How to Make a Small Rockery Bonsai? Latest Method Explained in Detail

A rockery bonsai is a three-dimensional painting. Through the author's artistic processing and the magical technique of shrinking heaven and earth, the beauty of nature is reproduced in a tiny pot through the combination of mountain forms, plants and accessories, creating a work of art that originates from nature yet rises above it. It can be called a miniature of natural mountain and water scenery. Now let us take a look at how to make a small rockery bonsai!

Choosing the Bonsai Pot

In making a small rockery bonsai, the pot must first be chosen well. Bonsai places great emphasis on the setting off provided by the pot and the stand. Pots generally include purple clay pots, porcelain trays, marble trays, stalactite “cloud trays”, terrazzo trays and so on. The shallow trays commonly used for landscape rock bonsai are mostly rectangular or oval, with four feet underneath, and the rim protrudes outward with multiple facets to enhance the decorative quality; white or light blue ones can show the water surface. At present, white hard plastic shallow trays and white cement terrazzo trays are sold on the market at low prices and may also be chosen. As for the stands for displaying the pots, local materials can be used to create stands rich in local characteristics.

Designing the Bonsai

Before making a small rockery bonsai, you must have a clear plan in mind. You must determine what kind of bonsai you are making and what kind of bonsai shape it will be, otherwise you will not know where to start. According to the conception, initially arrange the shape of the mountain form in a sand tray. Note: the height and size of the rockery must be in proportion to the size of the shallow-mouthed pot.

Making the Bonsai

1. Gluing the mountain form: first prepare the cement glue slurry. Note that the slurry should be mixed as it is used, and also pay attention to the thickness of the slurry.

2. Processing the stone material: use hammers, chisels, saws and other tools to work the mountain form that needs gluing into textures and relatively unusual shapes.

3. Bonding the mountain form: apply cement glue slurry separately with inset panels to both sides of the rocks that need to be bonded so that the rocks fit together as one. When bonding, note that the bonded areas of the rocks should as far as possible show no trace of fracture, and also note that excess slurry at the bonded areas should be cleaned off completely.

Bonsai Maintenance

1. After a rockery bonsai is completed, it must not be touched or moved right away. It should be sprayed with water and cared for for two or three days before the mountain form becomes basically firm.

2. The flowers and plants arranged in a rockery bonsai are young and delicate. Because the soil stores little water, they cannot withstand exposure to strong sunlight and can only receive appropriate sunlight. At the same time, exposure to the sun will cause the ornaments on the bonsai to fade, peel off and break, making the entire bonsai lose its ornamental value. Therefore, shading should usually be strengthened. Especially in midsummer, it must be cared for under a shade shed, otherwise the flowers and trees will grow poorly, shrivel, and the moss on the soil surface will dry up.

3. Outdoor management of a rockery bonsai must prevent washing by heavy rain. When watering, do not make it too forceful, otherwise the pot soil will be washed away and plant growth will be affected. When supplying water to a rockery bonsai, it is best to use spraying or soaking, which not only benefits the growth of the plants, flowers and moss, but also washes away dust on the surface of the rocks, keeping the whole rockery fresh and verdant and full of vitality.

Conclusion: Water can be stored in a small rockery bonsai, and occasionally pavilions, boats and bridges, figures, animals and other components can be added. Trees or small plants can also often be arranged with it. Through artistic processing, the beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers is condensed and reproduced in the pot. At the same time, the rockery is the main body of a landscape rock bonsai, and only after the making of the rockery is completed can a complete landscape rock bonsai be assembled.