New to Maples

[Neurosix]

I have been lurking for a while, but since I recently acquired some new trees a few days ago at the Dallas Bonsai Convention I thought now would be a good time to jump in. I have a few questions about this trident maple since it is my first. And yes, as you may have assumed I live in the immediate Dallas/Fort Worth area.

1. The roots are just beginning to sneak through the wire holes at the bottom of this pot, suggesting to me that it needs to be root pruned. I know ideally this should be done in early spring, but I am worried about the roots becoming unmanageable if I wait until next spring. The roots fill the pot and are thick, but water is still able to drain. I believe the soil mix is appropriate. Would you recommend pruning now or waiting?

2. Since I am trying to increase ramification it is my understanding that I should be removing the terminal bud after the first set of leaves on branches I don't want to increase in length in order to keep internodes short, leaves small, and to push energy back into the inner branch. Is this the correct strategy at this stage?

3. It gets extremely hot where I live (76 days in a row of 100+ degree weather with high 80's at night last summer). I have most of my trees placed where they get about 2 hours of direct morning sun, then shade cloth allows some filtered sun for about 4 hours during the hottest part of the day. I am worried it will not get enough sun, but I know it will just burn up when summer hits if I don't protect it. How much direct sun is necessary for this tree?

Thank you very much for your help. I have been operating though reading, trial and error, and guess work for a few years so I am looking forward to hearing suggestions from people who know. Oh, and I have the Peter Adams Maple book on the way.

 

[JudyB]

Welcome neurosix,
Can you post a picture of this tree? Also to determine answers, you have to decide what your end vision is for the tree.

As in, is the trunk big enough now, or does it need more growth to get you what you are looking for? Your strategy of growth and pruning management will be decided by the answer to that question.

That book by Adams is a good one.

 

[Neurosix]

Welcome neurosix,
Can you post a picture of this tree?

I tried to post the picture but I messed it up somehow. Maybe it was too large. I will have to try again.

As far as my goals, I am happy with the size of the lower part of the trunk. I believe the upper part after the chop could stand to fatten a little bit to look proportionate. I want the branches to also be proportionate and to have good ramification. Some of the branches, especially down low, remain thick all the way to the end, which does not look great in my opinion. I would like to correct that over the course of the next few years.

 

[tmmason10]

I tried to post the picture but I messed it up somehow. Maybe it was too large. I will have to try again.

As far as my goals, I am happy with the size of the lower part of the trunk. I believe the upper part after the chop could stand to fatten a little bit to look proportionate. I want the branches to also be proportionate and to have good ramification. Some of the branches, especially down low, remain thick all the way to the end, which does not look great in my opinion. I would like to correct that over the course of the next few years.

The tree should not have any root work but you can slip pot into a larger pot. I'd leave it until next year and do a full repot when the buds are swelling. It's a great trident starter and in my opinion may need to be shortened at some point. For the sun scorching, it sounds like it will need to be under cloth.

 

[JudyB]

Well without a pic....
But I would say to go forward slowly, make sure you think about the end image as you do any work on the tree. Make sure first of all that it's healthy, cause you can't style a dead tree...

I wouldn't do root work this late, I think I'd do a slip pot, or do an escape root planting (again pics would help) and get it healthy for the work you'll want to do next year. I probably would cut any branches that I KNOW I wouldn't want while it's growing fast during the summer to heal the cuts faster. But only if it's healthy enough for that. Can't tell, no pics....

Do you see a pattern emerging here? Please post pics... And you should update your profile to say where you live and what zone for climate specific help.

 

[Dwight]

Neurosix , Where do you live ? That 76 days over 100 sounds like here ( El Paso ). I've toyed with the idea of maples for a while now but the heat got the only one I had and it was under shade cloth all day. I think water is a part of the problem with these high temps. I watered once a day like I would my junipers and the thing still dies so maybe they are thirsty little guys and more water is part of the solution for the high heat.

 

[Neurosix]

Do you see a pattern emerging here? Please post pics...

The picture is seriously not showing up still Judy? No, it must be because tmmason was able to see it. Scroll up to my first post. I agree with you tmmason that is might need to be shortened eventually. The funny thing is I didn't consider that until I looked at the picture I took.

Dwight, I live right between Dallas and Fort Worth in Bedford. El Paso would definitely be challenging for many of the same reasons, maybe worse because of lower humidity. You might look up "chasnx" on youtube. He lives in a desert environment (las vegas I think) and recommends a soil mix with more organic content that can stand up to the heat a little better than those used in milder climates. I'm concerned about surviving the summers myself, let alone my trees.

I will hold off on root pruning until next spring and perhaps move it to a larger pot, thats what I was mainly concerned about. Thank you for the advice!

 

[JudyB]

neurosix, I just had not started up at the top of the thread after you edited the picture in. So now that I see it, I agree with Tom about the shortening. If you could get a better picture with better light, and a plain background that'd be a bonus....
It looks to be a nice tree, and could be a fine piece in a few years. I would for sure slip pot it, and feed it well this year. I think you're right about wanting to use more organics, and if you have anyone near you (I think there are lots of bonsai people near you) you may want to talk to someone in person about specifics. If they're successful, then you can be too...

 

[jkd2572]

I live in plano. Kind of your neighbor. I'm jealous did not see that one at the show. I would have snatched it up. I have Japanese maples and trident maples. Tridents can take the sun here. Keep those Japanese maples in the shade. Our temps are to much for them in full sun.

 

[Neurosix]

I'm jealous did not see that one at the show. I would have snatched it up.

I went there Friday morning just to get a jump on the vendors area. There were definitely some good deals to be had. In fact, I had to calm myself down a little bit because I wasn't used to that kind of selection.

 

[jkd2572]

I know. I stayed in the vendor area for two hours. I'm not used to seeing that much material ended up coming home with a san Jose juniper. Can't wait to style it. Have not made up my mind what to do with it.

 

[gergwebber]

I have spent 15 years learning how tomatoes behave in my immediate climate and have not yet nailed down anything solid except to keep trying and hedge my bets. and my bonsai are the same only everything is magnified and way more critical. I don't get that long of 100+ days, but we have a very dry heat that seems to bake the hills real bad.

I always go with less sun when in doubt. Also, when bringing home a plant remember where it is coming from(just down the road, 1000'+/-elevation?, Houston vs Dallas?) and play it safe until you see how it reacts to your climate.