Trident Maple From Ebay - Suggestions?

Bob O

Hi Paul,
Looks like a good start. Are you keeping this inside? I am only 20 minutes from you & my cold frame kept Tridents are just shakeing out their leaves, still red. If you need help I am available most weekends.

Bob O

__________________
You will find something more in woods than in books.

Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.

Saint Bernard (1090 - 1153)

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bonsaibeginner

Bob, yes, I am keeping it inside. I think it came from a greenhouse to the seller to me. So, knowing that we've been having a cold bout, I didn't want to kill the buds that were opening. Mine opened on Sunday, by the way. Wow, that's pretty incredible that you live so close! What good fortune! We'lll definitely have to get together sometime (assuming I don't kill my tree)!

Let's just hope that my bonsai (my e-baysai) has as much good fortune. I took your advice, Jim, and unearthed around the root mass of the tree. I just have to say this. The guy that I bought this from on ebay did a really good job with this thing. It was wired to the pot, and I didn't want to have to rewire that (what with my limited wiring skills and all), so I just unearthed a bit. Did a little exploring, you might say. Scared me to death. Took some pictures, good nebari, great huge mass of roots, stirred in the soil (a technique I learned from my book), sprinkled some water over it and got the hedoublehockeystick out of there, man! Whew!

I don't think I killed it, but I guess we'll know in a few weeks, huh? Pictures of my explorations follow. Sorry they're not that great (camera-phone again).

Regards,
Paul

bonsaibeginner

Scary Cr@p, MAN!!! NEW territory for the beginner!! I held my breath till the bright dots came... It just felt like open-heart surgery for some reason. I know, I'm an idiot. Enjoy

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bonsaibeginner

and another view

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bonsaibeginner

The last, and .... clear!!!!

bonsaibeginner

anyone want to close for me?

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bnsaijim

Paul,

It should be fine- you weren't really doing anything that will interrupt root function. Looks pretty good from here!

Unwiring is no big deal- once there are enough roots to stablilize in the pot it's superflous. I use baling twine now- it rots away- no wire marks, nothing to fight with on the next repot....

I'd make sure it gets outside ASAP since the leaves are opening up.

If you can buy or borrow old Bonsai Today articles or "Art of Bonsai" by Peter Adams there is some excellent advice on styling tridents out there.


Sincerely,

Jim Stone
TX

bonsaibeginner

does it need to stay outside? Someone said I should keep it in a window, but out of direct sunlight. Have I been steered wrong?
Paul

Bob O

Hi Paul, Yep right down the road in Newport News, Pres. Peninsula Bonsai & V.P. of Va. Bonsai Societies, propriator of Walking Tree Bonsai.
If someone told you that Tridents or any temperate climate tree will do well indoors, they were blowing smoke. You might be able to keep it going for a while but no more than a year tops before it fades out right before your eyes.
This looks like a tree with some years on it, been worked heavy recently too. Go easy on it, may have been root worked already this year, if so it may be harmed to do it again. If you want to see repotting in progress I will be doing it Saturday & putting together a forrest planting. You are welcome to visit.
Will try to post a current pic of my first tree, 10 years work in it so far. (a Trident as well)

Bob O

__________________
You will find something more in woods than in books.

Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.

Saint Bernard (1090 - 1153)