Desprate... trident maple

clint

Hi, just a question, I'm a complete novice at all this right now. When growing a maple in the ground to let the trunk thicken should you also be pruning the branches back to keep it shorter or should you just let them grow to help with the thickening? thanks.

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pootsie

Pruning would generally defeat the purpose, unless it is done for shaping. The tree is "kept shorter" by chopping it back once every year or two (or three or four, depending). Grow, chop repeat as necessary.

Short answer -- let it GROW!

pootsie

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John Dixon

If you opt for the pot, I recommend that you use a pot that is WIDER than tall. You will accomplish two tasks at once; increasing trunk size AND obtaining lateral (side) rooting. While deeper pots will accomplish the first task, they will cause DEEPER roots that later have to be trimmed or manipulated to grow laterally. Also, A shallower BUT wider pot allows a more consistent moisture content throughout the soil. Deep pots will inherently have more moisture as you go deeper.

If you do put it in a pot, see if you can find an old piece of tile or similar material to put directly beneath the trunk (rootball). This will serve as a barrier, making the roots go to the sides rather than straight down.

Lastly, coarser soil will create more root growth.

I hope this was helpful,

John

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John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.

verrlara

where can i get pumice, orchid bark, pine bark and other bonsai stuff for my trident locally?

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verrlara

i repotted the trident. i potted it in a pot about a gallon in size with orchid bark, chicken crud potting soil, pumice, redwood bark, two different sizes of grit. i hope it lives

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you only get one life, use it well, touch all the things worth touching and see all the wonderful sights worth seeing. one of those sights worth seeing is watching a bonsai grow from seed...

TreeBay

:chicken crud potting soil

I am not familiar with the product. Is this crushed shale like for their gizzards, or is it a chicken manure fertilizer or something else? I tried using chicken manure fertilizer as an amendment once it did not go well because it was much too salty. I lost that particular pine. I think that chicken manure fertilizer was called "mushroom compost" but it was almost 10 years ago so my memory is fuzzy.

Regards,

Matt

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