AusBonsai

Hi everyone,



I went to my local pet store today and came home with this interesting looking piece of aquarium decor, a big fake log. I plan on doing an ROR sort of deal with this, as I think it could yield some very cool results. I am going to get another one of these so that I can try it with a Tigerbark Ficus and also a Ficus natalensis. However I have a question. I plan on using a young, well rooted, cutting whose roots are not too long. My thought is that that way the roots grow down into the crevices of the log and look more natural. Should I cover the roots in something in order to keep them pinned to the rock, or can I just place the tree on the log and bury up to the top with soil, hoping the roots cling to the log? If I should cover them, what should I use? Thanks for any comments!

This is a really good progression thread of creating a strangler, it is also a good test of different methods...
viewtopic.php?f=104&t=7586

Good luck with your project I think it will look great in a few years time.

Great, thanks Matt!

For now, I'm just going to plant the tree into this 2 foot long tube and letting the roots grow straight downward so that they will be long enough to drape over the decoration.

The Ficus Guy wrote:Great, thanks Matt!

For now, I'm just going to plant the tree into this 2 foot long tube and letting the roots grow straight downward so that they will be long enough to drape over the decoration.

Hey ficus Dude,

Are you sure you wanna go with a fake ornament??? Maybe ask your local fish shop if they dont stock Pisces driftwood, or a large yingshi stone?

Don't think he can get Pisces driftwood, he lives in the USA. I also would be using a more natural host, as when and if the wood rots away you have a very nice exposed root style, that was obviously a strangler.

Thank you both for the replies.

I've searched everywhere for this so called "Pisces driftwood," but have so far come up short. Guess we don't have it here in the States

The ornament doesn't look too fake, and I know I should be using a real piece of wood, but it's just neat for an experiment. I'll search around, however, and if I can find a nice piece of driftwood before I place this one over this decoration I'll definitely use it instead.

For now, I'm just going to let the root system grow out for a while.

Hi Ficus Guy,
Pisces is an Australian, Brisbane based company, that sells aquarium goods, fish, live insects and many other pet industry based items. They sell the imported, driftwood decorations for aquarium use but they are good for bonsai as well. I'm pretty sure that they don't export overseas but you might take a look at your local aquarium/pet dealer for similar products.

Hackimoto wrote:Hi Ficus Guy,
Pisces is an Australian, Brisbane based company, that sells aquarium goods, fish, live insects and many other pet industry based items. They sell the imported, driftwood decorations for aquarium use but they are good for bonsai as well. I'm pretty sure that they don't export overseas but you might take a look at your local aquarium/pet dealer for similar products.

Ah, that would be why. I've been searching eBay and was considering something like this...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Driftwood ... 500wt_1054

To my way of thinking a much better option that plastic that will only fade to look more artificial as time goes on. Wood will age naturally and will look more realistic. Good job finding it.

Hackimoto wrote:To my way of thinking a much better option that plastic that will only fade to look more artificial as time goes on. Wood will age naturally and will look more realistic. Good job finding it.

Thanks! I've been looking at a few pieces, but will probably go with that one. I like the lean in the second picture, I would just need to remove that bottom root so that it sits even.

I have a few pics of ficus growing over old tree stumps you could use for inspiration, ill upload them just as soon as i find them on my hdd if you like mate

VelvetSicklid wrote:I have a few pics of ficus growing over old tree stumps you could use for inspiration, ill upload them just as soon as i find them on my hdd if you like mate

That'd be great, thanks!

.. here you go

Check this whopper log out

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Driftwood ... _500wt_923

The Specimen wrote:.. here you go

Check this whopper log out

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Driftwood ... _500wt_923

I saw that one! I would've went for it but it's only local pickup, and they're a few hours away from me

Here's that stump, it arrived today: