japanese maple progression

nover18

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Not sure where to go with this one. I'm nervous to make large chops on this one. I need some motivation or suggestions. Attached a bunch of pics. Haven't done root work on this since 2012. First series of photos is of basic root structure and then in grow box 2012. Will post what it looks like today. Have done little besides let grow out and then last spring hedged back a bit, and wish I would have been more aggressive with it. Do you think I could chop and repot all at once? Or better to do in stages? Pardon the quick photos in the dimly lit garage. Also looking for advice on photography.
 

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nover18

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and more photos as of today
 

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0soyoung

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So where are you going with this? You are at a point where you maybe should take some action besides just lettin it just do whatever. For example, will you be wanting that vertical 'trunk'? If not, what are you going to do with those three other branches - how are you going to make an attractive tree with them? On the other hand, maybe you do want that 'trunk' long term. When do you think you will chop it to start developing taper and when are you going to hard prune those branches to either induce some taper and motion into them or lose them?

Branches/trunks thicken most quickly if you just let them grow, but they will just tend to become straight taperless cylinders. If you cut them, they will move in different directions (unless you carefully wire the new shoots into a continuation of the original direction), but the portion you keep will not thicken much until the new growth gets nearly as thick. You can induce motion and get rid of long internodes when its small and then work on thickening it to smooth out the movement, then ... (whatever follows next). Essentially, each step is a season's work, maybe more.

You don't have to do anything to it now, but it will pay you to be thinking hard about this stuff.
 

sorce

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I'd cut the red now....

And the yellow when the red heals.

aviary-image-1460510227321.jpeg

What type of motivation do you prefer..?
I can't give you motivation like I give @LanceMac10 motivation.
But he don't get motivated anyway so that don't work.
The guy on the couch must have some good ass shit!
Or maybe it's the excessive amounts of all shades and flavors of beer!

Either way....F LanceMac we're supposed to be focused on your tree.

Which seems to be growing strong enough to heal said cuts and have some quality direction.

Or.....you can continue to let it grow into a bush, at which time....LanceMac will find a way to make it shake around in a picture, further lessening the strength of my battery, so that when I get a call.....

Oh yeah...I won't answer it anyway!

That's a sick ass base!

Sorce
 

jomawa

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Essentially, each step is a season's work, maybe more.
Dang, dang, dang, I hate the truth in that statement, but as a newbie deciduous bonsaist by choice I must apply that truth in my bonsai for them to be decent.

@nover18, for "progression" of your tree to bonsai I would suggest you get a clear understanding of what @osoyoung is very simply yet specifically pointing out. I would attemt to clarify, "a seasons work" tends to take a years time. Certain things can be done more than once a year, like removing leaves in order to force more small branches, but generally speaking, you take/make a step (this year) and leave the tree alone to do as you "knowingly" intend it to do, because it will based on what you "knowingly" did. Annnd, next year, take/do another step, and keep in mind there may also be some little micro steps that also need/can be done during major big steps. Dang, dang, dang, I hate this at least decade long time requirement on deciduous.

If you are like certain other people who got'ta have it now, (I kind' sorta did want that, but can't have it with deciduous), my suggestion to you is get some decent pre-bonsai evergreens (there are many), whack and shape it/them to resemble a bonsai, (because you sorta can in one sitting), then over the next decade(s), ya know, like for the rest of your life, simply refine that/those evergreen(s).

Oh, and welcome to bnut. I can't help you with further "progression" of your tree because I'm only a step ahead of you, (already clearly recognise deciduous trees take a looong time). Don't necessarily know what step to do when, or in what order, but am taking steps, and will see what happens with my trees.
 

nover18

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So where are you going with this? You are at a point where you maybe should take some action besides just lettin it just do whatever. For example, will you be wanting that vertical 'trunk'? If not, what are you going to do with those three other branches - how are you going to make an attractive tree with them? On the other hand, maybe you do want that 'trunk' long term. When do you think you will chop it to start developing taper and when are you going to hard prune those branches to either induce some taper and motion into them or lose them?

Branches/trunks thicken most quickly if you just let them grow, but they will just tend to become straight taperless cylinders. If you cut them, they will move in different directions (unless you carefully wire the new shoots into a continuation of the original direction), but the portion you keep will not thicken much until the new growth gets nearly as thick. You can induce motion and get rid of long internodes when its small and then work on thickening it to smooth out the movement, then ... (whatever follows next). Essentially, each step is a season's work, maybe more.

You don't have to do anything to it now, but it will pay you to be thinking hard about this stuff.


Thanks Osoyoung. I guess I had in my mind to have sort of a multiple trunk or candelabra type tree. I've attached a rough virt of where I was headed. I just don't think that i'm going to get the taper that will make this look decent so might have to reconsider my chops. I do understand that this will take a considerable amount of time. Red is where i'd like to do the chops and encourage new buds to grow and wire as they develop.
 

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0soyoung

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Good @nover18 , you've got a plan. When appropriate (now, next year, etc), you should affect your 5 year plan! I think you will eventually not want both of those vertical trunks, but that is neither here nor there - see how it goes.

Let the fun begin!
It is your tree.
You are in charge.
Enjoy!
 
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