I second everything Andromo..... said. Plants are wonderfully adaptable. Some years ago I harvested some red junipers, to use as bonsai, growing on the side of a high sandstone bluff overlooking the Wisconsin River here. They were stunted and twisted all on their own by virtue of where they took root. They were producing berries even though they were subminiatures of their full size brethren growing on top of the bluff. Thats what plants do, they make the best of their conditions and will do anything to reproduce. As is natures way. From what I understood from the person I harvested them for, they would actually recieve better care now ensuring a longer life for them. They'd even have their roots cropped as the tops were, to make sure as Andromo said they had that "root to shoot" ratio correct. This was so they were comfortble in their small pots. Cement is 98-99% cured at 30 days (under good conditions) and again as Androm says there should be no problems if the pot has been well leeched. This discussion has got me planning a return trip now to harvest some and plant them in MY very own pots. With what I've learned here and other forums I'll even be able to make the pots resemble the yellow sandstone from where they came from.

I'm doing a couple bonsai pots right now one is a land/water pot. They are 20 inches long shallow ovals on stubby feet. A little tricky to mold. I've never seen a bonsai slab except in pictures but would like to make one for a friend. As for pots you can pretty much call any shallow pot a bonsai pot can't you? I'll post pictures once I'm finished...if I'm happy with the result.:)

@Amyno and @Tropic, thanks for the responses. I'm right on the Wisconsin-Ilinois border, 7 miles west of a line connecting Milwaukee and Chicago. So, yes, there is some possibility that it still might pop. Some apple trees are in flower already, some trees barely. It seems lilacs in our area share bloom time with crabs and lilacs are still a ways out so we might be ok. The weather is warming up so this will be the real test. The girdled areas (on twin trunks no less!!) were both above the trunk dividing line. So, I trimmed it down to there, leaving as much unscarred wood with nodes as possible. Interesting idea about the mound. There's already an extensive root system and without leaves, I'm not sure how much new roots will form. But regardless, the roots just have to do their thing without rotting and get some nodes to pop. I was checking this evening and there may be two nodes that look like they're swelling, but can't tell yet if it's just an illusion or if the plant is pushing out leaves. Will know more over the next few weeks. I created a rain shelter so I can carefully meter how much water the soil gets. Without leaves, the soil is staying moist waaaaaaaay longer than I like, so hopefully this will keep things from getting out of control Thanks again!!!

I am a huge fan of Bonsai and I've given tours at Longwood about our collection. We also have a real one that DH created at a Longwood bonsai class. I think I would prefer orchids or something other than a Bonsai tree as your beautiful bowl is a bit deep for Bonsai. (The word "Bonsai" actually means, roughly translated, "shallow container with plant") Also, I know this is sort of splitting hairs, but Bonsai trees do not live indoors. That's why so many die, people think they will thrive on a coffee table. Ours lives outside unless the temps plunge. It isn't a big deal to take artistic license, I just prefer seeing them outdoors.