Paul Weishaar, club President, begins by explaining what to look for in a rock for a possible slab planting based on color, size, shape, and porosity, among other considerations.

The rock slab is prepared for planting by attaching wires to the planting area to hold the trees in place.  If the rock is soft enough, holes can be drilled into the rock to hold the wires.  If the rock is too hard, the wires can be attached to the surface using epoxy or some other appropriate adhesive.

Paul has selected a grove of Korean Hornbeam for this demonstration.  The trees selected for the slab planting are already growing as a grove in a regular bonsai pot.  They are carefully removed from the pot, keeping the root mass intact as much as possible.

Excess soil is removed from the root mass and the root mass is shaped to fit in the planting area on the rock slab.  The trees are given their preliminary placement.

The trees are placed on the slab and fastened in place with the attached wires.  They are placed in their final position, with the roots getting careful attention as to arrangement.  Be sure to keep the root mass moist as you work.

Moss is added for both decoration and moisture retention

The finished product!!  Members contributed to a raffle of the finished slab planting.  Rob Pugh draws the winning name, and the winner is . . . Joyce Wozniak, who is presented the planting by Paul.

[ Top ]

Copyright © 1999 - 2009      Indianapolis Bonsai Club, www.indybonsai.org

Slab Planting Demonstration