5yr Native Tree Challenge: canoeguide's Acer rubrum

canoeguide

Chumono
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central PA
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March 28, 2021: I collected this in central Pennsylvania. Many more small red maple trees on the property are similar to this one, but it was chosen for its low movement and flared roots. The tree was approximately 12-15' tall originally.
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March 29: 2021: This was kept damp in a garbage bag until being repotted into an old plastic file box. The substrate used is equal parts pumice, DE, and fir bark. 4 large and relatively radial roots were found. Very few fine roots were left. The chop was re-cut lower and sealed with cut paste. In hindsight, both the roots and the trunk could have been chopped harder.
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May 01, 2021: Buds emerging. Some sprouting from undesirable locations near the base have been rubbed off.
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May 20, 2021:
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June 5, 2021:
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June 20, 2021:
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Ashadost

Seed
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Really interested to see where this goes. I’m new to bonsai (and really horticulture in general), so when I’ve looked for wild specimens to collect I migrate toward younger trees. We have lots of Acer rubrum here in east texas, I may need to try this.
 

canoeguide

Chumono
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Really interested to see where this goes. I’m new to bonsai (and really horticulture in general), so when I’ve looked for wild specimens to collect I migrate toward younger trees. We have lots of Acer rubrum here in east texas, I may need to try this.
Mine in this thread is still growing like a weed and as tall as me, awaiting more seasons of growing and chopping. The horticulture part seems pretty easy. Styling, etc. may be more challenging. Here's a couple of resources that you may be interested in!


This tree from @ABCarve was featured in International Bonsai recently: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/32-year-old-acer-rubrum.42520/
 

Ashadost

Seed
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Northeast Texas
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Mine in this thread is still growing like a weed and as tall as me, awaiting more seasons of growing and chopping. The horticulture part seems pretty easy. Styling, etc. may be more challenging. Here's a couple of resources that you may be interested in!


This tree from @ABCarve was featured in International Bonsai recently: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/32-year-old-acer-rubrum.42520/
These are both great, thanks a lot!
 

canoeguide

Chumono
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Pruned and carved. Disregarding the lower right-hand branch (which needs to be removed), 4 branches at staggered heights around the carved chop will be developed. The tallest one in the last image will probably become the apex or main trunk line, since it flows well and is frontward in this view.

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canoeguide

Chumono
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Repotted and pruned. The initial root chop was not short enough, so I chopped the large roots far shorter. Some new small roots have emerged between the original four large roots, and these were encouraged to continue growing. The tree was raised slightly.
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Gabler

Masterpiece
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Somehow I missed this in fall. That’s an incredible color.

Repotted and pruned. The initial root chop was not short enough, so I chopped the large roots far shorter. Some new small roots have emerged between the original four large roots, and these were encouraged to continue growing. The tree was raised slightly.
View attachment 479756View attachment 479757

I ran into the same problem with my own red maple and took the same approach to cleaning up the roots. It seems to be working to get the nebari growing in the right direction.
 

canoeguide

Chumono
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I ran into the same problem with my own red maple and took the same approach to cleaning up the roots. It seems to be working to get the nebari growing in the right direction.
If I had gotten this right the first time, I'd be farther along in creating a root system suitable for a bonsai pot. But, it's definitely made some progress in 2 years!
 

canoeguide

Chumono
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This thing might always be a bit too coarse but I'm going to try to make the best of it that I can.

June growth:
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Prolific roots:
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Unaltered fall color:
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Ready for more pruning back in the late winter:
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