Dual Trunk Acer from Momijis

[Scrogdor]

Picked this up for 35$ From a Japanese maple nursery called Momijis in Sonoma. Haven’t seen any of these so decided to snag it and mess around. Some of the maples this guy has raised have the most incredible root flare I have ever seen at a nursery. Prices are amazing as well.

I’d guess 60-70% of the maples there have fused radial roots, similar to very old bonsai. If you get a chance check it out. Bring a truck or a saw if your in the market for a nice JPM with some awesome nebari. Sorry I didn’t take more pictures, it’s like a forest there though.

 

[Scrogdor]

Had to chop this to even fit it in my car, was very long. Wondering if I should chop shorter. Wanted to leave enough foliage to recover.

Aiming for a twin trunk or a mother daughter type bonsai. Added a few more pics of ballpark what I’m looking to create.

 

[19Mateo83]

That’s an awesome find for $35!

 

[sorce]

Nice.

No offense to it's owner but I really don't like that 49.9kb one.
Seems a good reminder of what not to do.

You see how all the branching is eminating from the "new leader"?

Imagine if the new leader began 2 inches off the ground. Pimp.

I don't think you'll ever grow the "hey I was a shrub" out of that.

I like that you chopped yours, but keeping a possibility of going way lower should remain an option.

Sorce

 

[Srt8madness]

Is that Ozark in the background?

If I saw maples that thick for 35 I'd buy a truckload. Then kill them all in Texas heat but whatever.

Gunna need some MAJOR chops and regrowth to get taper but hey, think of how awesome the nebari will keep getting.

 

[Scrogdor]

Nice.

No offense to it's owner but I really don't like that 49.9kb one.
Seems a good reminder of what not to do.

You see how all the branching is eminating from the "new leader"?

Imagine if the new leader began 2 inches off the ground. Pimp.

I don't think you'll ever grow the "hey I was a shrub" out of that.

I like that you chopped yours, but keeping a possibility of going way lower should remain an option.

Sorce

Hoping this back buds well to pick some new lower leaders from. Or is it better to just cut to the height that I want and hope for the best lol?

 

[DanaWhicker]

That's a steal and a beautiful tree!

 

[Scrogdor]

How would you guys proceed? Took me a LONG time to finally get this out.

 

[Scrogdor]

Excavated the moss on top

 

[Pitoon]

Cut the bottom half of the root ball off. Rake out the top half.

 

[Scrogdor]

Cut the bottom half of the root ball off. Rake out the top half.

Think it's alright considering time of year? To rephrase, a better alternative than leaving it pot bound/ gunked up like that despite time of year

 

[Pitoon]

Think it's alright considering time of year? To rephrase, a better alternative than leaving it pot bound/ gunked up like that despite time of year

If it were mine I would do it now rather than later when it starts to get hot.

 

[misfit11]

Nice find. That base is fantastic. To find a JM of this size and quality for $35 is amazing. I live in Petaluma and have never heard of this nursery. I'll need to check it out next time I'm over there! I'm in the market for a Deshojo and an Arakawa. Did you happen to see if they had those varieties?

 

[misfit11]

I'd be careful about doing any kind of root work right now. Does it drain when you water it? If so, what's the rush? I'd hate to see you lose this tree just to get it into a smaller pot this year. Maybe ask some of the JM experts like BVF, Mach5, Adair, etc for some advice before pulling the trigger on that one.

@Pitoon have you saw cut a root ball on well-established JMs at this time of the year with success?

 

[Shibui]

I would also advise caution with extensive root reduction after leaf out. JM can survive that treatment but will often drop all existing leaves then slowly grow new ones. The anxiety is not worth it IMHO. Much less worry and safer to wait until next winter then do a major bare root and cut back.

Just teasing the outer roots an potting one size larger will be OK if you are worried it is too pot bound to make it through summer. Poking some holes through the existing root ball will help water penetrate through this summer.

 

[Pitoon]

@Pitoon have you saw cut a root ball on well-established JMs at this time of the year with success?

Yes, I have. They can handle it. Some do suffer, but they bounce back if they are healthy. I would not do it near or in summer, at the point it's to late and best to wait till the end of winter.

 

[Scrogdor]

I guess we’ll wait and see! Most of its leaves were removed when I chopped it because it was 6+ feet tall. Appreciate everyone’s advice.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Good eye and great find. I recently repotted a big box maple, also over 6' tall, in leaf. It was horribly root bound and really difficult to rake out, so I sawed off the bottom 1/3 as well as a slice of the sides. Then I raked it out without bare-rooting it. I didn't prune the tree at all yet. Granted, it's been 40-50's until yesterday in NY, but the tree hasn't batted an eye and doesn't seem to realize it was repotted. I assume Oakland is warmer and that may put an additional strain on the tree.

 

[misfit11]

I went and checked out Momiji Nursery today. When you said Sonoma, I thought you were talking about the town of Sonoma. I was up in Rohnert Park for a Costco run this morning and since it was close by, I thought I'd check it out. Just wow!! This nursery is phenomenal! He's got JM of all varieties and all sizes. I didn't end up pulling the trigger on anything but I can definitely see myself doing so in the future. I may not even get something specifically for bonsai purposes, but simply a nice landscape tree.

Thanks for the heads up on this!

 

[badatusernames]

I got a nursery tree recently that is very root bound and used an iron bar to drive aeration holes into the soil (the pot is massive, massive). Probably looks the same inside the pot as yours. I believe this was the better route than cutting half the root ball off after it had leafed out. Should let water penetrate. For something that small maybe a pencil would do it?