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The artistic and poetic combination of Suiseki and Bonsai creates a true work of art.
The combination adds life to the suiseki and strength to the bonsai. And to both, a sense of timeless beauty is added.
Combinations of suiseki and bonsai
The best combinations are achieved with suiseki and bonsai that are found together in nature.
suiseki and bonsai should be in harmony
combination should enhance feeling and aesthetics of each other
always follow nature
reflect spirit of full-size counterparts
suggest natural forms with simplicity
The two methods of combining are:
rock planting (ishi-tsuki)
tray landscape (boneki)
The combination of tree and suiseki is especially beneficial for both the lovers of bonsai and for lovers of suiseki alike:
very young bonsai with suiseki can be enjoyed immediately
flaws in suiseki can be hidden by attaching bonsai
moss or soil can be used to stabilize uneven stone
When used with Bonsai, the best suiseki features are:
many natural crevices
irregular contours, fissures
weathered channels
rough surfaces
stones which hold soil well
crevices used to attach guide roots, or hide anchor wires
When used with suiseki, the best Bonsai are:
maple trees-- roots attach easily, mold to stone
mature trees
young seedling trees
dwarf varieties with many long, thin, flexible, even roots
slow growing trees
pine and spruce need little moisture, look attractive
dwarf box, buttonwood, Japanese yew, Chinese juniper, needle juniper, hemlock, cypress, fir
About Bonsai
Quality features of Bonsai:
suggests features of full-sized tree
small leaves, branches, etc.
tapered trunk, beautiful aged bark
thick dense foliage, in clusters
balanced branches in scale tree size
5 traditional Bonsai shapes:
- formal upright
- informal upright
- slanting
- semi-cascade
- cascade
Tray landscapes
The success of your tray landscape depends heavily on the container:
think of it as a frame for a painting
preferred are earthenware or ceramic
sometimes used are cement, bronze, wood and copper
Containers for rock planting and tray landscapes are:
usually 2 inches deep or less
depth closely related to width and length
the longer /wider, the greater depth.
oval or rectangular containers best
round, square and hexagon shapes also used
Color considerations for containers:
- container colors and object colors should not compete
- avoid distracting bright-colored containers
- Most collectors prefer :
- neutral colors (beige and off-white)
- subdued natural earth tones (dark brown, dark red, dark green, gray)
- pastels work well with color of most suiseki and bonsai
Rock Plantings
Two styles of rock plantings which are dramatic and effective:
- Root Over Rock Style:
- roots are trained down over stone
- roots trained into bed of soi
- 2 or more water drainage holes, 1 inch diameter
- Clinging To Rock Style:
- bonsai grown entirely on the stone
- roots wholly contained within peat pressed onto stone
- bed of soil not required
- stone typically placed in shallow suiban with sand, water or both
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