New Trident

[Rod]

Been in the box a month now, and buds are starting to push. Let it grow this year

 

[SeanS]

Just for learning. When we typically collect trees. We allow them to recover. This tree was ground grown...and collected by the looks of it. So...that doesn't apply here to allow it to recover? Again...I'm just wishing to understand. It looks to be out among other field grown trees. With the sellers images first added.

When we talk about “collected trees” they’re usually wild trees growing in a whisper of dust and are thankful when they get a thimble of rain water spattered on them a few times a year.
A field grown trident is firstly a trident. Secondly it’s been cared for and grown by humans, given all of the resources to grow as thick and fast as possible.
I’ve had very few issue working my field grown trees hard when pulling them out the ground. Roots get cut back, bases get cut flat, holes are drilled through them.

 

[Cadillactaste]

When we talk about “collected trees” they’re usually wild trees growing in a whisper of dust and are thankful when they get a thimble of rain water spattered on them a few times a year.
A field grown trident is firstly a trident. Secondly it’s been cared for and grown by humans, given all of the resources to grow as thick and fast as possible.
I’ve had very few issue working my field grown trees hard when pulling them out the ground. Roots get cut back, bases get cut flat, holes are drilled through them.

Thank ya kindly...for the reply. That makes total sense. I couldn't wrap my gerbil around it. Which is why I was wanting clarity. My brain put on brakes... and I didn't understand it. Now...Its crystal clear. Again...thanks for the clarity.

 

[keri-wms]

Just a thought re nebari - you could let it recover and then in a future repot strip a ring of bark off one or more large roots to, in effect, ground layer them.

That way in the short term you preserve the energy stored in the big fat over-long roots and later on get fine roots as close to the trunk as you like?

 

[keri-wms]

Like this in fact, a trident I did it to recently.

 

[Rod]

Starting to grow

 

[Rod]

Here it is with so morning sunshine!!

 

[misfit11]

I would have been more aggressive with the chop on that left-hand trunk and the roots (and also buried them deeper). I get it, though. It sounds like you're relatively new to this and you just bought the thing... You don't want to kill it straight away. This more conservative approach should give you the experience and confidence to be more aggressive in the future.

Keep us posted on it's development

 

[Rod]

I would have been more aggressive with the chop on that left-hand trunk and the roots (and also buried them deeper). I get it, though. It sounds like you're relatively new to this and you just bought the thing... You don't want to kill it straight away. This more conservative approach should give you the experience and confidence to be more aggressive in the future.

Keep us posted on it's development

I am being a little more careful, I was real aggressive on the one I had last year and well it never fully recovered and lost it. So I figured it’s going to need a lot of root grafts to get a good radial nabari as they take and fill

I would have been more aggressive with the chop on that left-hand trunk and the roots (and also buried them deeper). I get it, though. It sounds like you're relatively new to this and you just bought the thing... You don't want to kill it straight away. This more conservative approach should give you the experience and confidence to be more aggressive in the future.

Keep us posted on it's development

yes I’m a little cautious now I got a tree last year and was aggressive with as I was told and it never recovered and lost it. So I figured it is going to need a lot of root grafts to get a good radial nabari and as those take and develop I can cut big roots back, while developing the main branches and structure. May add a couple of extra years, but I figure I’ll learn a lot along the way.

 

[misfit11]

We learn something with whichever course we take in this hobby. There's nothing wrong with being conservative.

 

[Rod]

I would have been more aggressive with the chop on that left-hand trunk and the roots (and also buried them deeper). I get it, though. It sounds like you're relatively new to this and you just bought the thing... You don't want to kill it straight away. This more conservative approach should give you the experience and confidence to be more aggressive in the future.

Keep us posted on it's development

I am being a little more careful, I was real aggressive on the one I had last year and well it never fully recovered and lost it. So I figured it’s going to need a lot of root grafts to get a good radial nabari as they take and fill I’ll cut the big roots back.

 

[Rod]

I cut the dead small trunk off yesterday

 

[Rod]

Applied guide wires today, to help set angles of branches. They haven’t hardened off yet so I can’t wire yet.

 

[Rod]

May and growing strong letting everything grow to strengthen tree

 

[Rod]

Here is the progress of my trident from when I got it on February 12th to now.

 

[ianmcglocklin]

Looking very nice! I think youve cared for it great so far. Where did you purchase that from? The one you picked is massive and I definitely like the twin trunk. Nice find!

 

[Rod]

Looking very nice! I think youve cared for it great so far. Where did you purchase that from? The one you picked is massive and I definitely like the twin trunk. Nice find!

Thank you. I got it from Skyler Clark. He has a utube channel called Small Trees. Great guy and has some great trees. I’m thinking I going to follow Walter Pall with the design for this tree. The naturalist style.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Great recovery, it is really looking good! I know it seems counter to bonsai development, but I think the best thing for you to get its roots back in the ground. This tree needs a lot of growing for taper (as the fellow nuts have already said). This will happen in a box, but it will be sped up exponentially in the ground.

Personally I would not mess with the nebari at all, because IMO it is not worth your time trying to fix. I would pick some new leaders, make some chops and let it run in the ground undisturbed. Once you develop some good taper and branching in the ground, I would just air layer it off of that whole gnarly base.

As a similar example, I am ground growing this trident and plan on air layering off the top after another season or two. The sacrifice branch grew at least 4 feet this year and it is healing wounds and thickening at lightning speed (the whole tree is about seven feet tall!).

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Just my 2c

 

[Nera]

Typically...the narrower trunk is shorter.

I'll be eaten alive by my next comment. Yet...it was solid guidance when I began...that I still use. Which is. Study that style. Save images that appeal to you. Then study those and see if anything can be applied to your material.

When I made my mini forest. I studied layouts of forests...saved ones I liked and did process of elimination until I was down to one placement to go off of. I get a lot of compliments on that mini forest. I didn't throw trees together. I did my homework...and used that layout as a guideline. End of the day...it shows.

Best of luck to ya.

I know this comment was made earlier this year, but just wanted to say to me, I completely agree with you!