PROJECT- Trident Maple III

bonsaial1

This is the tree as it looks with its little cast on. It looks so sad.

This was alot to put this tree through, and I would not recommend a beginner trying this on their first tree. I do highly recommend trying one or the other technique on a tree. It is very rewarding when things go right, but it can be a very costly learning expierance when things go bad.

Let's hope all goes right! This tree was in peak health, and had lots of 10" long shoots that testify to its strength. I have no worries that this tree won't push roots or give me a strong new root system. The tree should fill the pot with roots by November. I will let the pot stay on through the winter and sever the tree free of the ugly root base next February.

I'll be back, then

Hope you enjoyed my day, Bonsaial

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Jay

Thanks.... great pictorial and how to of two different techniques. How much after the removal of the tree with it's new roots(February?) will you do the airlayer on the top section? I would think if the tree is healthy and strong you might do it next spring, correct?

Also do you plan on trying to get a mini out of the original roots? Or is it your opinion that they are so bad it is not worth the effort?

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bonsaial1

Jay: The one good thing about this project is the element of time. I have no need to hurry things along. At the time of the ground layer being severed, the tree turns out well, I might just keep it the way it is. If the tree still does no come up to my expectations, then I will think about taking the top off. I feel that I will do this anyway, but maybe not next year. I feel that the root base( theugly part) will not make anything very good. I will keep it though, and see what pushes out. One thing about trident's, their tough. Who know's, the best part of this whole procedure may be what comes out of that ugly root base.

bonsaial1

21 days later the first signs of roots is starting to show. Hopefully the roots will continue to protrude from all the way around the tree.

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bonsaial1

Its hard to tell in this pic, but there are 9 small white bumps that have root heads just ready to pop from the surface. I have seen what I needed to see now and will just let the plant do its thing. I have had the plant under a large black pine tree in my back yard. It gets dappled sun in the morning. Since the tree has a new crop of leaves now I have put it into more direct sun to help warm up the soil and hopefully stimulate more root growth .

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Jose_Alberto

This is good stuff... I'll need sometime to try to get all you've taught here Al...

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midwestbonsai

I just found this thread. What a great how to Al!
I'd be interested in seeing the tree today, that is if you still have it.
-Paul

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Camay123

Same here.

Regards,
Patrick

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bonsaial1

Oh yea, I still have this "thing".

I have some good news and some bad news.

First the good news: The layering worked extremely well and I have some base flare and a radial root system. I ajm very pleased with the progress mad in such a small amount of time.

The bad news: I did all this work on less than perfect stock to start with. This is why the best possible stock should always be obtained before wasting huge amounts of time on something that will never be any good no matter how much one works to improve it.

The new good news: I plan on going ahead with my first impulse and take as many trees off this as possible. The branches are quite large (as far as shohin goes) and have adaquate taper and can be taken off as individual trees. The topp will be layered of as one unit and made to be shohin. The trunk will require some carving to conceal a bad chop at the top but I think I can work around that. After that I will cut it back at the base and start over with a new shohin tree with new found techniques for doing low chops on tridents and how to best grow them out. (article soon, with pictures!)

The new bad news: I will lose all this time over again. so far I have about four years in growing branches after the first chop at planned height. Then I layered off the bad root base, that took a year, plus the last two years getting the roots to flare and fatten at the soil line. Now I plan on losing about 5 more years to get where I am today. Jeessh I hope I don't die before I get at least one good tree out of this poor Frankenstien tree.

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