Japanese maple shohin

[Micci]

Today i picked up a japanese maple and decided to shohin it, its still in the works. I may chop it lower. What are you guys opinion?h

 

[Handsome John]

take it to the second branch and use that as the new apex! really nice beginning either way, looks like a good shohin in the works

 

[JudyB]

I can't really tell how tall this is, but it looks too tall currently for shohin. I would definitely take it far lower, first or second branch.

 

[Smoke]

Trunk should only be about 6 inches tall with about 2 inches of canopy twigs. 8 inches total from top of pot to top of tree.

 

[Clicio]

Trunk should only be about 6 inches tall with about 2 inches of canopy twigs. 8 inches total from top of pot to top of tree.

View attachment 177815

Nice pot,@Smoke !

 

[Smoke]

Total height of tree above is seven inches.

 

[Smoke]

Nice pot,@Smoke !

It will look great during Easter

 

[Micci]

Thanks guys! Awesome pot man! Im definately goin to take it shorter,im goin to use the second branch as the apex. On sat im going to do it

 

[Giga]

2nd branch - use that as your new apex

 

[Micci]

So i took the guy down a lil further, should i take it to trhe second branch?

 

[Shun]

Yes

 

[sorce]

So i took the guy down a lil further, should i take it to trhe second branch?

But I don't like the first branch!

Make it the second!

Sorce

 

[james]

Before you get too carried away with chop location and branches, the nebari needs to be addressed. Looks like 2 big roots. Might need air layering. And you may want to keep some canopy to get your layer going

 

[BigBen]

Nice start you have there, Micci!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I agree with James, I think you should have addressed the nebari before chopping back. Let it respond to the chop you have done. Don't try to layer the tree until after it has grown out a bit. Wait until August 2018, or even Spring 2019 before layering. You need healthy growth before trying to ground layer.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I would also seal the chop with cut paste, helps prevent die back.

I do think the second branch will eventually be the tree if you are going shohin. So your design idea is pretty much what I would have done.

 

[M. Frary]

I would have cut it back to the lowest branch. Let it grow for a year then ground layer it.

 

[Micci]

Heres what i cut it down to a few weeks ago, responded well, i also checked the roots and combed out a few to start the nebari. Its starting to bloom

 

[Toshi]

Heres what i cut it down to a few weeks ago, responded well, i also checked the roots and combed out a few to start the nebari. Its View attachment 182157View attachment 182158starting to bloom

Any pics of it now or over the summer?

 

[unlucky__madman]

Curious as to how this looks. Do you have any updates?