Acer Rubrum #5

Orion_metalhead

Masterpiece
Messages
2,993
Reaction score
4,455
Location
Central NJ
USDA Zone
7a
Wired this tree today. It has an interesting root base which I plan on using as root over rock. Currently growing the roots over a stone under the soil. Collected this spring in front garden. Soil is 8822 topdressed with Sphagnum Moss. Fertilized with osmocote 14-14-14 all purpose slow release plant food.

20190604_203439.jpg
Full tree. Tried to incorporate some bends in the tree today. Want the tree to grow towards the right for now then I will shift it back to the left to give it a sense of balance but also a sense of precariousness once the roots and rock are revealed.

20190604_203502.jpg
The root direction. I am getting many surface roots.
 

Orion_metalhead

Masterpiece
Messages
2,993
Reaction score
4,455
Location
Central NJ
USDA Zone
7a
What has been challenging for you when working with them? So far they seem to be responding well. My only concern on some of mine are the longish internodes.
 

VAFisher

Masterpiece
Messages
2,126
Reaction score
8,238
Location
Maidens, VA
USDA Zone
7a
Long internodes and sometimes ridiculously long petioles. Overall corse growth. Just not as easy as tridents or JMs. Mine also get tar spot which can make the leaves unsightly. I wouldn't have a collection full of them but I'll probably always have one.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

The Professor
Messages
11,337
Reaction score
23,253
Location
on the IL-WI border, a mile from ''da Lake''
USDA Zone
5b
The above comments are spot on. Long petioles, after the leaves have been reduced can look ridiculous, little flags on long stalks. But, if you ''go big'', say over a meter tall, 3 to 4 feet, with 20 cm diameter - 8 inch diameter - trunks, you can get things in proportion enough that these weird quirks become less visible or even not noticable. So think Big.
 

Orion_metalhead

Masterpiece
Messages
2,993
Reaction score
4,455
Location
Central NJ
USDA Zone
7a
Seems like all the trees I have are "going big" based on their characteristics.

Dont expect me to ever have a collection of shohin lol.
 

Orion_metalhead

Masterpiece
Messages
2,993
Reaction score
4,455
Location
Central NJ
USDA Zone
7a
Not sure what happened to the leaves on the inner part of the tree with this. I think either sun-scorch or lack of proper fertilization. Plenty of buds for next year either way. I like it's start though:

20191019_121404.jpg

Close up of the trunk / nebari. The main root mass is covered up to keep it out of the elements but it has an interesting main root at the moment. Looking forward to work this tree in the spring and get it repotted. 20191019_121510.jpg
 

Orion_metalhead

Masterpiece
Messages
2,993
Reaction score
4,455
Location
Central NJ
USDA Zone
7a
End of year. Looks healthy.

Age: 2yr
Training: 1yr
Width: .34"
Height: 13"

Front:
20191110_150728.jpg

From right:
20191110_150737.jpg

Back:
20191110_150746.jpg

From left:
20191110_150754.jpg
 

Orion_metalhead

Masterpiece
Messages
2,993
Reaction score
4,455
Location
Central NJ
USDA Zone
7a
Repotted this one. Have a "Training rock" underneath for now since I think Ill make this a root over rock.

Existing before repot...
20200303_202513.jpg

Nebari...
20200303_202547.jpg

Roots cleaed up
20200303_203518.jpg

Roots with training rock underneath to maintain future final rock gap:
20200303_203446.jpg

Final repot. Wooden box was starting to come apart so I put it in a regular plastic pot:
20200303_204308.jpg
 

BonjourBonsai

Chumono
Messages
671
Reaction score
708
Location
Maryland, USA
USDA Zone
7a
Not sure what happened to the leaves on the inner part of the tree with this. I think either sun-scorch or lack of proper fertilization. Plenty of buds for next year either way. I like it's start though:

View attachment 267441

Close up of the trunk / nebari. The main root mass is covered up to keep it out of the elements but it has an interesting main root at the moment. Looking forward to work this tree in the spring and get it repotted. View attachment 267442
i wonder if the leaves scorched because of too much sun which in turn helped create lots of closely spaced buds?
 

Orion_metalhead

Masterpiece
Messages
2,993
Reaction score
4,455
Location
Central NJ
USDA Zone
7a
Interesting thought, though the buds would only appear at preexisting internodes which existed prior to sun scorch.
 

BonjourBonsai

Chumono
Messages
671
Reaction score
708
Location
Maryland, USA
USDA Zone
7a
Interesting thought, though the buds would only appear at preexisting internodes which existed prior to sun scorch.
I hear you. I've seen buds come from non node patches of other maples before. I've got a bunch of 1 yr old Acer r. seedlings and they all have at least 1 inch between nodes. I'm going to experiment this year and place some in full sun and keep others in the shady part of the yard to see if it effects their internode spacing. Maybe it was the fact they they were in a pot? The ones I've got were taking over the front yard azalea patch so I was told they had to be moved. I've put some in pots also. I'd love to get smaller internodes on Acer rubrums. They are such a beautiful tree! Keep up the good work on this one.
 

Orion_metalhead

Masterpiece
Messages
2,993
Reaction score
4,455
Location
Central NJ
USDA Zone
7a
This is going to explode in growth pretty much immediately.

20200513_181114.jpg

Is now an ok time to cut back on it a bit? Maybe removing the tips will redirect some energy to the other buds?

20200513_181128.jpg
 

Orion_metalhead

Masterpiece
Messages
2,993
Reaction score
4,455
Location
Central NJ
USDA Zone
7a
Not sure... I think the roots were weak.. they did not look healthy in hindsight.
 
Top Bottom