How do you make a small rockery bonsai? A detailed guide to the making method

A rockery bonsai is a three-dimensional painting. Through the author's artistic processing and the magical technique of moving heaven and shrinking earth, the beauty of nature is reproduced in a tiny pot through the arrangement 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 pot

In making a small rockery bonsai, the first thing is to choose the pot well. Bonsai places great importance on the pot and the stand that sets it off. Pots generally include purple clay pots, porcelain dishes, marble trays, stalactite “cloud trays”, terrazzo trays and so on. The shallow trays commonly used for rock-and-stone bonsai are mostly rectangular or oval, with four feet at the bottom, and the rim bulges outward with many facets to enhance the decorative effect; white or light blue, they can show the water surface. The white hard plastic shallow trays and white cement terrazzo trays currently sold on the market are cheap and can also be used. As for the stands displaying the pots, you can use local materials and create stands rich in local character.

Designing the bonsai

Before making a small rockery bonsai, you must have a well-thought-out plan. You must decide what kind of bonsai to make and what kind of bonsai shape to use, otherwise you will not know where to begin. According to your conception, first lay out the shape of the mountain body 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 body: first mix the cement glue slurry well. 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: use tools such as a hammer, chisel and saw to work the mountain body that needs gluing into textures and rather unusual shapes.

3. Bonding the mountain body: apply cement glue slurry with panels to both sides of the rocks that need to be bonded so that the rocks fit together as one. When bonding, note that you should try to make the joints of the rocks show no trace of breakage, and also be careful to clean away the excess glue slurry at the joints.

Bonsai care

1. After the rockery bonsai is completed, it must not be touched or moved immediately. It should be sprayed with water and cared for for two or three days, only then will the mountain body basically become firm.

2. The flowers and plants arranged in the 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 whole bonsai lose its ornamental value. Therefore, shade should be strengthened at ordinary times. Especially in midsummer it must be cared for under a shade shed, otherwise the flowers and trees will grow poorly, shrink, and the moss on the soil surface will dry up.

3. Outdoor management of the rockery bonsai must prevent washing by heavy rain, and when watering, do not pour too forcefully, otherwise the pot soil will be washed away and the growth of the plants will be affected. When watering the rockery bonsai, it is best to use the spraying or soaking method. This not only benefits the growth of the plants, flowers and moss, but also washes away the dust on the surface of the rocks, keeping the whole rockery fresh and green and full of vitality.

Conclusion: Water can be stored in a small rockery bonsai, and it can occasionally be decorated with components such as pavilions, boats and bridges, figures and animals, and can also often be paired with trees or small plants. 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 rock-and-stone bonsai, and only after the making of the rockery is completed can a complete rock-and-stone bonsai be assembled.