Japanese Maple, 'arakawa'

Brian Van Fleet

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what is the plan for the big branch scar on the right side of this guy, where it looked like it forked?
Hoping for (or grafting) a bud to make it into a primary branch...
 

raydomz

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Hoping for (or grafting) a bud to make it into a primary branch...

Please let us know if you have any success with a graft. I have tried but Arakawa just don't seem to take, ever. And from my experience, once the cork starts, say goodbye to any chance of back budding. Has this been your experience?
 

Brian Van Fleet

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Hoping for (or grafting) a bud to make it into a primary branch...

Correction, forgot that I removed it last year after a few new shoots started growing from near the collar...figured that was as far out as advantageous buds were willing to break. Update coming soon, it's leafing out pretty well now.
 

Brian Van Fleet

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Update...the main tree from this thread is gone (traded), but here are the two air layers struck from it a few years ago.
1:
 

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Smoke

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That looks like it is about three inches or so. I would enter this one, i think you could get some branching going pretty quickly.
 

Brian Van Fleet

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That looks like it is about three inches or so. I would enter this one, i think you could get some branching going pretty quickly.
I wouldn't even be digging these or the ROR tridents if I didn't need to relocate everything...but I have a couple piggies about ready to dig that may be good contestants. Just need the rain to move on.
 

Brian Van Fleet

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During the 3-year time capsule, I changed the front. Tonight, a little wiring and repotted it for the first time in a few years.
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I’m ok with letting this tree end up about twice the size in 15 years, but for now, good bones.
 

Brian Van Fleet

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Wow!!!! Did the trunk gain that much mass living in bonsai pots the entire time?
It got a head-start as I air-layered it in 2011. It hasn’t gained much over the last 4 years in a Bonsai pot. The base has spread a little due to root work, and it may appear a bit fatter because it’s been reduced in height by about 50% since the 2015 photo. The plan is to grow it slowly over years in a pot to give it plenty of refined movement and taper that won’t happen if allowed to grow fast in the ground. If it doubles in size over the next 5-7 years, I’d be content.
F83D67BF-83BA-472E-8A27-6B3B45981096.png
 
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