How do promote branch growth on Jap maple?

[IrishCrow]

Hi Jay. Around here you can buy tridents at some of the more upscale garden centers. I like to buy them big at the end of the season when they go on sale and cut them down. You can build a pretty nice trunk very quickly that way.

Here's one I did:
http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/field-grown-trident.18131/

Here's a bunch that Brian Van Fleet documented on his blog:
https://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/category/deciduous/trident-maple-deciduous/page/2/

And Al has documented the development of countless both here and on his blog. For example this:
http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/just-another-trident.18329/

Another option is to mail order something, but you'll be more limited on size (although it won't matter after a couple of seasons). I've ordered starter material from Brent - he's solid:
https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/acer.htm

And I've ordered seedlings from Matt - also solid:
https://kaedebonsai-en.com

If you're looking for something a bit further along, I'm sure that Don (http://www.gregorybeachbonsai.com/index.html) or Bill (http://www.internationalbonsai.com) can help you. In fact, if you can hold off for a bit you can go to the national exhibit in Rochester and take your pick. They have a lot of good vendors there.

Scott

Hey Scott. Again...thanks for the great info. A lot of my collection is young trees. I'm raising my little guy alone so I have to be sparing so once in a while I can sink a couple hundred into a started bonsai. But most of my collection is still young. Both web pages that sell bonsai have very nice trees. I actually just seen a 7yo trident starter for 55 bucks. So I'm going to jump on that. I was out for a walk with my son today and seen a maple that someone cut right in the middle and it was under big maples so it wasn't looking good. I know I should dig in spring but I figured if it was on its last leaf I mind and well give it a shot. So I dug it and put it in a 25 gallon pot. I'll have to call some of the nurseries and see if they sell tridents. I'll have to keep a eye out for when the trees go on sale. Hopefully I'll be able to grab a few. Thanks again for the info and links. It's much appreciated.