Japanese maple raft project

[Adair M]

Why does it need all that height ? Still looks Messy to me... I like post 87 a lot... As Is, it needs a new Direction...Looking forward to seeing what you can transform it into ????

Come on, Bolero, no one can be as muppet-headed as this! He said in several posts back he wanted to increase girth on the trunks. He’s taken it out of a show pot, and put it into a grow box.

Now, what do you suppose he wants the tree to do? Sit there and refine itself??? Should he pinch all the new growth and try to get small leaves? Oh!!! Maybe you think he should defoliate it???

And, OMG!!! He’s gone and WIRED THE NEW SHOOTS WHILE THEY’RE SOFTAND FLEXIBLE!!! WITH LEAVES ON!!!

Heresy!!!

Just D@mn!!!

Bolero, you know if you would actually pay attention to what’s going on, you might just learn something!

 

[Dav4]

This one really likes the grow box and straight up Akadama... those sacrifice branches are 4' long and almost an inch thick.





I wonder what Bolero will say now

 

[namnhi]

This one really likes the grow box and straight up Akadama... those sacrifice branches are 4' long and almost an inch thick.
View attachment 263657

I have already stated how much I like this one!

 

[cmeg1]

Lookin’good

 

[Arcto]

Can’t believe I saw this thread for the first time today. What a great progression! I’m motivated to knock over a bunch of small trees here with a tractor and see what develops.

 

[penumbra]

Outstanding achievement. This one has a bright future.

 

[Paulpash]

This one really likes the grow box and straight up Akadama... those sacrifice branches are 4' long and almost an inch thick.
View attachment 263657




I wonder what Bolero will say now

It's come a long way in a few years precisely because of the vigour and 'messy' growth. Keep being messy @Dav4!

 

[August44]

Dave, Nice, very nice raft! Are you using treated wood for your grow boxes?

 

[Dav4]

Dave, Nice, very nice raft! Are you using treated wood for your grow boxes?

Yup... all my grow boxes are made from 1x6 pressure treated pine decking.

 

[Pitoon]

@Dav4 all I want to know is how you plan to incorporate your infamous drop branch into this one

 

[Dav4]

@Dav4 all I want to know is how you plan to incorporate your infamous drop branch into this one

Stay tuned!!

 

[August44]

Dave, I have always thought that the poison in the treated wood could kill the trees. Must not be true eh?

 

[Dav4]

Dave, I have always thought that the poison in the treated wood could kill the trees. Must not be true eh?

I’ve never used anything other then pressure treated wood for my boxes and it doesn’t seem to bother them at all.

 

[penumbra]

I have several grow boxes in treated wood. I have a for foot tall Japanese White pine that has been in one for 30 years.
No problems.

 

[August44]

I googled it and found this.

"One of the steps they recommend is to use wood treated with ACQ - "This is an alternative wood-treatment chemical that contains no arsenic, chromium, or any other chemical considered toxic by the EPA.

If you are shopping for treated lumber nowadays, I don't think you'll find CCA-treated material in the home centers anyway since its use was restricted by the EPA in 2004. It will be more likely be ACQ or some other chemical."

 

[LanceMac10]

@MACH5 level of clean work area!?!? Who are you and what have you done with @Dav4 ?



Looks great and advancing relatively quick....nice work!

 

[Dav4]

Another growing season began a few weeks ago and I’ve already got some runners a foot-long . This year, I’m going to try and add a few more trunks via grafting and continue to thicken the two main trunks. By the way, this is the back side of the tree

 

[Paulpash]

How have the grafts gone @Dav4 ? Hopefully, you've had another year of good growth and branch thickening.

 

[Hartinez]

Curious also Dave. Love this tree

 

[Dav4]

How have the grafts gone @Dav4 ? Hopefully, you've had another year of good growth and branch thickening.

Not so good. I started detaching them a few weeks ago... one warm and breezy day (temps in the mid 80's F) and 2 of the grafts went crispy overnight, while one other appears to have taken. Remediation options are currently under review!!