Play Dough and Bonsai

[Webos]

Gday Guys,
A few months back I got some trident whips from Alpine with a plan to attempt the dugzbonsai fusing method. I have been thinking since then how I am going to make this as simple as possible for myself. I've thought about using wire cages, carved stumps and various other things as a form on which to tie the whips to. I finally had a brainwave the other day...Play Dough!!!

So this morning I searched recipes for play dough, cooked some up and got to work. I shaped a nice little tree and nebari from the dough and it is now in the oven cooking away to harden it.

The plan once it has cooked and hardened is to wrap it in very tacky double sided tape, then simply stick the whips to the tape. Whether or not this is going to work, I dont know but we will see by the end of today.

I will post photos throughout the day to let you all know how I'm going with it.

[Bretts]

I think that could work Webos but i am not sure you have enough seedlings there?

[Webos]

Yes Bretts,
I thought the same but in that case I have decided that I will only go 270 degrees around the tree with the whips and leave the back open. Other option is to spread them and wait for an extra year or two for them to fatten and fuse. I will make these decisions ad-hoc as I am wrapping the tree.

Other thing I just thought of now is that if I leave a piece of "Bread" out in the garden, it might attract rats, possums, dogs, etc.

All in the name of experimentation

[kcpoole]

How are you thinking about removeing the dough from inside?
Let it Rot out and wash away?

Cool idea tho, I have a heap of Callistimon self sown here that I am going to do something similar with, and just thinking of what to use as a former.

Ken

[Webos]

I think I'll just leave it there. if it rots away, then good...if not, no loss. Clay would also be a good option I think.

[FlyBri]

Gday Webos!

I'll be interested to see how you go: I've just done a "Dugz" style Trident-thingy with my remaining 22 whips, and I can assure you that they are really fiddly to work with until you get them all secured at the base.

Good luck, and please keep us posted!

Fly.

[Jake]

good idea, it'll be interesting to see if the playdo breaks down over time or stays intact.

[Glenda]

Yes Bretts,
I thought the same but in that case I have decided that I will only go 270 degrees around the tree with the whips and leave the back open. Other option is to spread them and wait for an extra year or two for them to fatten and fuse. I will make these decisions ad-hoc as I am wrapping the tree.

Other thing I just thought of now is that if I leave a piece of "Bread" out in the garden, it might attract rats, possums, dogs, etc.

All in the name of experimentation

Play dough usually has a very high salt content so it doesn't go mouldy - that should keep rats and possums away with a bit of luck.

Glenda

[Tachigi]

Gday Glenda,

Ive seen this done before with plasticine/plastilina, and it worked well. The advantage to using plasticine was that it was just a tad sticky...so (as Fly but it) the seedlings weren't quite as fiddly. So I see no reason why your version shouldn't work minus the critter factor.

Great going...the bulb burned bright for you!

[alpineart]

Nice one Webos , didn't know you could cook ? .Cant wait to see this one come out of the oven . Cheers Alpine

[Joel]

Id be concerned about the salt content.

Joel

[Dario]

Hi Webos, any chance of an update on how you went with the play dough mate?
Cheers, Dario.

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Webos,

That is very clever. I like it. I think it is a lot easier than the wire-frame method.

Are you planning to re-use the cooked-dough later or let it be part of the final tree?

Best regards.

[Matt Jermy]

Id be concerned about the salt content.

Joel

agree. though i hope it works out ok...
i am currently using the top of a large glass bottle of 'evian'...
...its plastic, and cone-shaped, and was great to wrap 12 reds around.
Has been in for a year now, so ill wait and see...

Matt.

[Webos]

It ended up being too small to wrap so many whips around. Ended up wrapping them around an old plastic cone thing I had in the garage. I still think the play dough is a good idea but next time I'll make a bigger one.