2022 discount rack contest: 19mateo83’s Acer Palmatum

[19Mateo83]

This little guy was found at Home Depot as one of their $29.99 high grafted crimson queens. The graft had either failed or broken off, either way It was marked down to $9.99. Too good to pass up especially since it had pretty spring colors and what appears to be a the start of radial roots. It got a root prune and a repot the next day.

 

[19Mateo83]

I decided to step out of my comfort zone on this one. I know grafted trees are not the most desired for bonsai but I said “what the heck”. This contest is all about having fun right? So I decided to try my hand at grafting. The scion is Kurui jishi, roughly translated into confused lion or crazy lion. It has the leaves of a shishigashira without the mounding habit. I give it a 50/50 chance of taking It was grafted on May 1st

 

[19Mateo83]

So far so good. 12 days in and the graft has not dried up yet and the tree is still healthy.

 

[Kullas]

Looking forward to seeing this one in 5 years.

 

[19Mateo83]

Welp…. I’m not sure the graft took…. I’m going to leave it alone and see. There is nice healing going on on the parent tree and the scion isn’t crispy yet.

 

[19Mateo83]

Welp…. The graft attempt was a failure. So…. I’m getting some branches ready for low thread grafting this coming spring. The tree is still extremely healthy and has put on over 30” of growth so far this year and still going.

 

[Kullas]

Welp…. The graft attempt was a failure. So…. I’m getting some branches ready for low thread grafting this coming spring. The tree is still extremely healthy and has put on over 30” of growth so far this year and still going.

Sorry about the grafts. But 30 inches is good. Deers took about 10 inches of my crape myrtle

 

[19Mateo83]

Sorry about the grafts. But 30 inches is good. Deers took about 10 inches of my crape myrtle

It happens. It was more of an experiment than anything. I didn’t think deer liked crepe myrtles…. I learned something new everyday.

 

[Kullas]

I didn't ether but they are locked up with the maples now.

 

[19Mateo83]

August update, thickening up good and chosen leaders for thread grafting ready and waiting. This one definitely is an ugly duckling

 

[19Mateo83]

My first ever thread graft. The buds are starting to swell and I didn’t want to miss my chance.

 

[dbonsaiw]

My first ever thread graft.

Nice job. What's your plan for the tree?

If one's goal was to use to the grafted branch as the new leader, when would the trunk be cut back?

 

[19Mateo83]

Nice job. What's your plan for the tree?

If one's goal was to use to the grafted branch as the new leader, when would the trunk be cut back?

Once the graft takes, if it takes.

 

[BonScience]

My first ever thread graft. The buds are starting to swell and I didn’t want to miss my chance.
View attachment 472298

How did it turn out? I have one or two trees i'm thinking of trying a thread graft on too. I love those terracotta half pots, did you get yours from Lowes too?

 

[19Mateo83]

How did it turn out? I have one or two trees i'm thinking of trying a thread graft on too. I love those terracotta half pots, did you get yours from Lowes too?

I guess I am due for an update on this one. It haven’t died yet so that’s a plus. It put on a lot of top growth this year. The graft is still there and I can’t really see any thickening of it. Next spring I plan on air layering the top off and hopefully that will motivate it to put some growth into the remaining branches. That pot is from lowes but I have since switched over to German made terracotta pots I get from pike nursery. They are better quality, higher fired and weigh less.

 

[19Mateo83]

The thread graft is still alive and kicking. Hopefully it will take off this year. It’s probably not going to be much at the end of 5 years but I’ll keep it going.

 

[queenofsheba52]

Thread graft success! Makes us all feel good!

 

[19Mateo83]

Thread graft success! Makes us all feel good!

It does.

 

[dbonsaiw]

The thread graft is still alive and kicking.

awesome