Field-grown trident

[JudyB]

That's great that you can get that many foliage flushes in your new locale.

 

[bonsaiwood]

Pulling up this thread- I really enjoyed following your tree's progression. I'll be circling back to these pages as a valuable point of reference.

Thank you @markyscott

 

[markyscott]

Repotting season.

 

[markyscott]

Late summer, 2025

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Nice shape!

 

[Goodroot]

Judy - here's a sketch of how it works.
View attachment 130517

When the seedling roots (black) fuse the stem of the seedling (green) will be cut off - everything below the drilled hole (blue) will be gone leaving the grafted seedling roots on the left side of the trunk. I've had very high success rate on this type of graft. However, this is a bit different to how I've done it before. In the past, I've drilled straight through the trunk so that the seedling emerged from the trunk above soil levelon the opposite side of the tree to the roots. Although the fusion happened, this also left an ugly scar on the trunk above the soil. This is way better, in my opinion, because there is no wound above soil level that could be seen later.

Anyway - I hope that helps.

I just found this long thread and I love it! My question-if I drill/graft a seedling to add roots, could I let the seedling exit on an upward angle to bring in a new branch?
Thanks for doing this long thread. Raising my confidence level. And I’m in S Tyler area.

 

[markyscott]

I just found this long thread and I love it! My question-if I drill/graft a seedling to add roots, could I let the seedling exit on an upward angle to bring in a new branch?
Thanks for doing this long thread. Raising my confidence level. And I’m in S Tyler area.

Sure. Just be careful of what you’re using for the branch. There is quite a bit of genetic variation between different trees. Differences will stick out like a sore thumb. I’d suggest growing a long shoot on the tree for thread grafting a branch. Uniform genetics is less important for root grafting.

S

 

[Goodroot]

What do you use for “soil”? You are in Houston, I’m basically in Tyler. In the country. I have a Mikawa Yatsubusa that has endured me for 20 yrs. I am finally getting serious with my soil. Is crushed granite ok to use if I sift the fines out?
I have a Trident in the ground (7 yrs) I used a shovel to cut a radius of 12” around it to get the roots ready. Should I pull it out this fall, or is that an early spring job?
Thanks for all you’ve done here. Very inspirational.

 

[markyscott]

What do you use for “soil”? You are in Houston, I’m basically in Tyler. In the country. I have a Mikawa Yatsubusa that has endured me for 20 yrs. I am finally getting serious with my soil. Is crushed granite ok to use if I sift the fines out?
I have a Trident in the ground (7 yrs) I used a shovel to cut a radius of 12” around it to get the roots ready. Should I pull it out this fall, or is that an early spring job?
Thanks for all you’ve done here. Very inspirational.

I lived in Houston for about 25 years, but moved to Virginia a little over 3 years ago. I use a mix of akadama, scoria and pumice. For tridents, it’s about 1/2 akadama and an equal split of the other two components.

I’d wait until spring for the root work. Back in Houston, that would have been late February or early March.

- S

 

[Goodroot]

Oh man. Sorry to know you moved. I drive to Houston at least once a week. Would have been nice to visit.

 

[MrBonsai19]

Late summer, 2025
View attachment 612070

Really enjoyed reading the 18 pages of content in this thread ! What a journey you have been on with this tree.

Your technique of thread grafting roots under the bottom of the trunk was really interesting and definitiely something I would like to try. The lessons learned on the best angle for healing the trunk wounds being 45 degrees also super interesting. All super relevant for me as I undertake the development of my trident projects. Thanks for sharing all the insight and sticking with the progression.

 

[Goodroot]

Here’s my yard tree. 8’ whip growing up. I’ll go ahead and dig it up in the spring. And cut that whip also?

 

[leatherback]

Here’s my yard tree. 8’ whip growing up. I’ll go ahead and dig it up in the spring. And cut that whip also?

please start your own thread, rather than interrupt this great progression on Marky's tree.

 

[Goodroot]

Good idea. Thanks. This is an awesome thread. I found it last night and read it all.