Japanese Maple Progression and seek advice

[cutejai]

Hi all,

below is my JP bought from ray 3 years ago and is also my very first tree into bonsai.

1. the tree has been in an orchid pot with the escape technique for the past 3 years, today I've planted it into my garden bed for speedy scar healing and to thicken the root before contine to branch ramification. but my inner self keep telling me to pot it up into the 300mm orchid pot and start ramification now. so what would you do if this was your tree? which path would you choose? would it make any different if I give it another year to go rampage before I start ramification next year?
2. due to my ignorance, the chop scar started to rot, so i had to hollow it out and try to fill the hole with wood putty, but because of the flowing sap, the putty won't dry out(has been 2 weeks now), so just wondering is there any better way to fill the hole?

3 years ago when I just bought it in 2009.


first trunk chop


now after growing it for 3 years and last year decided to layer it to improve the nebari


today I dug it up and cut the layer off



the ugly hole


Regards

[bodhidharma]

It has some nice movement and could be developed as is in a grow pot. In the ground it will certainly thicken up quicker so i guess you have to know what it is you require from the tree. If it were mine it would go in the ground as i like larger trunks. If you are concerned about the hole you can fill it with builders bog which is more water proof but the tree will eventually heal itself.

[cutejai]

just a quick update on this JP.
the last service I had with this JP was 2 years ago by planting it on a tile in my garden grow bed. today I finally pull the plunge to explore the underside of this tree. looks like the nerbari develop nicely in 2 years, and apart from that, the taper has improved as well. it's now back into a grow pot and continue to develop branches.

before cleanup

after cleanup


Regards
George

[kvan64]

This one has beautiful root spread. Ground-growing may ruin the root system unless you have something to stop vertical root grow and also root pruning at times. If it was mine, I would still keep it in the pot and continue to feed it well. Best bonsai does not have to be...big!
Cheers
DK

[kez]

Looking good,

Good development of taper, movement and nebari so far. A good example of time spent doing things right and the time it takes to get the right results!

Keep going the way you are and you'll have a ripper

Kez

[jezz_39]

Im surprised this thread hasnt generated more interest
You've grown a very nice tree, even radial nebari, good movement of the trunk. I think a few years in a shallow container will get those roots to start fusing while you work on branch structure. Keep us updated

[Boics]

Nebari looks great and shape looks good as well.
Is anyone concerned that the branch pruning is a little shallow?

I'm no expert but I would have thought that more recessed cuts would help reduce unnecessary swelling?

Cutejai - DO NOT act on this question.

[cutejai]

Thx you all for some great feedback. I can't wait for spring to start some branch selection. Then I will have to worry about the apex as well, still along long way to go.

Np boics, I want to hear from some experience members as we'll, the reason I'm holding back going too flush is to minimise the scar and hoping a small stub will give me more chance of new shoot to help with recovery.

Cheers
George

[bonsaisensation]

hi there George
i like the way that the surface roots all emerge from the same level, obviously the result of the air-layer. i would like to offer an opinion which from my own experience should help to develop the nebari even better.
from the last photo, it appeared that there are still a large root mass below the surface root, i'd go harder on them next season to the point of reaching the bottom of the trunk. so cut off any downward root, large and small, off.
as for the surface roots, they are getting too thick and too long now. if they are to let grow for another season or two in the ground, they'd become rather unsightly because of their thickness and lack of taper. i'd cut them back harder to at least the last fine root closest to the trunk. if you are game enough, try cutting off a couple of the thickest surface root right back flush to the nebari. what this does is it will stimulate more fine feeder roots from the cut and they will help to PULL the nebari out further.
here is a link to how the roots are pruned, http://bonsaisensation.com.au/how-to-prune/

kind regards

Tien

[gerald randall]

Really great work. The bark development and strong movement is impressive, not to mention the Nebari. I share the concern that the cuts are very shallow. Maples are strong growers and this tree looks strong, especially with the strong root base. It will push out plenty of new shoots. I also have a concern with the large stub on the left of the tree. When chopping a maple, it often thickens tremendously on the curve. Which if not removed can mess up the taper as it creates a callas and thickens around and over it.

I placed a large maple in a poly planter last year. It did not have a single branch when it was planted in the container. It pushed out more branches than I could use. I did cut rather deep and they are about 70-80% closed already.

[Andrew Legg]

A great example of how ground growing can save time! Good job! Just one comment though, and that is that it may be good to stick to only one sacrifice branch growing from any one spot. Save the "compound" scars. That's a comment based on theory, not practice!

[cutejai]

Thanks all for the great advise,
bonsaisensation: that photo was before the root pruning, so yep I did go pretty crazy on it, there are not much left after the final pruning especially those top massive roots. =)
gerald randall: yes those lumps on the curve bug me alot, look like I might need to go out this weekend to give them concave cut to avoid any reverse taper in the future.
Andrew: I think that theory is quite spot on and it's pretty obvious in my case especially on the curve area. so I will definitely keep an eye on those leader for my other trees.

I still have afew trident maples in the ground ready to be inspected. hopefully the rain will stop this weekend so I could get out to do more digging.

Cheers
George