how long to keep tree under wraps

[DhD47]

I wanted to know how long would I need to keep a tree wrapped to a rock? I'm planning to have a Japanese Larch planted over a rock I found at the pet store. Should I pack some soil in with the roots under the plastic wrap? Do the roots have to be tight against the rock all the way from the tree to the soil below or will they grow to the rock over time? I noticed the root in a few areas bend away from the rock and I don't want to force the roots to the rock and cause them to break.

Thanks for any information.
Dave

 

[leatherback]

Roots do not grow towards the rock. Spaces that are left, will still be there when you uncover. If you cannot put it flush, maybe the roots are already too thick to be usefull?

I do not have a lot of experience putting trees on rocks; The ones I have done have received very little material between the foil and the rock: You want the roots to hug the rock. I am currently growing a fig, has been on the rock for 3 years now. There I placed the tree on the rock with very little roots, and just placed little bits of soil in the area where I wanted the roots to go, in the hope the roots follow the more nutritient rich areas. In a way I am trying to recreate the way these normally form: Roots grow into crevices with soil, and with time the roots grow out of the soil / the soil erodes away.

 

[sorce]

You do have to get them quite snug.

This is usually a 2 human, 4 hand, ordeal!

I believe Crust will know best, check out all his larch threads!

Sorce

 

[jk_lewis]

How long you keep it wrapped depends upon how mature the roots were when you taped them onto the rock. The roots need to be small and flexible enough to be laid onto the rock with no gaps between the root and the rock. The wrapping then would be as tight as you can make it, then the entire thing is buried in soil. In a year, you can start exposing some of the upper part of the root/rock, then more in the next year, etc.

 

[crust]

Don't be timid and persist on getting everything as tight as possible. be sure there is a bit of slime or soil on the rock or in the roots then use stretch wrap or tape to hold it all together. be picky and crafty--compose the roots don't just mash them on.I then follow with something stronger like flat nylon strap(even ratchet straps) or wires with padding and cinch everything down. Use chunks of wood or whatever to pin down problem areas. I even know of bonzo freaks who make a bondo casting of the rock and use that as an armature to hold down roots. Then into a big pot for a couple seasons to get fine roots then the ground for a couple to really lock everything--this is what I have done--with some variations. I have learned that just binding and throwing in the ground does not work for me--usually just a few select roots fatten up and cool fine ones die so I run them into a pot until I have some fine roots.

 

[DhD47]

Here are photos of my first 2 try's. Guess you can't really see much but posting anyway.

Both are larch trees I got from eBay. I plan to let these grow out that is why I have them in a larger planter. I have the roots held in place with the plastic wrap and packing tape to hold it in place. I used a chop stick to pack in sand around the roots so moisture would be held around the roots on the rocks.
Any comments would be great.

 

[crust]

Take good care of the wee lower branches and don't let them run too much. They will be your post-hack future.

 

[DhD47]

Why you say keep them from running you're saying to prune them but don't remove them completely?

Thanks,
D

 

[leatherback]

Yes. You want them alive, but not long. Remember: Once a bud is gone, you are not going to get it back with Larch. So let the top grow out as much as you want, taking care the lower branches receive loads of sun. Bud once the lower branches start to push long growth, you trim them back to half an inch of that years growth. This way you keep the growth close to the trunk which will allow you to build a canopy once your roots have set.

 

[Boscology]

I'm planning to have a Japanese Larch planted over a rock I found at the pet store

Is your rock furry and does it maybe have a collar?

 

[sorce]

Or was it advertised as scentless?

Sorce