Japanese Red Maple: Pre-Bonsai - Trunk Chop?

mackomon

I bought a Japanese Red Maple last August which was dug up from the seller's backyard. I put it into a large pot and the result as of June 17th is many dead branches (branches on the left) but new growth has appeared on the trunk due to new buds and one remaining branch at the top of the tree. I believe the transplant shock and my poor handling of the roots have caused the distress.

Although it is late, the tree seems to be growing vigorously from these new buds (although the sparseness doesn't really suggest vigor at this time of year in Philadelphia). The tree is about 6 feet tall with a 2inch diameter trunk.

Any suggestions with this Japanese Red Maple. I was thinking a trunk chop about 2 inches above the vigorous leaf bud growth closest to the soil. Should I trunk chop less than a year after potting it and with the resulting dead branches? Is it healthy enough and is it the right time while it's growing new leaves?
(I've read some about trunk chopping but would like opinions for this tree.)

I was thinking a trunk chop would allow the tree to focus its energy on leaf and branch growth closer to the base of the tree rather than growing new leaves on the upper branches.

Should I keep the dead branch as jin? Too bad I can't air layer the branches, because they seem dead or dying (well maybe I can air layer the top branches).

Thanks!
Jimmy

Attached Images

	JRMaple Tree.JPG (67.9 KB, 85 views)
	JRMaple Trunk 2 Layers.JPG (66.2 KB, 76 views)
	JRMaple Trunk Detail.JPG (71.1 KB, 106 views)

Advertisement

TreeBay

Welcome to bonsaiTALK

What is that you have the tree planted in? Are you hoping to use it for bonsai or a patio tree, assuming it recovers?

It looks like you could probably remove those two very long branches without leaves on the upper left side, regardless of future plans. It's probably premature to discuss much more without the tree's cooperation.

Regards,

Matt

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

pootsie

Yeah, what Matt said.
I'd suggest removing the dead bits (since I'm not such a fan of jin that I think a maple needs it) and then leaving the rest alone to recover as much strength as possible before doing a chop next year (maybe)

rotsaruck!
pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

mackomon

Thanks for the welcome! This forum seemed to be the best laid out forum I've found while browsing different sites.

I plan to make it into a bonsai in a couple of years. The pot is just a large cheap pot from Home Depot. Since I live in a city, I decided that the tree can be in a decent pot on my balcony to provide some aesthetics rather than in a drab green plastic pot.

I also put some stones on top to keep the soil down initially. Do the stones adversely affect the nebari growth? Should I remove them?

Looks like the advice so far is cut off the dead branches and leave it alone for a year before performing a trunk chop. I was reading and thinking that a trunk chop would allow more energy for growth closer to the base of the tree (1st layer of leaves), but maybe it needs another year to recover. I was also hoping to work on the taper already.

Thanks for the advice. Any other opinions are appreciated.

heymikey(deceased)

heyMatt; Apparently you haven't heard about this new product sweeping across the bonsai world this summer.....
and it's available at a theater near you (allthough I've heard it tends to keep things a bit on the dry side).

Attached Images

bonsai soil.JPG (45.2 KB, 124 views)

Ralph

There is some very experienced, excellent advice on when/how to trunk chop in this article:

http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/trunks.htm

__________________
Emerging from winter slumber
Bonsai trees burst buds anew
Spring is upon us!


-Paul S.

Joanie

You might want to pull its little weed friends out... they will compete for nutrients in the soil.

Make sure that the pot has good drainage. I put some of mine in nicer pots last year, before I knew what could go wrong, and the poor drainage killed a maple. If the pot only has one drain hole, make sure it is covered with a fairly wide mesh and no rocks to block it. I would even consider drilling several drain holes around the sides of the pot, as close to the bottom as you can get. A layer of water just sits at the lowest level of the pot, because gravity is no longer enough to pull it down through the drainhole, and maples in particular are prone to root rot.

Cut off whatever is dead (you can tell by scratching under the bark, if you see green it is still alive) and give it lots of time. Time and patience are the hardest thing to get used to in bonsai. Trees take a long time to recover and grow, and your little maple has lots of potential if you give it plenty of time. Make sure not to stress it, because it will need its reserves going into winter.

Good luck!
Joanie

mackomon

Thanks Ralph. Yes, that web page about trunk chopping was great. I definitely read it before posting. I just wanted some specific advice for this somewhat distressed tree, but with vigorous growth at this point. That's why I was thinking that chopping the trunk now will allow the tree to focus growth in the lower nodes versus the existing live branch at the top and the nodes up the trunk.

Joanie, I will try to drill some holes in the pot, but I bought a matching pot for another small tree and that one cracked already! So I'm hesitant to stress the cheap Home Depot pot. But as you said and what I've read, japanese maples are susceptible to root rot.

The consensus seems to be to remove the dead branches and let it grow for another year before trunk chopping.

Any comments about the pebbles on top of the soil? Should I remove them now that the soil has settled? That popcorn pic is hilarious. There is top soil beneath the pebbles...

Joanie

If the pebbles keep the soil underneath too wet, you will have problems. I would remove them, but then again, I live by the beach and it's always damp here.

What kind of light does the balcony get? Does it get cold/hot wind? Maples burn easily....keep an eye on it.

Joanie