hydrophyte
Member
- Joined
- 22 Aug 2009
- Messages
- 1,044
Training Bonsai Tree for Planted Riparium
I have been trying out a couple of new kinds of plants for use in ripariums that might be good candidates for developing more or less as bonsai specimens. I started another discussion over in the Aquascaping forum about the idea of borrowing from ikebana floral arrangements to design a planted riparium layout. Here is the link to that thread...
Riparium Ikebana | UK Aquatic Plant Society
I copy here the general proposed characteristics for a riparium of this sort...
I don't envision training a small tree as a formal bonsai intended to look like a large mature tree in miniature, but instead as something more like literati bonsai, which generally features a slender trunk rising up with natural curves. Here are some examples of literati bonsai trees... literati bonsai wiki - Google Search
I have one of the plants that I intend to grow like this already. Buttonbush is a native North America swamp plant in the coffee family (Rubiaceae) and it has attractive and fragrant white snowball flowers. Here is a still dormant plant that I got through an online sale.
Most temperate zone trees/bushes like buttonbush do not like to grow indoors and require a cool winter dormancy period, but I found several references to growing it as indoor bonsai. So I'm going to try it out.
I have a few more pictures to share and I'll post more later. I should have more plant material this weekend and I'll try to get additional new photos and descriptions.
I have been trying out a couple of new kinds of plants for use in ripariums that might be good candidates for developing more or less as bonsai specimens. I started another discussion over in the Aquascaping forum about the idea of borrowing from ikebana floral arrangements to design a planted riparium layout. Here is the link to that thread...
Riparium Ikebana | UK Aquatic Plant Society
I copy here the general proposed characteristics for a riparium of this sort...
- shallow and broad rimless aquarium enclosure
- the best hardscape and gravel materials
- graceful, slender and vertical driftwood branches
- nano fish
- erect riparium stem or grassy plant with open foliage and graceful form
- shorter midground foliage providing depth and contrast
I don't envision training a small tree as a formal bonsai intended to look like a large mature tree in miniature, but instead as something more like literati bonsai, which generally features a slender trunk rising up with natural curves. Here are some examples of literati bonsai trees... literati bonsai wiki - Google Search
I have one of the plants that I intend to grow like this already. Buttonbush is a native North America swamp plant in the coffee family (Rubiaceae) and it has attractive and fragrant white snowball flowers. Here is a still dormant plant that I got through an online sale.
Most temperate zone trees/bushes like buttonbush do not like to grow indoors and require a cool winter dormancy period, but I found several references to growing it as indoor bonsai. So I'm going to try it out.
I have a few more pictures to share and I'll post more later. I should have more plant material this weekend and I'll try to get additional new photos and descriptions.