First styling and repot for a Japanese Maple

[Joelshack2362]

So I got this from a local nursery for a really good discounted price. Was told that it was ant infested and might not survive. Once I got it home I didn’t really notice any ants so I have been just letting it get strong and grow. I wanted a “weeping willow” style. I have seen Japanese maple in yards with this look and wanted to try to try this as a bonsai. I reduced the top and wired the branches into the weeping willow style back in December. Recently just re-potted and uncovered some decent nebari that was below the dirt line. My hopes for the next few years is to create a good top and keep reducing the pot size and root ball. Any thoughts on the tree is much appreciated.

 

[ajm55555]

To me that trunk is a bit weird. Why don't you airlayer the top, get rid of the middle part and now you have 2 trees?

 

[Joelshack2362]

To me that trunk is a bit weird. Why don't you airlayer the top, get rid of the middle part and now you have 2 trees?

Haven’t thought of it like that. Could definitely be a possibility. I was thinking the lowest trunk would get bigger over time and possibly make the trunk. Little less weird

 

[ajm55555]

I was thinking the lowest trunk would get bigger over time

Everything will grow larger ;-)

 

[Joelshack2362]

New growth starting to come out for spring.

 

[0soyoung]

To me that trunk is a bit weird.

I agree. It is so weird that it could become a/the bonsai feature. Could be fun figuring it out.

Why don't you airlayer the top, get rid of the middle part and now you have 2 trees?

Not all varieties of Japanese maple can be layered. I suggest that @Joelshack2362 try layering a branch before risking the tree.
If it works, then he gets three trees from one.
If it doesn't, he'll still have this and the pursuit of making that gawd awful trunk into whatever he might make of it for a (world-class, maybe) bonsai.

Story book style?
Cartoon image?
Fine art?


Honestly, it is so awful it amuses me - like a pug, so ugly that it is cute.

 

[Joelshack2362]

Thanks for the info on the air layering that will definitely help have some backup plans incase the crazy doesn’t turn out.

The way I see the trunk and what makes me want the crazy to turn out is the “small waist and big chest”. I hope with the right branch structure it will help to take some of the bad trunk away from the main view. Couldn’t resist the price point that this tree was sold too me for.

 

[Joelshack2362]

A mid summer pic of new growth.

 

[0soyoung]

Side Show Bob!

 

[sorce]

it is so awful it amuses me - like a pug, so ugly that it is cute

I totally felt this before I read it!

Agreed!

It's a right perfect kinda bad.

Sorce

 

[Joelshack2362]

Side Show Bob!

That’s awesome, now I see it I’ll never forget.

 

[Joelshack2362]

Removed all the fall leaves and wired in some branches. Also trying to set the branch in place that I hope will be the apex of the tree. Still needing some new growth this coming spring summer to help create more lower branches that will fill the gap in the main viewing area on the left side of the tree.

 

[Joelshack2362]

This angle seems to be the best front. Will work to reduce the rootball and get into a smaller pot this coming spring.

 

[Joelshack2362]

Repotted this last weekend temperatures here have been holding in the mid 60’s. Worked the rootball pretty good and got it into better soil. Still have more roots to work but will save for next repot. Got some more wiring on the branches and set a leader to help develop the top over the major cuts I did. Hopefully this will help hide the flat cuts from the main view.

 

[Joelshack2362]

Better photo of the wired branches and leader.

 

[eugenev2]

This angle seems to be the best front. Will work to reduce the rootball and get into a smaller pot this coming spring.

From this angle (post #13) it almost looks like someone diving into water...very weird...but could become something very intriguing

 

[Joelshack2362]

Thanks for the response, I like “very intriguing”. It’s enough to at least see what happens with this one.

 

[Joelshack2362]

Buds breaking, really earlier than last year.

 

[R0b]

Do realise that this looks like a upward growing variety and that if you want it to be weeping you will have to be prepared to manage that for the entire life of the tree.

 

[Joelshack2362]

Thanks for that information, I have been trying to keep an open mind about the current design not working out.