Shimpaku no Ishizuki: "Stone-Affixed" Juniper
by Masahiko Kimura
"Stone-affixed" bonsai, as the name suggests, means bonsai that have been affixed to, or planted on, stone. However, there are various styles of bonsai which lie within this category. These include bonsai which use flat stones as a kind of planter, bonsai which have been affixed to an upright stone, bonsai which include one or more trees planted on one stone, and others. In any case, they are the many expressions of natural landscapes: the plant life that struggles to live on a cliff face, the trees that grow upon a wind-swept outcropping, scenes which give an overwhelming feeling of nature's severity.
Unlike bonsai planted in a container, bonsai affixed to an upright stone are in a state of instability. If the bonsai is not fixed firmly at the beginning it will fall apart whenever moved, and the original conception will be lost. Yet, stone-affixed bonsai are not that difficult to create. It is a simple matter of understanding the points of design.
Photo 1
This juniper was planted as a cutting 25 to 30 years ago. It has been carefully cultivated since that time, so its beauty can be fully appreciated. When creating stone-affixed bonsai, it is more important to have a tree design like this one, with low-positioned branches which are fairly long. By trimming the branches in a way which harmonizes with the stone's shape, the union of the stone and tree is emphasized.
Photo 2
Stones which are rich in unevenness are best suited for stone-affixed bonsai. It is also important that the stone is able to balance upright after the tree's planting. This stone is said to have come from the Ibi River, as do most of the stones used for stone-affixed bonsai in Japan. When choosing a stone, selection cannot be based on shape alone. It is more important to think about how the size and shape of the tree being used will balance with the stone. It is also important that the tree and stone's characters fit together harmoniously and do not clash.
Photo 3
First, careful consideration must be taken over the location on the stone where the tree will be planted, as well as the angle of its planting. After this decision has been made, a small hole is drilled in the stone and a wire is inserted, along with some glue, in order to hold the tree's roots. Since it is not known what kind of problems may occur during the bonsai's creation, it is probably best to ready many such wires. In the case here, wires have been readied in seven locations. A glue designed exclusively for this is sold in Japan, but in any case, a strong glue should be used.
Photo 4
Next, soil is molded onto the stone in the area where the tree's roots will spread. For this soil, wet peat moss which has been thoroughly mixed with "granulated earth" and sphagnum moss, to promote moisture retention, is used. The major portion of the tree's roots are placed on the rear side of the stone in order not to hide the stone's interesting shape when viewed from the front. However, a portion of the roots also should be spread around to the rock's front side. To understand this even balance, please examine as many "stone-affixed" bonsai as possible beforehand.
Photos 5 and 6
This step concerns the condition of the junipers' roots. When most bonsai are transplanted, after the old soil is removed, the roots are cut to fit the new planter. However, in the case of stone-affixed bonsai, in order that the roots may spread over the prepared soil, one must make sure to leave them long. Also, to ensure that the roots attach themselves firmly to the new soil, as much as possible of the old remaining soil is removed.
Photos 7 and 8
The tree is set in the chosen location, and the roots are tied down. Since stone-affixed bonsai are unstable, unlike bonsai planted in containers, it is important to tie the roost down firmly. After this, the same soil as that used before is placed over the roots and a finishing layer of wet peat moss is placed over all. In placing the moss, the bonsai's beauty becomes apparent, but the moss also performs the role of preventing soil loss during watering and retaining moisture. Since wet peat moss is difficult to return to its previous state once it has dried out, appropriate care needs to be taken.
Photo 9
Here is a front view of the bonsai after it has been planted on the stone. Previously, it had grown on its own, so it presented no sense of disorder, but after transplantation and arrangement, trimming is necessary to alter its frontal appearance.
Photo 10
Here is how the bonsai appears after trimming. It has been trimmed clean. In the manner of a tree growing on an outcropping, its branches express a feeling of movement with the wind. Just after planting, if it has been set firmly and the wiring has been done, there is nothing to worry about. However, in order to be safe, it is probably best to wait at least two months before shaping the tree so that the roots may adjust.
Photo 11
The finished stone-affixed bonsai is placed in a shallow basin and displayed. Through adding small plants and trees to the presentation, the bonsai's elegance is increased beyond that expressed by a single tree alone. After this, regular maintenance is performed, taking care not to let the soil dry out and keeping the bonsai out of windy conditions. Watering the tree's leaves from above is an effective way to care for the bonsai.