Bonsai Zokei

Honest opinion guys please....

What do you think to this little bonsai.




Martin made it, its artifical. Bonsai Zokei, he found a picture and details on Youtube plus it was a 'How its Made' episode.
He's decided that as he needs a hobby to help him relax and he has always loved the idea of bonsais.....we've had a couple over the years. This was perfect for him. I bought all the bits needed and wrapped individually then in a big box for him for Christmas.

You wrap individual wires in florist tape, then tissue, then wrap groups of them in brown florist tape and bend to shape. Use a piece of bog wood and attach the wires to the wood. You smooth clay around trunk and wrap bits of leaf onto the wires. Brown tape round all of it, used Brown mulberry paper on the log and thicker parts and then added artificial moss/lichen.

Longest part is waiting for the air dry clay to dry.

I think he did really well, its pride of place on my kitchen table right now. He's a perfectionist and been quite critical of his work, I think its perfect.

For a first go at it I would say he's done pretty well!

I wouldn't have known it was artificial unless you'd told me, Karin! You need one of those flat, rectangular pots to put it in, that they're usually displayed in.

Lynda

other than the fact it needs a smaller pot so it has less space for root growth or it will not remain miniature its looking fine . my youngest is a bonsai fan and had lots in his house and garden at one time . most been killed off by cats dogs or weather in last couple of years unfortunately .
never heard of these fakes .must have been fun to do

Yeah the pot was a bit of a problem because i hadn't thought about buyign one...so Martin found an old plant pot holder of mine and used that. We've managed to buy a couple now, but as its held in with clay this one will be staying like that.

LOL @Kim, root growth, it made me laugh because Martin keeps joking every time he walks in the kitchen and sees it that its not grown much. I've half a mind to stick a leaf out the top and pretend.

We've had real ones in the past, but this is better, never a chance to kill it off!!!!!

Well done Martin, it looks really good, I thought it was real at first, I had a couple years ago but the did not last a year, was told I should have put them outside in the summer, but what good is that I bought them to see them in the house, so like Martins ones don't need to put them out.

Well done Martin - I would never have guessed it wasn't the real
thing. Nice new hobby, and creative with it.

thank you. It helps him to hear other peoples comments cos of course he's convinced I'm being polite LOL

I wouldn't have known it wasn't real, a pity as that means he'll have to dust it, or can he wash it?
Seriously though a great job, sounds very time consuming, but then so is card making when they're often thrown away.
What sort is next on the list?

He wants to have a go at the one that look more like umberella, and he says he would love to do a weeping willow one, but that will take more research for supplies me thinks.

It took him overall, added together about 8-10 hours and that doesn't include the drying time.

I think it looks great, very realistic. The trunk is fabulous.

Yeah I like the way he's done the trunk. I keep staring at it IRL and seeing different things.

Meant to ask what did he make the stones with or are they real ones?

That is so clever and realistic Karin, well done to Martin. Malcolm likes bonsai's although not much luck with the one I bought him a few years ago.

Billie, its a real stone, actually a piece of broken concrete but added the moss to make it look real. martin says real bonsai trees should never be put outside so yours would be ok LOL.

LOL at the dusting, he said he'd not thought of that LOL

some bonsai can only live outside karin .tim had lots outside and cheryls uncle who specialises in them has a garden full

Oh didn't know that, Martin has been into bonsai's as long as I've known him, LOL, he's prob only ever had inside ones.

He's started on his second one, its looking good so far.

It looks really real, didn't realise you could make fake ones. I think the only thing I'd have done differently would be to have a branch or two on the other side but that's just a personal preference and not being a bonsei expert I don't have a clue if there are specific shapes you aim for.