Page 151 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

Creating a rock planting 151

Create the scene

11 Prepare the first tree.
Remove some—but not all— Ensure roots
of the old soil, and tease sit comfortably
in the crevice
out the roots (see p.131).

12 Prune back large roots
(see p.132). Aim to keep as
much of the fibrous root
system as possible, but test
the tree against the planting
space and trim back the
roots to ensure that it will
sit nicely in position on top
of a layer of soil mix.

13 Make a keto “pot.” Build
a wall of keto soil around the
edge of the rock, starting just
under the lip of the planting
shelf. Push it firmly onto
the rock surface and mold
it into shape; it should stay in
place easily. Once the wall is 11 12
in position, pour a layer of
small-particle soil mix into
the planting area. Press a ball of keto
against the rock and
mold it into a wall to
retain the soil
14 Position the tree.
Manipulate the roots to
reposition the trunk and
achieve the ideal orientation.

Keto is pressed
firmly under the
planting shelf
13 14