Current JM seedling project

SouthernMaple

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Here is a JM i dug up as a seedling 2 years ago in my mothers back yard. I put it in some bonsai mix(akadama, pumice,lava rock and pine bark) and just let it grow this summer. I was at my mentors house in august and he showed me how to wire and this past weekend I got some more wire and have wired it to my liking. However I think I might put another trunk wire so i can bend the trunk more. I have spoke with a few club members and they think I should leave it alone, that if I bend the trunk anymore it may snap. Any thoughts? 20190805_130555.jpgIMG_20190904_120343_159.jpgIMG_20190928_194848_961.jpg20190928_194428.jpg
 

SouthernMaple

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Yes or something that goes horizontal almost. Its funny, I was inspired by this design by a computer game I was playing earlier this year. I thought to myself wouldn't it be cool to make a tree that sort of resembled the tree from the game. creative-assembly-reforms-tree.jpg
 

Warpig

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How thick do you plan on having it when finished? Something to remember is the tree has be built in sections. What is the top half of the tree will have to be cut back at some point to start a new leader. So there not much point to shape it now. Its just going to slow down the grow.
 

Shibui

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It is always possible that a trunk can snap when bending. I know I've broken a lot trying for just a bit more but I think you should still be able to get more bend in this one.
Bending a bit at a time can give far more bend than you can achieve in a single session. I expect that is because the cells and fibres in the wood change shape and 'relax' over time which allows more bending on the second and subsequent attempts.
Even if it does break the tree is not finished. Cutting back (or breaking) gives valuable taper which most unpruned trees don't have. I expect that's what Warpig means by building in sections.
 

SouthernMaple

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How thick do you plan on having it when finished? Something to remember is the tree has be built in sections. What is the top half of the tree will have to be cut back at some point to start a new leader. So there not much point to shape it now. Its just going to slow down the grow.
I don't mind slowing the grow, I live a pretty nomadic lifestyle so I can't put the tree in ground to grow thick trunk. Besides I have over a dozen trees and like to have a variety of shapes and sizes.
 

SouthernMaple

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took photos of some fall color, its pretty cool I have 3 colors right now 20191020_174013.jpg
 

Pitoon

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Make sure you remove that wire come spring when you get that first flush, if you don't that wire will cut into the tree.
 

SouthernMaple

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Make sure you remove that wire come spring when you get that first flush, if you don't that wire will cut into the tree.
20191030_003123.jpg20191030_003106.jpg I took it all off last night and there is a lot of wire damage already on itI lost a few leaves and the only purple leafed branch in the process.
 

SouthernMaple

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Here is the before and after from the wire removal project, I know I should have cut the wire with wire cutters but i like to reuse as much wire as possible. 20191030_003047.jpg20191030_011117.jpg
 

SouthernMaple

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Today I created a harness of sorts to attach guy wire to keep the bend in the trunk, the harness is sturdy and i may play around with it in the future and add more wires to bend the branches more20191030_124935.jpg20191030_124945.jpg20191030_125034.jpg

If I were not to do this the trunk would just straighten out again and the wire scars would have been all for naught
 

Warpig

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How long was the wire on for? That seems like it bit in quite a bit for only being on a month.
 

KLSbonsai

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Keep in mind that all deciduous trees add vascular tissue (expansion of trunk and branch diameter) in the fall as they pull in the energy to store in the vascular system for the dormant season. When wiring in the fall you have to check frequently to keep the wire from biting. I ruined a couple JM's a few years ago this way. Luckily I still about a dozen from the same year and another dozen from the following year.
 

SouthernMaple

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Keep in mind that all deciduous trees add vascular tissue (expansion of trunk and branch diameter) in the fall as they pull in the energy to store in the vascular system for the dormant season. When wiring in the fall you have to check frequently to keep the wire from biting. I ruined a couple JM's a few years ago this way. Luckily I still about a dozen from the same year and another dozen from the following year.
well this is my first wired maple so lesson learned. Its been a valuable one. Its too bad the only way i seem to learn things is through screwing up. Should I put cut paste on all the deep gashes? its supposed to get down to 32 in a few days should I bring it inside that night?
 

Warpig

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well this is my first wired maple so lesson learned. Its been a valuable one. Its too bad the only way i seem to learn things is through screwing up. Should I put cut paste on all the deep gashes? its supposed to get down to 32 in a few days should I bring it inside that night?
Not what I was getting at all. I plan to wire a maple about the same size in the spring and was hoping we both may learn from it.
 

SouthernMaple

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Not what I was getting at all. I plan to wire a maple about the same size in the spring and was hoping we both may learn from it.
let me know when you do I have another maple on ice just waiting to be wired
 
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