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How to water a vertically standing bonsai? 7 years 4 months ago #27304

  • leatherback
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I am not sure why you think it needs to be in a shallow tray. If you aim to get the roots grasp the rock, you would normally use a think foil around what you have now, and bury the whole think up to the top of the roots in a bigger pot and lit the whole thing grow for a few years. Then you roots can slowly be trained to accept sunlight and the rock with roots can stand free, with only the lower roots in substrate.

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How to water a vertically standing bonsai? 7 years 4 months ago #27305

  • Auk
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I used to be a musician.


But before you were a musician, you were not a musician.

Even from the very beginning me (and my teachers) would say "piece of music/art"


That piece was a piece of art or a piece of music. What you were playing, the first time you played notes, probably wasn't music.

You'd say "this painting" while you're making it, not "this piece of paper that will become a painting when I finish it"


I think you would say 'I'm making a painting', not 'this is a painting'.

The rest about "that isn't a shallow tray" argument, I would genuinely like to know why this is not a shallow tray while those examples are.


Some of the examples actually are on (very) shallow trays. Some of them are not bonsai, but another art form. But I have to admit you are right. I gave you a too generic definition. In general, bonsai are trees in shallow trays, but that can be slabs, rocks or anything that looks good and gives a natural impression of a tree in its surroundings.

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How to water a vertically standing bonsai? 7 years 4 months ago #27306

  • krystal
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That actually sounds cool, I'll look into this technique. Thanks.

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How to water a vertically standing bonsai? 7 years 4 months ago #27307

  • krystal
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Ok thanks for the clarification.

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How to water a vertically standing bonsai? 7 years 4 months ago #27308

  • Madartej21
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Ok dude. I'll post a picture when I finish it. And if you don't like it, I'll call a neo-bonsai or something.


I hope I'll be here in 20 so years so I can judge

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How to water a vertically standing bonsai? 7 years 4 months ago #27316

  • krystal
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Madartej21 wrote:

I hope I'll be here in 20 so years so I can judge


Ouch, that's even more grounding than the "you don't call this a bonsai", I thought it would take much, much less, lol!

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How to water a vertically standing bonsai? 7 years 4 months ago #27321

  • Auk
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That's a conservative estimate. In 15 years, you'll have a trunk that you can work with. In 20 years a decent bonsai.
If you want a really good bonsai, it will take a few decades. If it's a young conifer, a few centuries.

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How to water a vertically standing bonsai? 7 years 4 months ago #27359

  • krystal
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There's a 40 year old Molle in the garden. I'll take a cutting, that could go a bit faster. Also a 5 year old one that I can transplant. These should keep me occupied until waiting ...

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Last edit: Post by krystal.

How to water a vertically standing bonsai? 7 years 4 months ago #27360

  • leatherback
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No idea what a molle is. But why not take the old one?

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How to water a vertically standing bonsai? 7 years 4 months ago #27381

  • augustine
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Back to your question. The soil of bonsai planted on stones is normally covered with moss to prevent washing away when water is applied. I don't know any other tricks. Maybe you just have to give it a gentle sprinkle, it may be able to withstand a stream from a watering can with a very fine rose or the misting mode of a garden house.

You're doing fine, a bonsai is defined as a "plant in a pot." Don't be discouraged, the main focus, IMO, is enjoyment.

There is, however an important thing you need to learn and that is the use of proper bonsai soil. I realize that your plant may be fine in what appears to be potting soil but most trees/shrubs trained for bonsai need a granular open substrate with good drainage. You'll find plenty of information about bonsai soil online,

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