(( Double Trunk Maple ))

2018 Spring Update:
I decided to follow Sergio advise and reduce the branches. I also did a repot and one root graft. Last year the tree grew a lower branch and I’m deciding to let it grow for a possible third trunk.

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2018 Spring Update:
I decided to follow Sergio advise and reduce the branches. I also did a repot and one root graft. Last year the tree grew a lower branch and I’m deciding to let it grow for a possible third trunk.

View attachment 181539
I personally don't think it needs a third trunk. Once these two fill out and you get some nice thick branches down low it'll look great. I also think you could've chopped the secondary trunk a little further down, at the moment they look to be almost the same height. Just my two cents though. Great potential!
 
2018 Spring Update:
I decided to follow Sergio advise and reduce the branches. I also did a repot and one root graft. Last year the tree grew a lower branch and I’m deciding to let it grow for a possible third trunk.

View attachment 181539
I think you should have another look at the advice from Sergio. There is one big difference with what he suggested and what you did, and that’s length of trunks.
Although not complete the same there appears to be not much difference in lengths between the 2 trunks now, Keeping the lower one a little shorter now would probably benefit the future design.
Grtz
 
I personally don't think it needs a third trunk. Once these two fill out and you get some nice thick branches down low it'll look great. I also think you could've chopped the secondary trunk a little further down, at the moment they look to be almost the same height. Just my two cents though. Great potential!
Right, I guess I should have read this first...anywayz I agree
 
I personally don't think it needs a third trunk. Once these two fill out and you get some nice thick branches down low it'll look great. I also think you could've chopped the secondary trunk a little further down, at the moment they look to be almost the same height. Just my two cents though. Great potential!
Yes, I still plan on cutting the lower branch back some more sometime this weekend. :)
 
Don't know how I missed a 2 trunk maple thread...
I like this tree, and how the trunks are to each other. I have a hackberry that has some of that feel. I agree that the secondary trunk needs to be cut lower. The one thing that I think is a miss on this so far is the pot that you have this in. It's too small to be doing the development that you are currently doing. If you put it in a larger pot, but a shallow one you will get more development faster. An overlarge pot will give you more growth, and what I've found is that if you develop JM in shallow pots, they tend to grow a better surface root structure. Of course screwing it to a board is the best option for that, and a training box or very large pot. I've found with smaller projects, going into a very shallow but wide pot does the same basic thing.
 
Don't know how I missed a 2 trunk maple thread...
I like this tree, and how the trunks are to each other. I have a hackberry that has some of that feel. I agree that the secondary trunk needs to be cut lower. The one thing that I think is a miss on this so far is the pot that you have this in. It's too small to be doing the development that you are currently doing. If you put it in a larger pot, but a shallow one you will get more development faster. An overlarge pot will give you more growth, and what I've found is that if you develop JM in shallow pots, they tend to grow a better surface root structure. Of course screwing it to a board is the best option for that, and a training box or very large pot. I've found with smaller projects, going into a very shallow but wide pot does the same basic thing.
Do you mean like an actual bonsai pot or do they have plastic/training pots that are shallow and wide? Can you maybe post a picture of an example? Thank you!
 
Don't know how I missed a 2 trunk maple thread...
I like this tree, and how the trunks are to each other. I have a hackberry that has some of that feel. I agree that the secondary trunk needs to be cut lower. The one thing that I think is a miss on this so far is the pot that you have this in. It's too small to be doing the development that you are currently doing. If you put it in a larger pot, but a shallow one you will get more development faster. An overlarge pot will give you more growth, and what I've found is that if you develop JM in shallow pots, they tend to grow a better surface root structure. Of course screwing it to a board is the best option for that, and a training box or very large pot. I've found with smaller projects, going into a very shallow but wide pot does the same basic thing.

Thanks Judy, I do have a large 18.6" oval Reiho pot was planning on putting it in but I was waiting until that root graft took. I hope to put it in its new pot next year.:D

Reiho 1.jpg
 
Do you mean like an actual bonsai pot or do they have plastic/training pots that are shallow and wide? Can you maybe post a picture of an example? Thank you!
There are all kinds of different ways to go here. Some people build their own training boxes, some use mica training pots, some use oversized ceramics. Doesn't matter which type, more important is size and shape. Bet you can do a search and find a thread...
 
Don't know how I missed a 2 trunk maple thread...
I like this tree, and how the trunks are to each other. I have a hackberry that has some of that feel. I agree that the secondary trunk needs to be cut lower. The one thing that I think is a miss on this so far is the pot that you have this in. It's too small to be doing the development that you are currently doing. If you put it in a larger pot, but a shallow one you will get more development faster. An overlarge pot will give you more growth, and what I've found is that if you develop JM in shallow pots, they tend to grow a better surface root structure. Of course screwing it to a board is the best option for that, and a training box or very large pot. I've found with smaller projects, going into a very shallow but wide pot does the same basic thing.

Hi JudyB,
This is what I have built to grow some of my development trees in. Hopefully this might help OP with sizes etc. 13 inch square and 4 inch deep, holds about 5-6 litres of soil.
Charles
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Pretty good trunks. Suggestion to change angle so neither trunk is straight upward. Smaller trunk has better movement so would personally shorten bigger one;).
 
Pretty good trunks. Suggestion to change angle so neither trunk is straight upward. Smaller trunk has better movement so would personally shorten bigger one;).

Thank for the advise, I will definitely look at a possible angle change on the next repotting.?
 
Hi JudyB,
This is what I have built to grow some of my development trees in. Hopefully this might help OP with sizes etc. 13 inch square and 4 inch deep, holds about 5-6 litres of soil.
Charles
View attachment 181675
Yes exactly. I've built several of these myself. Line the bottom with window screen mesh and away you go. I put simple rope handles on the sides for easy carry. Just drill holes and knot the rope inside.
 
Here is a pic of one of my hackberries from 2015. It's far more ramified now, but this shot shows you the way the two trunks speak to each other better in this simple form.
View attachment 181689

Hi Judy, I see your point, that pot really helps the overall look of your tree. The last couple of years I've been working on shortening the bottom of the of nebari. Next year plan is to get it short enough to fit into his new pot and hopefully it can look or start looking like a real tree.?
 
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