Progressive Maple Challenge: Amur Maple aka Brontosaurus #001 TP

thumblessprimate1

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I dug up this guy today. It looks like it'll qualify, but I think it'll take a few many years to get some upper body mass. Also, I'm not confident yet. There's things about this tree that I'm not sure what to do with. For instance, the smaller trunk may be something I want to remove or not. And the small portion of die back; need I carve it a little for the tree to heal over it? Much for me to think about and figure out.

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BunjaeKorea

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Yups, thats what I would do, are you going to grow out the larger branch into a trunk?
 

thumblessprimate1

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Oh yes. I'd like for it thicken for a more smooth tapered trunk.
 

Brian Van Fleet

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I would wait until it pops before I chop. Not sure how much around the large cut trunk is still alive.
 

thumblessprimate1

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I would wait until it pops before I chop. Not sure how much around the large cut trunk is still alive.
Good safe advice. It won't hurt to wait a bit longer. I'll take a closer look to see where the live parts meet the dead wood at the large cut. Honestly, I was surprised to find live fine roots all the way around. I had feared that most of the original trunk had died on the side opposite of where the larger branch is growing. I'm currently thinking that the trunk would look better without a hollow in its future; will try to reduce the top of the dead top at the end of the week.
 

thumblessprimate1

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Repotted this today too. Phew! You can see it's had some die back. I removed three low branches/suckers that have roots thread grafts. I used two, and I am using them for adding trunks and roots. Got to keep the leader growing maybe two more years.
I suspect I'll need to give the grafts 2 years to fuse.
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namnhi

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Repotted this today too. Phew! You can see it's had some die back. I removed three low branches/suckers that have roots thread grafts. I used two, and I am using them for adding trunks and roots. Got to keep the leader growing maybe two more years.
I suspect I'll need to give the grafts 2 years to fuse.
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Looks like you have bought all the nails from HD and Lowe's. Nice progress though.
 

Giga

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Repotted this today too. Phew! You can see it's had some die back. I removed three low branches/suckers that have roots thread grafts. I used two, and I am using them for adding trunks and roots. Got to keep the leader growing maybe two more years.
I suspect I'll need to give the grafts 2 years to fuse.
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Oh man you "nailed" it!
 
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Great progress. Is this part of a 6 year contest or something? I think it'll be a real show-stopper, maybe not within five years, but quick progress none the less. The grafts no doubt have helped with the progression. I'll admit looking at the earlier pictures I didn't really see the leader incorporating with the strong base in a meaningful way, but I guess time does heal wounds with bonsai (if not always with humans). You have it growing out, on the board, in an anderson flat?
 

thumblessprimate1

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Looks like you have bought all the nails from HD and Lowe's. Nice progress though.
Yah. Probably from HD.
Oh man you "nailed" it!
LOL
Great progress. Is this part of a 6 year contest or something? I think it'll be a real show-stopper, maybe not within five years, but quick progress none the less. The grafts no doubt have helped with the progression. I'll admit looking at the earlier pictures I didn't really see the leader incorporating with the strong base in a meaningful way, but I guess time does heal wounds with bonsai (if not always with humans). You have it growing out, on the board, in an anderson flat?
It was sort of a competition is all I remember. Giga, Smoke, and Walter Pall have some. Walters is so far along though. Competition or contest, I'm just going to give it my best and work at my pace. Make it improve year by year.

Looks like my nebari is moving forward okay. With time, I'd like the part rotted and hollowed out to be filled in and give it some gnarly character. The trunk thickened well so far. It's about the thickness I want. A little thicker will be fine. I'm going to let my leader grow and try to cover up that chop wound. I made a rookie mistake and removed the portion I sliced a wedge out of too soon so there's that sunken in area below the chop. Maybe it'll give it some character as the leader takes over. That other branch with a wedge, I'll give more time before I remove it.

Sorry, I didn't comment much. Just posted pictures. So short on time. Just working, working, working. Pretty tired at the end of day and just posted pictures before bed.
 

cmeg1

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Yea,The grafts seem a great idea.Intersting to see the new sap lines take over.
Be a really interesting base and nebari if all goes well.
Awesome!
 
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