Custom Metal Vessels

[Scriv]

Kind of a random post, but I've recently caught the bug of exploring different vessel options for displaying my trees... maybe toy around with building small, abstract metal structures to insinuate our ever encroaching push on the natural landscape.

From a horticultural perspective, what materials should I shy away from? For example, would aluminum leech into the soil and conduct too much heat? Would iron content in another alloy rust and negatively effect the health of the tree.

Curious if anyone has really looked into this and what materials you might recommend.

Danke

 

[rockm]

Kind of a random post, but I've recently caught the bug of exploring different vessel options for displaying my trees... maybe toy around with building small, abstract metal structures to insinuate our ever encroaching push on the natural landscape.

From a horticultural perspective, what materials should I shy away from? For example, would aluminum leech into the soil and conduct too much heat? Would iron content in another alloy rust and negatively effect the health of the tree.

Curious if anyone has really looked into this and what materials you might recommend.

Danke

This has come up a lot over the years. Bottom line, metal isn't a real good option for bonsai containers, they rust under the application of a lot of acidic stuff, from the soil, to the fertilizers used, to the heat conductivity and the comparative weight of the container, not to mention the limited forms containers come in. That said there are some novel applications of brake drums and other stuff. Rust in itself isn't necessarily a problem for the tree, as much as it is structurally in supporting the tree, inducing drainage, etc. FWIW, nothing beats stone and ceramic for "natural landscapes." Stone slabs and intricately molded ceramic and cement pots do a pretty good job of what you're probably going for. They also last a lot longer than metal.

Michael Hagedorn's Historic Ponderosa Restyling (in a rusty old brake drum!)

In Michael's own words: "Years ago a friend dropped off an old brake drum, an old rusted thing from a car, and said ‘Put something in that’. I was pretty amused and said I would, and yet it’s taken me a while to find something worthy of it. We finally did, this spring, and it was the first time...

stonelantern.com

Bonsai Tree Scappage Scheme - Graham Potter | Kaizen Bonsai Blog

I was busy replacing some knackered benches over the holiday and whilst clearing up and poking around in the back hedge I turned up an old brake disk. This rusty bit of iron came from an MG/Austin project from the late fifties I did years ago. Not too sure how it found it’s way into […]

www.grahampotterbonsai.com

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I saw this at a show in May. Made me wonder if the truck was it's permanent pot or just for the show.

 

[doc spring _work]

I saw this at a show in May. Made me wonder if the truck was it's permanent pot or just for the show.

View attachment 560952

Might be permanent I remember on little things for bonsai people Michael Hagedorn or possibly his apprentice talked about growing conifers in metal containers with great success, the thread link above does look to have quotes of what I remember being said

 

[Cajunrider]

If we can use weathering steel such as Corten steel for out door tanks, bridges, and even planters, I am certain we can use them for bonsai pots.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Bonsai have been planted in many different metal containers over the past thirty odd years.

imho Michael Hagedorn is the reigning champion of odd containers…and his acolytes have caught the bug too. Here are a few.

The first are from Michael, the third from Aaron Packard at PBM. Forget who developed the fourth, someone out of BSOP. Ryan Neal created the final one.









The Better Half prepping this tree for Avant Garden exposition at PBM.


Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Scriv]

Bonsai have been planted in many different metal containers over the past thirty odd years.

imho Michael Hagedorn is the reigning champion of odd containers…and his acolytes have caught the bug too. Here are a few.

The first are from Michael, the third from Aaron Packard at PBM. Forget who developed the fourth, someone out of BSOP. Ryan Neal created the final one.

View attachment 561054

View attachment 561055

View attachment 561056

View attachment 561057

The Better Half prepping this tree for Avant Garden exposition at PBM.
View attachment 561058

Cheers
DSD sends

These are amazing. Thank you for sharing. Do you know if Michael has a write up where he talks about materials or what to avoid?

 

[Maiden69]

If I'm not wrong this tree is or was Ryan's tree. I remember the repotting into the container, a cover for a lamp or something similar.

There was a guy here, can't remember who that did a few small containers in steel. I thought about doing the same but I don't think it would go well with the TX sun. Talk about well-done roots!

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

These are amazing. Thank you for sharing. Do you know if Michael has a write up where he talks about materials or what to avoid?

They are awesome.

Could give an answer, best thing to do is email Micheal or get on his blog and ask him directly.
Crataegusbonsai.co

Best
DSD sends

 

[Michael P]

In North Texas I have used plow disks for years with several different species.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

In North Texas I have used plow disks for years with several different species.

That's a great idea! Wish I'd thought of it before the scrap man cleaned up grandpa's farm.

 

[Michael P]

That's too bad!

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

I know a number of farmers in this area, I might be able to wrangle some in exchange for a little "free" labor.

 

[Michael P]

They do eventually wear out or break in ways that don't affect their use as bonsai pots.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

My grandfather had dozens of old ones laying in one place where they'd been replaced over the years.
In this area, they are quite often repurposed into "discos," basically an outdoor gas wok used for a lot of different "New" Mexican foods.

 

[shinmai]

I have a wooden sake cup, a 2.75” cube shape, which is going to become an accent pot. I also have a couple of burl wood bowls from art fairs that my wife doesn’t like, and they will become kusamono containers. I may be mistaken, but I think it will be as simple as drilling the holes and then coating the interior with a waterproof epoxy or polyurethane coating.
A while back someone posted here about planting a Hawaiian umbrella tree in a Spam can. That one had me laughing so hard I nearly wet myself.
If you want to see who sets the bar for avant-garde containers, it’s definitely Dave Crust, in Freeze-your-ass-off, Minnesota. There’s an article from Minnesota public radio here: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/05/09/punk-rocker-of-bonsai-world-at-work-in-northern-minnesota. He is best known for having placed a larch in a junked Hoover vacuum cleaner and entering it in the 2015 Artisans Cup, pretty much stunning the audience. Supposedly a well-known German bonsai artist said that David’s presentation caused him to re-think how he defined bonsai. David is a disciple of Nick Lenz, and googling Lenz’s work will twist your brain like a pretzel.