[shibui] trident maple

[benbonsai]

Looks awesome

[shibui]

This maple has already had several trims this season but needs pinching again.

P1160386.JPG

it is important to carefully monitor new shoots on maples. It is even more important on smaller trees. A long shoot can thicken the trunk but it can also thicken a branch so much it becomes useless on the tree. I also get in among the leaves and search for spots where multiple shoots are growing from one spot because that causes local thickening. bad on a larger tree but much more noticeable on smaller ones.

P1160387.JPG

This maple is with the other shohin trees on a sand tray over summer to help maintain moisture on hot days. They are also shaded by light shadecloth during hotter months.

[Boics]

I'm digging this one Shibui.
Just under 4 years training now.
How much growing in the grow beds before you lifted and started this thread?

Such a good document on growing Bonsai IMO.

[shibui]

Only one year, Boics and it obviously did not grow too well while it was there. Most of them get twice this size in the first year.

[Max]

Only one year, Boics and it obviously did not grow too well while it was there. Most of them get twice this size in the first year.

My soil must be absolute rubbish and I'm obviously not feeding correctly ,soil is just clay with cow manure chucked over the top and feed camellia/azaelia fert about once a month

[shibui]

Clay can be very good to grow trees. Clay tends to have lots of nutrient and holds moisture well. Very sandy soil can be infertile and dry. Work plenty of organic matter - compost, manure, etc - into the clay to break it up a bit and it should be really good growing soil.
That trunk is only about as thick as my finger. Growing in good soil these tridents can get to 2m tall and 5cm thick in a single year.

[Max]

Clay can be very good to grow trees. Clay tends to have lots of nutrient and holds moisture well. Very sandy soil can be infertile and dry. Work plenty of organic matter - compost, manure, etc - into the clay to break it up a bit and it should be really good growing soil.
That trunk is only about as thick as my finger. Growing in good soil these tridents can get to 2m tall and 5cm thick in a single year.

I'll get the mattock out and dig in a heap of aged cow manure and gypsum . I would love to have a worm farm for the castings and liquid but their bloody expensive

[shibui]

A worm farm does not need to be expensive. Worms are happy to live wherever there is moisture and food and the temp is right.
Some alternatives to the flash plastic models are:
*Polystyrene fruit boxes - These stack neatly on top of each other to you can build a worm farm tower almost like the commercial ones. Also insulated so the inhabitants don't get too hot. If you want to collect the liquid find some sort of tub to go underneath. If you don't like the white poly look paint the outside. Paint will also stop the polystyrene breaking down.
*Old bath. These may be a bit big for some backyards but are ideal for worms. Also getting a little harder to find now. I made up a frame for mine to sit on, a bucket is under the plughole to catch the liquid that drips through. Place fresh feed up one end and when most of the worms have moved to the fresh food you can dig out the castings from the other end. Keep it covered with something so the bedding stays dark and damp. All worn out natural fibre clothing (jeans, cotton shirts, etc) are used to cover mine. They gradually eat the material as well as manure, bonsai prunings, vegetable garden waste (chooks eat all table scraps)
*Dead fridge. I saw this at someone's place. Drill some holes for drainage. Lay the fridge on its back and add worms and food. The door makes it vermin proof and reduces odour. You probably need to have something to hold the door slightly open to allow some air in.
*10 or 20 litre buckets. Keep one to catch the liquid. Drill holes in the bottom of another one and add worms and bedding. The ones with the lids are best so you have a cover on top. When the worm bucket is getting full just add another bucket with holes on top and the worms will move up into the new food. Almost as good as the bought worm farms. You may be able to source these buckets from bakers or restaurants because stuff is delivered in these or you can buy them new for around $6-$8.

[Max]

Wow...Thanks Shibui some great alternatives there mate. I'll give the poly boxes a go and let you know how it pans out. Cheers for taking the time, good on ya

regards
Max

[shibui]

It is autumn at Shibui Bonsai.
Autumn colour has been a bit unpredictable this year because it hasn't really been cold enough yet. I think I might have missed the peak of colour on this trident this year but this is what it looks like this week.

autumn 2017 bonsai 08.JPG

[melbrackstone]

An inspiring thread, looking forward to watching it develop further!

[shibui]

A good day for repotting today. I started on the smaller ones and this was one that I got through this afternoon.

ausbonsai trident repotting 2017 01.JPG

ausbonsai trident repotting 2017 02.JPG

ausbonsai trident repotting 2017 03.JPG

ausbonsai trident repotting 2017 04.JPG

[pjames]

Looks great, Neil! How often do you repot your maples?

[shibui]

Hi Patrick
Little ones need to be done every year. If I don't repot them they just don't do very well the following summer.

Larger ones get repotted every 2-3 years, occasionally up to 4 years.

[pjames]

Thanks Neil. I guess i'm doing the right thing with my twin trunk maple I got from you before. I've been repotting it every 2-3years.