Sango Kaku Thoughts?

[Kodama]

Hello Bonsai Nuts!
I'm new here and have been reading about the art of Bonsai for years but with very little practice. The extra time at home has re-inspired me to try again and take it a little more seriously this time.
Very cool forum here with alot to sift through but would be interested in community thoughts or suggestions.
With that I just found a decent Sango Kaku at a bix box store and want to do something with it.
I see it has been grafted so kind of a bummer. Thought about
1. Grow as is, maybe air layer the top off
2. Air layer just above the graft and near the top

With trunk being important what is the best way to get good Nebari on this one?
Thank you for any advice.

 

[AlainK]

Number 2

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Number 2. Coffee bean.
Lol as hell!

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Goat pellet .

Sorce

 

[aml1014]

If you want a bigger trunk, I'd ground grow it for a few years, THEN air layer above the graft. The root stick that it is grafted to will be a stronger and more vigorous rootbase. Therefore, your tree will grow faster. If you're satisfied with the trunk size, air layer right away. I'd personally go with ground growing for awhile.

Aaron

 

[Kanorin]

If you want a bigger trunk, I'd ground grow it for a few years, THEN air layer above the graft. The root stick that it is grafted to will be a stronger and more vigorous rootbase. Therefore, your tree will grow faster. If you're satisfied with the trunk size, air layer right away. I'd personally go with ground growing for awhile.

Aaron

I'm following the same plan with my sango kaku. Then I'll find the most interesting trunk line and layer from there in a year or two.

 

[Michael P]

If you air layer, don't throw away the root stock! This is usually a plain green wild-type Japanese maple. It will be more vigorous than the grafted Sango Kaku, and may become your favorite Japanese maple.

 

[Kodama]

Thank you for the great suggestions! I went ahead and air layered just the trunk just below the bottom feeder branch and put in shady spot. After it roots do you think I could pop both the air layer and the trunk in the ground before winter or wait till spring?

 

[rodeolthr]

My concern is whether or not Sango Kaku is hardy for you, in your zone. It's my understanding that it is one of the cultivars that can suffer a lot of dieback in cold areas. You might check around and see if any are being grown in the ground in your area.

 

[Kodama]

Hmmm...good to know. Looks like I might be right on the edge. Seems we have been having warmer winters that I noticed within last 5 years. Report study from Purdue is projecting that Indiana is actually moving towards a 6A zone within this decade. Thank you for pointing that out!

 

[Mikecheck123]

Something to consider for the future to get more trees in a shorter time from a very tall tree:
Year 1: airlayer right in the middle. Now you have two that are about the same height.
Year 2: airlayer both of those right in the middle. Now ya got 4 trees after just two years.

 

[Kodama]

Great advice from you all. Thank you. This community is awesome!

 

[Kodama]

Update:
So after checking the air layer I see there were some fairly decent long brown roots although thin. Decided to seperate both and get em potted. Well.. after the chop and delicately removing the holding container the moss just fell away from the base as soon as I opened it... taking some of the roots with it! I was very careful and slow and it still happened. Ugh.. now I know why finely chopped moss is the way to go. So there were only a few thin roots left and now hoping for the best after the potting.

I've read that reducing the foliage on maples to accommodate small air layer roots will help ensure success. Any thoughts? Any hope? Dead tree walking?

 

[Pitoon]

Update:
So after checking the air layer I see there were some fairly decent long brown roots although thin. Decided to seperate both and get em potted. Well.. after the chop and delicately removing the holding container the moss just fell away from the base as soon as I opened it... taking some of the roots with it! I was very careful and slow and it still happened. Ugh.. now I know why finely chopped moss is the way to go. So there were only a few thin roots left and now hoping for the best after the potting.

I've read that reducing the foliage on maples to accommodate small air layer roots will help ensure success. Any thoughts? Any hope? Dead tree walking?

Now you wait and let the tree do its thing......

 

[Kodama]

Would you recommend reducing foliage?

 

[Pitoon]

Would you recommend reducing foliage?

You can if you want, but the tree will do it on its own....it will balance itself. Keep the substrate moist, and wait to see if it survives.

 

[leatherback]

Plastic bag it!
Out of the sun, out of the wind.

Is the plant properly immobilized in the pot?

 

[Kodama]

Plastic bag it!
Out of the sun, out of the wind.

Is the plant properly immobilized in the pot?

Ah ha yes..just now got clear bags around both. Thank you for the suggestion.
How long should I keep the bags on?

Yes I was able to wire them down and secure to lip of pot to stabilize
and sitting in an open door cold frame on the deck.
Might move to unheated garage after leaf drop and cross my fingers till spring.

 

[Kodama]

You can if you want, but the tree will do it on its own....it will balance itself. Keep the substrate moist, and wait to see if it survives.

Ah ok...I'll try not to panic...lol. Thanks for the tips!
This is my first air layer so learning as I go.
Very thankful for this community

 

[Pitoon]

Ah ok...I'll try not to panic...lol. Thanks for the tips!
This is my first air layer so learning as I go.
Very thankful for this community

Before separating the air layer, you should have done your research beforehand verse scrambling after the fact. Not to mean this in a negative way, but knowledge is power.