Amur maple - Ground Growing- Advice

M. Frary

Bonsai Godzilla
Messages
14,307
Reaction score
22,116
Location
Mio Michigan
USDA Zone
4
Whoopsie! I guess I ought to learn to read better.
 

jomawa

Shohin
Messages
408
Reaction score
340
Location
SW WA, USA, zone 8a
Most of us are right there with you. You gotta enjoy the process, and maybe buy some things closer to show ready.
Yes, and thanks for the reminder, I realize I'm not alone in my frustration, and I'm simply venting out load what I have come to realize through trial and (too much) error. There is a gross difference between "wow, that's a fantastic bonsai, and I'm going to create one for myself" and the real reality of "man, this bonsai thing just ain't what it seemed to be at first, (created only in my mind), especially doing deciduous and having to do multiple chops and annual steps, for how ever many years, to maybe have something to show to friends, ( not even trying for the bar of bonsai show quality).

I believe the "enjoyment" is very much subjective. I'm not yet by any means looking back on my accomplishments, but rather am still in the recognition of my infantile bonsai mindset. But I'm willing to attempt "bonsai" rather than throw in the towel, even though it is more challenging than I originally took on. When I'm out fishing, my goal is catching. Others around me may speak of the joy of just being out there, but I don't necessarily like fishing, I don't do it well, am still learning, stood between guys for two months who were catching salmon and steelhead. Not me, not even a hook up. Finally one evening had four on, lost two, other two were native - had to be released. Managed to put six salmon on my punch card last year, but I don't like fish'un.

And you're right. I can simply buy someone else's work then try to explain my part of its creation, or come right out and say "I didn't do it, I bought it like that". In fact, (I'm kinda sorta still kicking myself), because at the last bonsai meeting I went to, a guy getting out of bonsai was selling some very decent "bonsai". He had ten to twenty years on some, the triple trunk forest of Zelkova Serrata Yatsubusa was what I was interested in. Only 3/4" to 1" diameter trunks but well formed branching, good size ratio, and complementary pot. He was hoping to get between $200 and $300. Very definitely wll worth it, and had I simply pulled out cash, I believe he would have taken between $100 and $200. He seemed willing for the buyer to be able to set the price. But, I didn't get it. Could very easily have bought it, had the money. Didn't get it, dang it. Maybe i'll get over it, maybe not. Will have the vision of it for a long while.

My goal and philosophy is to create "my" own bonsai (or not). Starter gotten by myself (seed, cutting, amadori, etc.), am open to advice but don't trim/shape my plant for me. Do I like/enjoy this bar placement I have for myself? Nope! Have I had a success. Yep! Thread Pending: Poor man's terrarium that works! But I'm making sure it did before publishing the facts of it.

Am I up to the bonsai challenge? I'm willing to have it as a hobby. Do I enjoy it? Not necessarily, but it helps keep me from going stark raving crazy.
 

ml_work

Chumono
Messages
588
Reaction score
461
Location
Alabama
USDA Zone
8
Lower than I would ever have a permanent branch. do I am to leave them to help promote the trunk growth and cut later, but then have a scar to deal with.
This is the picture of the shoots I was asking about. Should I remove shoots this low?
 

Attachments

  • Lowshoots1.jpg
    Lowshoots1.jpg
    113.4 KB · Views: 67
  • LowShoots2.jpg
    LowShoots2.jpg
    122.2 KB · Views: 71

Stickroot

Masterpiece
Messages
2,539
Reaction score
5,158
Location
Mid MO
USDA Zone
5
This is the picture of the shoots I was asking about. Should I remove shoots this low?
I would and have been. Focus energy to the upper most of the plant.
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
Messages
32,908
Reaction score
45,579
Location
Berwyn, Il
USDA Zone
6.2
I would leave the first pic ones...

And cut off all but one of the 3 left ones on the second pic.

I never leave 2 opposites...

But most of those will be good to have.

I like having a fat low branch to cut back to if shit goes south up top..
A restarting point.

JMO.

Sorce
 

M. Frary

Bonsai Godzilla
Messages
14,307
Reaction score
22,116
Location
Mio Michigan
USDA Zone
4
I'd leave the lowest as a base sweller.
 

ml_work

Chumono
Messages
588
Reaction score
461
Location
Alabama
USDA Zone
8
I mentioned to Stickroot that my Amur has been doing well this summer. He said he would like to see some pictures. The next day I went out to take some pictures 8-7-16 to find it was not doing as well as I had said, just a few days before. The first picture show how tall the shoots have gotten this summer, taller than me. The second Brown spots, could be my fault (it is not all the leaves, just a few) due to lack of water. The tree is in the ground east side of the house, direct light till about 2pm. I have been watering once a week and it has done really well, I think the week of 8-7 was when we were first getting those 100F days and it needed more water. I have since started watering a second time mid week, seems better. The holes... not sure... I found ant (or it looked like ants) going up and down the limbs to the very top. I did not see them eating on the leaves but did not see anything else. I sprayed the leaves with some Neem oil, checked 2 days later, Ants still there. I sprayed some Bug Stop (Spectracide) on the soil at the very bottom and the base of the trunk. Ants have not bee back. The last picture shows the 2 tallest limbs as the come from the trunk, I guess one of those will need to be removed at some time..
 

Attachments

  • Amur1.jpg
    Amur1.jpg
    101.5 KB · Views: 60
  • Amur-Brownspot.jpg
    Amur-Brownspot.jpg
    145.2 KB · Views: 54
  • AmurHoles.jpg
    AmurHoles.jpg
    69.3 KB · Views: 52
  • 2 tall shoots.jpg
    2 tall shoots.jpg
    112.2 KB · Views: 63

Stickroot

Masterpiece
Messages
2,539
Reaction score
5,158
Location
Mid MO
USDA Zone
5
I caught these little bastards putting holes in some of my maples, they live in the ground and fly real slow. I found their hole and dumped it full of 2 cycle mix. You probably know what I did next:)image.jpeg
 

Stickroot

Masterpiece
Messages
2,539
Reaction score
5,158
Location
Mid MO
USDA Zone
5
By the way, your tree is doing AWESOME! Thanks for the update, great to see where people go with material;)
 

BrianBay9

Masterpiece
Messages
2,753
Reaction score
5,380
Location
Fresno, CA
USDA Zone
9
We've got asian beetles pretty bad too. They make the leaves look ugly, but unless they're eating faster than the leaves are growing they don't seem to do permanent damage. I can't squash them fast enough though.
 

Random User

Guest
Messages
1,313
Reaction score
1,168
If you want to increase the taper at the base of the tree, I'd leave them and deal with the scaring afterward. It will take a few years to develop the top anyway, and the tree has gone through a lot already this year, if it were mine, I'd leave them... the scars will add character once the bark ages anyway. (something that I like) But if you don't like a wide base, like a clean unmarred aged bark, then you better take them off right away. Chances are, that you will be wiping off more than a few before the tree simply stops pushing them.
 

ml_work

Chumono
Messages
588
Reaction score
461
Location
Alabama
USDA Zone
8
I missed getting this out of the bag last year and plan to dig up and work with the roots, put a tile or wood back in the ground before put it back. I was thinking let it keep growing to get a bit larger on the new branches but it does not look as if they are doing much. May be time to make a cut and have not decided / figured which way I want to go. Today I see it had buds (did not have them last week!) and they are starting to open. I am headed to the woods now and will not have time to dig up today or is it already too late to dig and work the roots?
Suggestions of cuts are welcome....

IMG_1614.jpgIMG_1617.jpgIMG_1615.jpgIMG_1618.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: GGB
Top Bottom