp. There are many medicinal uses are there with the latex of this plant. 

Ficus rumphi can be grown from seeds, branches and air layering. its a tropical plant and favorite plant Bonsai lovers because of its trunk line structure, umbrella shape of canopy  and matured radiating roots development of the plant. its a fast growing tree. Responds well to  cutting and pruning by developing more branches from its  nodes. 

 Ficus plant is placed on rock and looking for a correct position on the rock

The placement of plant on a rock should be as natural as it is growing on the rock

After fixing it tie the plant to rock with any tape so plant wont move. Then there will be proper growth of the plant, Roots will hold the rock slowly as they start growing.

This is the fresh placement and positioning on rock . I will share the growth of the plant on coming chapters.

 For a complete video I am sharing the link. Please check it.

Good and Best alternative for raft tape for bending Bonsai tree branches

Good and Best alternative for raft tape for bending Bonsai tree branches

Bonsai is Art of creating beautiful  Trees in shallow pots. when we are shaping or styling a plant it is necessary to bend branches. Some times  bending is very difficult if it is a thick branch. Because some times branch can be brake when we use lots of stress on branch, So to make it convenient to bend a branch without hurting, a rafting material is used to rap around the branches and on wrapping material wiring can be done . Then when we are bending the branch there wont be , damage to the branch because the rapping material is covered around the branch, only some  delicate cracks will be there which will  heal on its  own. This rapping tape is amiable on online. Other wise we can use insulation tape which is having much sticky substance. any eletrical insulation tape is also good. Another option is  Banana Plant stem will bw having some dried brown fiber like thin ribbon like patches will be coving the stem. They are Having Lots of fiber inside it, that is good for wrapping around the branches. Jute cloth also can be cut in to ribbons and can be used as wrapping tape. these are safe and good options for raft material. 

In this video construction tape is used to bend branches.

Here In this video jute thread Sutali is used instead of raft tape.

Challenging Bonsai China Box Buxus

China Box is a good plant for any style of Bonsai. Long Back I bought a stone from a nursey.  Select a plant which is having attractive trunk line.

Plant is already having a good trunk line, nice branching. Thought of enhancing the beauty of the plant with placing  a behind the plant. 

Started searching a suitable rock . The structure of sand stone is matching with trunk line maturity.

Merging the rock and plant is a job of lots of creativity because the trunk and roots should be completely merged with rock . 

The roots are well developed and radiating in all directions giving a matured look to the plant.

Now we have to see the placement and position of the plant with the Rock. Check all sides of the rock and select one side that will be the front side and suitable for placing the plant. Now if we place plant as it is the plant and stone match with each other because the roots are covered with lots of soil. Some of the soil to be removed.   

Half of the soil is removed from down . So height of the plant is reduced to suit with the rock 

Now soil from back of the plant is also reduced

  

Some of the Soil from back side of the Plant is also reduced and placed near rock .

Merge the plant with rock , by removing back soil plant bought near the rock , so the trunk line of the plant perfectly fits with the groves of the rock.

pot is fitted with new soil

some wiring is done to give a shape to the plant

Video of Making a Rock Grown Bonsai. 

 Buxus microphylla is plant of  small leaves bushy plant. Its slow growing . Usually used for hedges and can be given a beautiful shape and challenging plant to grow as a Bonsai tree. Common nursery name of this plant is china box.

Making challenging Plant to a Bonsai is definitely a demanding  work for Bonsai lovers. Plant grows up to 6.5 feet tall. Branches are strong and needs little heavy gauge wire to bend. It is having a strong wood cambium. Good for making shari and Jin on the trunk line and branches. 

The most important point is this plant needs moist little alkane soil and grows well in shady place. Well drained soil is good for proper root growth. It prefers high dose of Nitrogen as fertilizer.

This is a nursery grown plant and is growing from branches. Buxus can be grown from seeds and branches.

Here Buxus is having twin trunk . Main trunk long and thin. Most of the branches were removed ,only one branch is selected and given a shape by wiring.

Then the plant is kept in a shady place with good  nutritious soil which is required for the plant Buxus to have harmonious proper development.

After Six months Lower is kept and allowed to grow. Then top portion of the main trunk is removed.

                                                                                                     

This is proper development after one year. Buxus is having vigorous grow with many fresh new branches and green leaves. The fascinating curves of Buxus makes the plant more stylish with a unique pot. Bends of the second trunk are in harmony with the shape of the pot. 

Styling Thuja Orientalis ( Morpunkhi ) on A rock penjing

 Morpunki it is also called as Thuja orientalis and also called as Platycladus. This is a good Plant for Bonsai. Thuja is of plant  like cypress and ever green. In favorable conditions it can be grown as a indoor Bonsai, otherwise it is a little shade loving plant. it can be grow up to 10 to 12 feet. It is a slow growing medicinal plant. The leaves of the plant grown in flatten manner new leaves will have light fresh green color and old ones will be in dark green color. 

I bought a Thuja plant from a nursery and thought of making it in to a Bonsai. 

                                                             Plant Before Pruning  

It is a nursery plant. just five years old. This plant is growing from branches, Thuja is slow growing plant with small tiny leaves. giving shape to this plant is little demanding job because of many small branches on the main trunk line. First we have to clean and clear the main trunk line by removing all small , tiny branches. then we get a clear view to wiring and styling of the plant. 

After some  cleaning we can see some space between branches and that gives a clear view for further steps of styling.

After Some pruning and cleaning

After Some wiring started styling Plant

By bending Morpunkhi , it was given a shape

After styling , its the time to repot the plant to a selected Bonsai pot. The pot and the plant should be synchronize and co exit in a natural way. 

This time instead of Pot a lawa stone is selected to place the plant as if it is growing from a mountain.

The Surface of stone is having good structure with small groves.

  

Select a best suitable place spot and angle on the rock to place the plant and make a grove by carving a notch to fit the plant in the rock.  

 

  

Plant will be place in this groove. 

Remove  some of soil and cut down the extra roots and place plant on the stone.

Click on this link for  Complete video of making