Future Shito Trident

[wal]

I am so keen on all the Minnie's i see i decided to try one for myself. Aiming for around 6cm

Regards
Wal

[shibui]

6cm is very small Wal I have found that the smaller ones are much harder to maintain. Small pots dry out within hours. It took me nearly 20 years to get enough practice to keep these tiny sized bonsai alive so if at first you don't succeed keep trying.
Good luck mate

[wal]

6cm is very small Wal I have found that the smaller ones are much harder to maintain. Small pots dry out within hours. It took me nearly 20 years to get enough practice to keep these tiny sized bonsai alive so if at first you don't succeed keep trying.
Good luck mate

Thank you mate... i will straight up use a tray with gravel / water to sit the pot on....
Tbh the fact it will need constant maintenance is something i find appealing
Gives me something to play with while the rest are left to grow with far less disturbance

I will keep updating this thread along my journey

Regards
Wal

[wal]

Well because things are still pumping along with growth here in Bris i did the chop last night... did you hear her screem?

I have faith i will get some growth before things slow down

Regards
Wal

[squizzy]

Careful Wal

Remember it's not just heat but day length as well. Your trident can still get confused if it's cut at the wrong time of the year. At the moment it's shifting stored energy back to its roots for winter. This will sound super hypercritical coming from me but practice some patience. Believe me I know it's hard.

Squizzy

[wal]

Whats the worst that could happen? No new growth till spring? I figured that could happen.... it still has 2 leaves so it's a start

Regards
Wal

[squizzy]

The worst that could happen is it puts effort into more leaves and shoots now and looses them in 6 or 8 weeks. It has then used the energy it could have a saved for next spring. Tridents are as tough as nails but why push them for no benefit?

If you want a 60mm plant you may need to cut a fair bit lower next spring. That way you can build taper 1 or 2 times to get a plant that size.

Cheers

Squizzy

[wal]

Thank you for your reply mate
I am just experimenting thats all... i bought it especially to be wild with
It's all learning for me

No matter what happens im learning while having fun & thats exactly what its all about

I'm just happy you didn't say i could have killed it lol
Thank you again

Regards
Wal

[Pearcy001]

Considering you have already done the cut, why not cut lower again now for the improved future taper?

I definitely wouldn't be trunk chopping now if it was me, but hey you've already done it now why not go again.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

[squizzy]

Hi Wal. All good. I've done the most learning from my biggest mistakes. This is only minor. You may also prove us wrong. Pearcy cutting back lower than current growth may be a real push. What do you think. You will be asking the tree to push adventitious buds as well as growth. Just a thought

Squizzy

[wal]

I think i would rather wait to push down further
Either way it won't be long till we see how it takes the punishment i have faith

You have both giving me more to ponder about..
Thank you guys

Regards
Wal

[shibui]

My first thought was it should be cut further down but then started thinking along the lines Squizzy has outlined. Plenty of time to cut back if/when the stump sprouts and I have no doubt it will sprout in a few places along the remaining trunk.

The worst that could happen is it puts effort into more leaves and shoots now and looses them in 6 or 8 weeks.

This is not my experience down here Sqizzy. When I cut tridents late they sprout and grow but don't drop the new leaves over winter. Basically they end up with leaves all winter and that's with temps well below freezing. Does not seem to affect them, new leaves grow in spring as normal.
I think Wal should be Ok in Brissy.

[squizzy]

Cool shibui.

Give it a hard cut then Wal. I am only following the guidelines I'd expect from a deciduous tree. Like I said. Tridents are as tough as nails

Squizzy

[wal]

My first thought was it should be cut further down but then started thinking along the lines Squizzy has outlined. Plenty of time to cut back if/when the stump sprouts and I have no doubt it will sprout in a few places along the remaining trunk.

The worst that could happen is it puts effort into more leaves and shoots now and looses them in 6 or 8 weeks.

This is not my experience down here Sqizzy. When I cut tridents late they sprout and grow but don't drop the new leaves over winter. Basically they end up with leaves all winter and that's with temps well below freezing. Does not seem to affect them, new leaves grow in spring as normal.
I think Wal should be Ok in Brissy.

Very informative reply mate like always
Now it has raised more questions too though lol no surprise right?
If it now keeps the leaves over winter would that mean i cant repot? Plan was to pot into an orchid pot and spread the roots out. Would the fact it keeps it's leaves reflect that it won't go dormant this year hmmm

Regards
Wal

[shibui]

Leaves do not always mean active growth. Also we are finding that many deciduous trees can be repotted while growing. I root prune and repot small tridents that have germinated in the pots with natives when I repot them in summer. No deaths so far. Grant Bowie reports no problem after repotting older trident maple bonsai in March at Canberra.
All this points to ability to repot tridents with leaves on so don't worry. Also when you root prune this you'll probably cut back any branches and shoots so it will effectively be dormant anyway.