rock "mounted" bonsai - advice on a pot

[Myxamatosis]

I have been doing bonsai for about as long as I have been doing orchids, but I have found an interesting problem. I bought a large rock with a depression that I will fill with soil and plant a tree in, somewhat similar to orchid mounts. The rock I bought stands on end but is very wobbly, so a friend and I attempted to cut the bottom off the rock but proved to be too hard for both a circular mason saw and pneumatic chisel. So I have decided to place the rock in a tray filled with a few inches of sand to stabilize the rock. The only problem is finding a tray about two inches deep and large enough to hold the stone. I have thought about using wood and some glue to make a tray. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to construct something like this.

Sam

[Stelios]

I would recoment to use silicon gel. A tube and pump with nosel should be available in every hardware store. There are even silicon gels with anti fungal protection in case this property is also needed.
You could do it in different ways. One way would be to make a few circles around the end you want to use as a base so that a clear base of silicon will form and make it steady.
Another way would be to just use a flat wooden base and use the silicon in the same way to mount the rock on the base. Then you can use similar rock pebles or gravel and use the silicon gel to stick them on the silicon base. That way you will have a rock that appears it stand on a small mountain of gravel by defying gravity.
Or you can just buy a wooden bowl or tray or even a teracota tray and put some colored sand in it and then put the rock pot on the sand.

[lmartiny]

I was going to suggest the terra cotta pot saucer.

[Brooke]

When you plant the tree in the depression area, how will the water drain away from the roots?

You should be able to find a serving tray to hold the rock.

I did bonsai for years and finally gave away my last few trees last summer. It was rather depressing - almost like finding homes for puppies

Brooke

[Plucky Purcell]

Check out this thread of mine about making a humidity tray. You'd be making something very similar, but yours well be a lot easier since it doesn't have to be water tight. Even easier if you don't care about hiding the plywood at the bottom. If it was me, I'd use 2X4's for the sides and a piece of 1/2" ply for the bottom. Just cut all the sides, screw 'em together and cut a piece of ply to cover the bottom. Use a little silicone caulk or wood glue at the joints.

[tansyflower]

Re the drainage hole (if there isn't one)-There are special drill bits for drilling rock- I don't know what they are called.

I like stelios' "rock mountain" idea. You could stick a plant around the bottom, like old man's beard or some other orchid to cover the silicon gel.

[Myxamatosis]

The water will drain away into the sand, and the rock is rather large and I have not found a terra cota that fits the bill. I think I will use flag stone or something similar and use silica gel to 'glue' the stone together

[Brooke]

If the depression has holes in it, the roots will be fine but if the depression is solid, you have created a bog. I hope you do some drainage tests before planting a tree or hope you use a willow.

Brooke