New trident maple advice.

[mickey12]

Hi folks I'm not really new to this forum I just never posted here before just never tried up until now.
Here's one of my trident maples that I recently bought on line and I was wondering if you could give me some advice going forward with it.

 

[BackyardBonsai]

Looks a tad tall and inversed taper? If that is the case, I air layer the top to make a shohin top and shorter trees. The top has decent curve to make a nice small tree.

 

[mickey12]

Sorry those picture are not really showing the tree correctly here's some

 

[AlainK]

I air layer the top to make a shohin top and shorter trees.

Yep. Best advice (so far)

 

[Shibui]

Everything depends on what you expect and want from your bonsai.
As mentioned, this tree lacks taper so it does not really look like a big old tree. In fact it seems to have inverse taper where some spots near the top are actually thicker than below. This is common with trees grown fast by people who either don't care or don't know but who want a quick profit.
Some options:
1. Ignore the reverse taper and grow branches to make a canopy that will hide the defect. Many newer growers would love to have a tree like this even though it has significant flaws.
2. Remove the top and regrow the trunk and branching. Not difficult with tridents but it will add a few years to the development program for this tree.
3. Layer as mentioned to get 2 trees and reduce the worst of the problems. Even this may not give a great tree but will give you 2 and one or both may be better than current.
4. Sell it to another unsuspecting beginner to get some or all of your purchase price back.
5. Accept that you have made a mistake and trash it.
6. Continue to develop the tree for the experience, knowing that it will not make a particularly good bonsai. There's a lot this tree can teach about watering, pruning and developing branches.

If you choose to go on with this tree I think the first step will be t remove superfluous branches. At the moment there are way too many and they will contribute to more local thickening. It is tempting to keep many branches to 'fill the canopy' and make it look like a tree. There should only be 1 twig/branch growing at any location on the trunk. Extras will cause lumps to develop. Choose the best looking branch at each spot and remove others. Note that the best branch is not always the largest or longest. Short internodes are really valuable in a bonsai so try to get rid of branches with really long internodes where possible, especially where there's a long internode first, close to the trunk.
Get rid of branches where there are several growing close together around the trunk.
Get rid of branches growing on the inside of curves where possible.
Wire remaining branches to get a consistent branch angle from the trunk.

In spring, feed and water well to get lots of growth.
Looks like it is in a bonsai pot which will restrict growth. To overcome the problems you have purchased and to speed up development I would use a larger grow pot, box or tub for a couple of years to maximise growth. Repot would be late winter/spring.

 

[Tieball]

@Shibui This is really good advice....you said: “ If you choose to go on with this tree I think the first step will be to remove superfluous branches. At the moment there are way too many and they will contribute to more local thickening. “

I'm now following a plan like this on American Elm trees. I start to settle on a direction and go through eliminating the “noise” to many branches brings out. Once I start removing a much clearer picture forms and it’s not so overwhelming....I know at a base just about where I’m headed and begin to eliminate the doubts in my head and hands.

I think the tree deserves some chopping down in height. That scar healing at the top, even though considered as the back, is not going to form right....and no new branches will grow through that area if considered close to the apex. Better to chop and begin a new direction....of your own choosing rather than the previous own. Tough to swallow and do.....but I think needed. I’ve had to approach a couple of my American Elm trees that way. Not easy...and I’m the one that grew the trees from scratch....but much better direction afterwards.

 

[mickey12]

I am going to give this tree a chance Shibui where in your opinion should I make the chop and at what angle I really appreciate your help in this matter or should I just give up and not waste my time?

 

[sorce]

IMO that top is rocked, there might be a smaller bit between the top and bottom, but that's kind of a waste of time to get to. Since you'll have a cut the size of the one destroying the top to deal with.

The base Don't seem all too great.

IMo....

With proper selection, maybe using one of 2 branches off the trunk,maybe more, I think you can purpose grow some trees to airlayer using this as a mother.

I've been growing this on a ficus for a few seasons.

I reckon you can get 6 of these started on that length. Get sic this far in 4-6 years.

For me, there's no sense trying to do something else. The fastest way to dope shohin tridents is to keep this ugly little powerhouse chugging out more material.

Sell em, you'll faster have $ to buy a Trident better than what this can become.

Sorce

 

[MrWunderful]

Id layer it into 3-4 small shohins.
Pick up “Bonsai Maples” it has some great examples of how to do it.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

Id layer it into 3-4 small shohins.
Pick up “Bonsai Maples” it has some great examples of how to do it.

Any idea where this book could be purchased?

 

[MrWunderful]

Any idea where this book could be purchased?

Bonsai Maples- Andrea Meriggioli

Received my newest book the other day and i am finding it well worth obtaining. Of particular interest so far is the clear summary of development techniques and stages described beginning in chapter eight. Clear pictures, descriptions and discussion. I am only part way through the book but...

www.bonsainut.com

There is discussion on it here ^^^
I bought my copy from bonsai Focus