Thoughts on this trident?

Scrogdor

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Price point is 250$. Base is maybe 4 inches? Probably 30” tall.
 

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Scrogdor

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Rats, my signal is bad. Only one I could get to upload
 

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Matte91

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Good price if it was in Europe.
 

Paradox

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Can't really see the branching but that can be worked on. Otherwise, nice trunk. Not bad for the price imo. Might be a fun project you can learn from
 

Hack Yeah!

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That price is likely less than the pot you'll probably want for it one day...
 

Shogun610

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Get biggest base .. best branching .. you’re buying the trunk.. rest can be developed .. worth it.. sometimes you gotta sacrifice to get to next level
 

Scrogdor

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My eyes were bigger than I realized! Went with this one instead for about a third of the price. Got some great movement some nice basal root flare under the dirt. Flaky bark!

What I’ve done so far, was saw off some old chopped/dead limbs and scratched up another closing wound to restart it. That’s the cut paste you see. Local place so not worried about climate change issues.
 

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Shibui

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Despite what some growers seem to thing bigger base is not always better for bonsai.
Aesthetics play a huge part in good bonsai. Trunk taper is very important and many, maybe even most?, huge trident trunks have either no taper, reverse taper or just plain ugly taper. You can grow new branches in just a few years but taper is much harder to remedy.
Check amongst all those leaves to see if nebari is consistent and in proportion. Around branches and previous chops are usually the worst places.

Nebari is another big factor in good bonsai, especially with maples. While nebari can be modified it will take 5 years or more for the new roots to match a larger trunk. If the trunk just needs a couple of new roots I'd consider it but if the whale nebari needs replacing it may not be worth the time and effort.

This tree looks quite tall for the trunk thickness. 30" is tall for 4" base. Would you pay that money for a thick base but then make a tall, thin looking tree? Plan to shorten the trunk? Make sure there is a good place to make a trunk chop. Behind an existing upward branch or sub-trunk if possible. Large chops can heal over quite fast while the tree is growing fast but in the final stages while growing branches and refining you'll need to reduce growth so chops now take many more years to heal. That may not be an issue if the cut is hidden behind so check for suitable chop sites.
Maybe make a blind chop and start the top of the tree again? Allow many years to grow a new apex to match the base. The thicker the base the more years the new leader will need to catch up. Then add more years for subsequent chops to continue taper and build branches.

Value is uniquely individual. You'll need to make that call but just be aware of all the ramifications and don't be seduced by thick is good. Bonsai development does not occur overnight.

My eyes were bigger than I realized! Went with this one instead for about a third of the price. Got some great movement some nice basal root flare under the dirt. Flaky bark!
Looks like a much better choice to me. Well done.
 

Scrogdor

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Despite what some growers seem to thing bigger base is not always better for bonsai.
Aesthetics play a huge part in good bonsai. Trunk taper is very important and many, maybe even most?, huge trident trunks have either no taper, reverse taper or just plain ugly taper.

Nebari is another big factor in good bonsai, especially with maples. While nebari can be modified it will take 5 years or more for the new roots to match a larger trunk. If the trunk just needs a couple of new roots I'd consider it but if the whale nebari needs replacing it may not be worth the time and effort.

This tree looks quite tall for the trunk thickness. 30" is tall for 4" base. Would you pay that money for a .
I actually thought about this. There was an angle that had reverse taper/ no taper that I’d have had to make a gigantic chop on or never look at the tree from any other angle.

I think it was probably closer to 5-6” when I went back to take a second look after I had a beer to think things over lol. Cooler heads prevail!
 

Smoke

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Chop that straight up portion back to a bud about an inch above the larger part. That neck is too long and will only look funny later. You have good moves below, make the top match. Make a direction change after cutting back.

$250 is a steal
 

Scrogdor

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Chop that straight up portion back to a bud about an inch above the larger part. That neck is too long and will only look funny later. You have good moves below, make the top match. Make a direction change after cutting back.

$250 is a steal
I was going to leave some more leaves up top to encourage sap flow to heal that chop. Then cut Back a little later. Or will that make little difference?
 

Shibui

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I was going to leave some more leaves up top to encourage sap flow to heal that chop. Then cut Back a little later. Or will that make little difference?
ore top growth now will definitely help heal the lower chops. There's always a balance between moving forward quicker, still getting enough growth to heal the cuts quicker and slowing growth enough to develop shorter internodes and better branch density.
Chopping the top will need to be done but I would also do that after some more growth has started the healing on the lower scars.
 

Moridin

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Lone Pine Gardens. Great place, they have TONS of material. Everything there is home grown too.
Thanks man I've always wondered what their stock looked like.

I really need to get out there. I only head out that way a few times a year but I should just make a day trip of it with the girlfriend.
 

Scrogdor

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Thanks man I've always wondered what their stock looked like.

I really need to get out there. I only head out that way a few times a year but I should just make a day trip of it with the girlfriend.
It’s incredible. There are so many choices of almost every type of pre bonsai. They increased their prices a decent amount this year but understandably. Still best prices around
 

Smoke

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I was going to leave some more leaves up top to encourage sap flow to heal that chop. Then cut Back a little later. Or will that make little difference?
Where the chop is made goes a long ways in healing the chop, as well as sealing the chop so it doesn't dry out. Leaves don't heal chops, upward growth near the chop heals chops. Cut to a node and leave nothing and then wait for buds. Choose the best one, moving in a beneficial direction, then let it go for a couple years or when ever it reaches its size for the next chop. keep sealed with cut paste and smooth it yearly and apply more paste along the way. The upward growth of a leader will heal a one inch chop in a year. Easy peasy.
 

Scrogdor

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Not really sure what to envision here for the current tree with its current branches/lack there of and the longer straight middle portion of the trunk. I've crudely drawn in what I would try and achieve with the current branches I have if I don't do a major chop. Also put pics of what it would look like with a new trunk line. Would appreciate anyone's input or guidance on this one.
 

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