Hey, I have recently "inherited" a sawn off tree trunk from a plum tree. It has several shoot growing and I was thinking of cultivating a couple of them into bonsai, but grown on the trunk.

Just wondering if anyone else has tried this and if so, if you might have any tips? I was thinking of exposing some of the wood below the bark on the underside, and sitting that in some soil - do you think that could work?

Hmm. If I understand correctly you have a trunk without roots and some new shoots comming out of the trunk? In that case the answer is no. Trees cannot live very long without roots. The small shoots are the last breath of life, when they fall it is over.

I think that is a unique and beautiful idea. Maybe you just hollow out the stump a little and plant something totally different?A juniper growing from a plum trunk. Good luck. I'd love to see some photos.

If the trunk has any bonsai similarities, you can use it for a tanuki bonsai.