Twin Trunk Kotohime Japanese Maple

Toraidento

Shohin
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This is the first post for this tree. I need to develop a plan. A plan that will move it toward a descent twink trunk
The Tree comes from Easternleaf.com. I believe it arrived late 2017 maybe early 2018. I planted in this box spring 2018. So come this springs it is due for work. I didn't do good job working the roots. So I'll have to do much better this time around. As you guys can see from the pics the roots are going a little lopsided. Which is the main reason for the work. I need to try, and fix some of the issues going on.
I don't think I've really even messed with it over the last 2 years. I may have pinched the center leaves the first year. When buds were coming out. But figured out that was used to refine trees, and this one isn't in that stage yet.

I like the Twin Trunk for this little guy. I'm thinking it should cut back hard to develop taper and movement. The thicker of the two trunks, is pretty straight and then moves back toward the smaller trunk at the first division.
Do twin trunks follow the same design principals as other designs. Should I cut back hard. Meaning really low to create tapper and movement. What are some of the principal's to a good twin Trunk design.

The work this coming spring will be.
1: Work on roots. Try to correct some of my mistakes. Get roots moving in a better direction

2: Cut back to move the tree toward a good Twin Trunk design. It will go back into another box to continue to develop the Nebari.

I rent so ground growing is not an option ATM. Maybe a few years down the road.
 

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sorce

Nonsense Rascal
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I can see these as next segments.
Capture+_2019-11-28-18-04-10.png

If you keep it moving heavy right the strong left roots will make sense.

Sorce
 

Adair M

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Yes, it’s time for a hard cut-back.

You want to establish a 1/3 or 2/3 relationship in size for the two trunks, both in height, and in caliper.

Building taper for Japanese maples takes a long time. Especially if you want to do it with minimal scars.

Concentrate your efforts on developing good trunks and positioning primary branches at this point. Don’t worry about ramification or leaf size. Keep in mind the you want thicker branches at the bottom of the tree and thinner ones at the top. Leaving the tree to just do it’s thing will result in heavy branches up top and weak branches down low! So, you have to control top growth. Which makes building trunk caliper happen slowly. (This is why it takes so long to make good deciduous bonsai!)

I suggest you try to get as many of Bill Valavanis’s books as you can and study how he has created his masterpiece maples over the course of his lifetime.
 

thumblessprimate1

Masterpiece
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I anticipate with Kotohime, it'd take an extremely long time to develop compared to a regular green A palmatum or even an Arakawa/Nishikigawa. Bill's Kotohime are going on 4 decades from start, right? I highly recommend rough bark for anyone wanting a cultivar for bonsai; their wounds conceal well, excellent bark, leaf shape, and fall color.
 

M. Frary

Bonsai Godzilla
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This one is nice. I like it very much. But the main trunk really doesn't have much taper is this ok for a multi trunk design. Very nice tree
It used to be a Walter Pall tree.
Or his daughters?
It's dead now from fungal disease.
Dramatic taper isn't necessary.
Look at trees in nature.
I believe it worked for this beauty.
 

ajm55555

Chumono
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Could you give us the story on this tree Walter please.
I think it's or was magnificent.
"Don't ask questions and don't give advice! It was and is a hopeless case."
I don't agree that it's hopeless to grow Deshojos but it must have been very sad for Walter.
For sure they're a very delicate species and subject to all kind of attacks.
We know they're subject to 2 very serious threats: Pseudomonas syringae and Verticillium Wilt.
 
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ajm55555

Chumono
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Do you know any good dealers to send to California? What a beautiful maple!
It's a pretty common species especially for bonsai. You shouldn't have a problem finding one. Shindeshojo is an improved variety, supposedly more resistant to deseases and with very similar characteristics.
 

M. Frary

Bonsai Godzilla
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Do you know any good dealers to send to California? What a beautiful maple!
No.
I don't have any Japanese maples myself because of where I live.
Wish I could.
It was beautiful wasn't it?
Graceful.
I would contact Bill Valvanis or Mach5 here if I wanted one.
Both are bnut members.
 

AlainK

Imperial Masterpiece
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I don't have any Japanese maples myself because of where I live.

Why ? Because of lack of space or because of the local climatic conditions ?

Most maples can stand temps below 30° when in the soil, with some protection for the winter, they can thrive in very cold climates.
 

M. Frary

Bonsai Godzilla
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Why ? Because of lack of space or because of the local climatic conditions ?

Most maples can stand temps below 30° when in the soil, with some protection for the winter, they can thrive in very cold climates.
Climate.
They need to be able to withstand minus 20 degrees farenheit for a few weeks. Maybe some minus 30.
I've tried them.
Chinese elms are out too.
 
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