Creative Ideas for Using Iron Slag Waste

Nikunj and I had been commissioned to make a Japanese Garden in an Indian setting for a large steel manufacturing industry in India. We were taken around by the officials to see the manufacturing processes and also their greening efforts.

While passing through, we saw heaps of Iron slag waste stored in mounds and being inquisitive to the core, both of us requested the car to stop. We ventured to climb up the mound with the help of the security personnel, and with the acute observation power of Bonsai hobbyists/artists we started collecting a few pieces of Iron slag waste with the necessary permission of industry officials.

The industry we were at, manufactures iron from iron ore. Iron Slag comes out as a waste product that is repeatedly melted but only a small percentage gets reprocessed.

Carrying the pieces back to Mumbai was full of childlike curiosity for both of us. On a leisure day, we sorted them out and arranged the pieces upside down or at an angle for viewing. A few of the pieces collected looked like art pieces!

We created a few arrangement ideas for small greenery plantings to be shared here. A large container-like slag waste got used as a backdrop with smaller pieces used to create small-sized containers. We used both slow gelling epoxy glue as well as quick setting synthetic adhesive to join the pieces of Iron slag waste as per design.

To join the pieces, we made use of a turntable and to continually view the safe joining as per the design. The large piece thus created was used to plant small Juniperus rigida rooted cuttings duly shaped and wired. Few small Serissa serrisoides rooted cuttings were used in the foreground. Ground covers, grasses, fillers, and fresh green moss were added to finish the arrangement.

The planting have withstood a tropical winter, spring season, and also an Indian summer. The use of sticky bonsai soil for complete coverage of all roots is necessary for nourishment. The planting was finally covered with a layer of finely shredded sphagnum moss and green moss secured with thin anodized wire U-clips. The arrangement is thoroughly watered with a fine shower daily in the mornings before the heat of the day.

Similarly, smaller iron slag waste pieces were used to design smaller complementary planting by using Kusamono, succulents, and colorful fillers. Even small fresh flowers were arranged in yet another original container.

Currently, with the COVID-19 scare spreading across the world, the time has come to be stress-free and live in Peace and Harmony amongst the homemade creations of Iron Slag Waste mixed with greenery, enjoying our hobby.

The use of sticky bonsai soil for complete coverage of all roots is necessary for nourishment. The planting was finally covered with a layer of finely shredded sphagnum moss and green moss secured with thin anodized wire U-clips.

The planting have withstood a tropical winter, spring season, and also an Indian summer.