Trident Maple first wiring

[Polcyn]

well, I finally found the nerve to wire my first tree. I picked up this little Trident at BC Bonsai in Wheaton and I am looking for some feedback on my wiring job and maybe some styling advice.

What I already know is that my tree needs tone pruned and I have some limbs to remove at some point.

I haven't decided on a front yet so I don't want to prune until I have. Thanks in advance!!

Let the ROAST begin!!!

 

[Tieball]

Curious....are you planning for a thicker trunk or is this close to the trunk size you're after? What size trunk is in your mind? (diameter)

 

[CasAH]

Are going to the Midwest Bonsai Society show at the Chicago Botanic Gardens May 20 and 21?

 

[Polcyn]

Curious....are you planning for a thicker trunk or is this close to the trunk size you're after? What size trunk is in your mind? (diameter)

As wide as I can get it I suppose.

 

[Polcyn]

Are going to the Midwest Bonsai Society show at the Chicago Botanic Gardens May 20 and 21?

I planned a fishing trip that weekend before I knew about it... otherwise I would be there

 

[sorce]

Looks a nice healthy specimen!

Fishing! Yeah!

Sorce

 

[Saddler]

Your wire is bigger then the branches you are wiring. I would try and put movement into the branches, where you have that super wire on. If nothing else, do it for practice. Read about how to make the wire support the branch in the bend. Put in lots of movement. When I started wiring I always regretted not having enough bends in the branch after I took the wire off (the wire makes it look way more bent then it is) so the next year I would rewire and add a bend or two more, still not enough and then I would try a third year and break the branch. Now my branch has taper lol.

 

[just.wing.it]

Colin Lewis has a great wiring video on Craftsy.
It's free, just need to make an account.

 

[Polcyn]

This is the final product.... now fertilize, clip and grow and repot for the next thirty years!

 

[Eric Group]

This is the final product.... now fertilize, clip and grow and repotView attachment 144836 for the next thirty years!

It will only take 30 years to get big if you keep it in that tiny pot. Drop that thing in the ground, and it will be a beast in 5 or so.

The wire should add more wiggle to the branches as well as lowering them. Might recommend that you Get bigger wire and try for a lower bend in the trunk too if it can still move...

 

[Smoke]

You need a "way forward" machine.

 

[Polcyn]

It will only take 30 years to get big if you keep it in that tiny pot. Drop that thing in the ground, and it will be a beast in 5 or so.

The wire should add more wiggle to the branches as well as lowering them. Might recommend that you Get bigger wire and try for a lower bend in the trunk too if it can still move...

I tried to add more bend at the bottom... it was tough. Or I'm being a wuss.... I will wiggle the shit outa those branches. I have more wire in the mail of all sizes.

How do you plant in the ground and avoid crazy root growth?

Thx!

 

[Smoke]

How do you plant in the ground and avoid crazy root growth?

Thx!

Thats what seperates the men from the boys.

 

[Polcyn]

Thats what seperates the men from the boys.

Lol.

 

[Tieball]

I think....that if you trace the exact line of the branches you wired...you will notice that the branches are straight...the wire seems to make them appear curved.

Thick trunk. Grow it in the ground.
My thinking...I wouldn't worry to much about wiring those branches. As the trunk thickens those branches will be chopped off anyway and new ones will be grown. Wiring sometimes hinders growth.

There are Trident experts on this forum. I'm not a Trident specialist. However, what I have seen, and apply successfully to my American Elm, Hackberry and Field Maple trees is grow on a tile in the ground. I use floor tiles. Root growth will help trunk growth. On a Trident you can cut the roots very hard...when you have your thick trunk ready. Read up, google ground growing bonsai, Tridents are used as an example in numerous examples.

Given you want a thicker trunk...wild growth should be your plan. Not a bonsai pot. Nurture the tree for growth.

 

[sorce]

This is the final product.... now fertilize, clip and grow and repotView attachment 144836 for the next thirty years!

Love your switchplates!

Sorce

 

[Eric Group]

I tried to add more bend at the bottom... it was tough. Or I'm being a wuss.... I will wiggle the shit outa those branches. I have more wire in the mail of all sizes.

How do you plant in the ground and avoid crazy root growth?

Thx!

You don't! Crazy root growth= crazy top growth, which = a crazy old looking trunk eventually.

Seriously though you do want to dig it up and prune the roots every now and then while growing it out to avoid the dreaded "club foot" lopsided huge roots you see on so many ground grown trees. Also, most would encourage you to plant it on a board or tile to get a fat, radial root mass and nice basal flare.

 

[Polcyn]

Love your switchplates!

Sorce

Lmao

 

[sorce]

Lmao

Hey...I seen some bad ones!

Sorce

 

[Saddler]

What about cutting it back to the first pair of branches? Large branch becomes new leader (with lots of bend) and the small branch becomes first branch.