Acer Buergerianum (Trident Maple) #1

[Orion_metalhead]

Worked on this tree today... went ahead with the air layering of the top and marked the major cut on the bottom.

Before:


Air layer of top marked. Everything above the red x is getting chopped off.


Ringed the tree:


Wrapped with sphagnum:


Bottom plans... red is going bye bye... basically what @Hartinez said. Im thinking a slight turn to the left, and that leader can be wired up slightly and I'll have a decent bottom for the tree. Might need to ground layer eventually to sort out the bottom roots.

 

[Hartinez]

Worked on this tree today... went ahead with the air layering of the top and marked the major cut on the bottom.

Before:
View attachment 374489

Air layer of top marked. Everything above the red x is getting chopped off.
View attachment 374488

Ringed the tree:
View attachment 374487

Wrapped with sphagnum:
View attachment 374491

Bottom plans... red is going bye bye... basically what @Hartinez said. Im thinking a slight turn to the left, and that leader can be wired up slightly and I'll have a decent bottom for the tree. Might need to ground layer eventually to sort out the bottom roots.
View attachment 374490

Best of luck with the process Orion!

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Thanks! Looking forward to having two tridents, instead of 1!

I think there would be enough room to layer the base as well, so that may be a possibility in a couple years also to eliminate the terrible root base.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Tree grew well, no issues. Still letting it do its thing to recover and produce the air layer. There are some roots but not enough, so I'll just wait till next year to see what happens. I'll give it some additional protection from the freezing temps in the bilco basement stair area which stays between 30 and 40 deg.





Cleaned up a little

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Exploding

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Tree has been a bit neglected this year. Havent done anything with it. I do have an idea though and am rethinking some of my original plans...

 

[AlainK]

It will strengthen. Good. Then you can select, and prune branches before budbreak next late winter.

 

[one_bonsai]

Yes, @Shibui's original plan for this tree is a good one, and I saw the trunk line you also see as well. I want to care for this tree this summer before any air layering because Im not familiar with it's care and dont trust my own care enough yet beyond basic techniques.

Layering is pretty easy. I did it successfully when I started bonsai. There's no special care after you do the layer, just keep it moist. It's rubbish material so what do you have to lose?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

The "Junk" Trident. I will be running with that theme.

Fall color looks good. Air layer didnt take or I didnt cut it off when I had the chance. Need to rescore and recut. Will then do the choppy choppy where I wish. Like I said, running with the "Junk" theme now.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Repotted today. This tree... is something. What? I dont know. As I said, Im running with the "Junk Tree" theme. So.... a Junk over Junk planting.

Tree surgery first: had really put on roots.




"Pot" Prep



Tree over Junk:



Now when I water the tree, the excess runoff exits the volute discharge, as it should:


So next plans are really to let grow out, maybe recut air layer this year if growth is strong, and eventually chop down. I have a new leader planned, and some basic styling ideas but it will be a while for it to really come into it's own.

I will slowly remove the black pot and reveal the roots which I will let grow over the other junk I filled the pot with. I will continue to raise the height of the tree over more and more junk in future repots.

 

[August]

Im in love with this direction. Well done @Orion_metalhead

 

[Orion_metalhead]

So I think to fill in that right bit of inverse taper, and keep with the theme, I can utilize a piece of "Junk" with a thread graft through the whorl and regrow roots over the other junk piece. The top of the graft could become a low branch or smaller upright trunk on the left side.

Thoughts???

Green is new trunk, red roots, yellow (second photo) is intended new main leader after chop.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I wonder if I could do something right where the discharge on the volute is as an accent planting or something.... will think about it.

 

[August]

I wonder if I could do something right where the discharge on the volute is as an accent planting or something.... will think about it.

A little piece of junk holding an accent plant that the volute waters, every time it drains?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

A little piece of junk holding an accent plant that the volute waters, every time it drains?

Yeah

 

[Orion_metalhead]

So far had decent growth. Pruned back a couple times. Next year I expect heavy growth. Will try the air layer again.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Today. Starting to think about tree wintering... this will be a tricky one. Its super heavy. The volute weighs about 70lbs itself. Pure Cast Iron...



Thinking next year to re-airlayer the top.