My Trident...

[doonbar]

Hi all

Finally got the internet hooked up at the new house!
So this is the Trident i was given at xmas last year... Havent really done much other than take the big leaves off. The Branch layout at the moment is pretty average so over time id like to work on that and will choose a new front when i repot in spring.

All comments/ideas welcome!

Cheers
Ryan

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[Brandon]

Those roots are just screaming for a rock to be wedged in them!

[blkrota]

It has some nice red going on

[doonbar]

Those roots are just screaming for a rock to be wedged in them!

Its a real possibility. come spring im not sure what im going to... put it in a grow box or another pot?

[Jamie]

depends what size tree ya want and how big you want it mate, it will push harder and stronger in a grow box, if it runs out of room to grow in the pot it will slow down

[craigw60]

Hi Ryan, your trident needs a new root system which is very easy for this species. The roots look deformed and unnatural, sorry to be so harsh. If you spent some time looking at really well grown trident maples you will see they all have amazing nebari this is one of the many great features of this species. They are also famous for having good taper. You can achieve this by using sacrifice branches low down on the tree to force the lower trunk to flare out. The best thing you can do is to spend a few years developing a nice root spread and a good well tapered trunk. Tridents have the capability to shoot back on very old wood so you should worry about the branches once your roots and trunk are in order.
I grow lots of tridents from seed and cuttings every year I love them. I usually spend between 5 and 10 years developing the roots and trunk before I put them into a bonsai pot and begin work on the branches. This time frame may seem long to you but it is nothing compared to the time it will take you to grow a good tree in a bonsai pot. If it stops raining today I will photograph one of the trees I have grown from seed and attach it to this post.
Craig

[Bretts]

Rain Rain go away, come again another day Looking forward to seeing the trident Craig I was starting to think you where keeping them hidden
Any chance of some colour shots this Autumn?

[craigw60]

Its very tempting to complain about the rain especially since I get no income when its wet, I was supposed to go and plant a big perennial border this morning but am instead stuck inside doing paper work, boring. I have no colour this year I have been watching the posts with interest because its not happening here. I could show you plenty of garden pics but whats the point you may as well look at pics of Maine in autumn. As you will see the tridents are still in leaf even my big liquidamber group is only just starting to show a bit of colour. I want to photograph that in winter its best when without foliage.

[Bretts]

Very Nice bases Craig They should come up great. I look forward to seeing more of them as they progress. Thanks for showing

[doonbar]

Hi Ryan, your trident needs a new root system which is very easy for this species. The roots look deformed and unnatural, sorry to be so harsh. If you spent some time looking at really well grown trident maples you will see they all have amazing nebari this is one of the many great features of this species. They are also famous for having good taper. You can achieve this by using sacrifice branches low down on the tree to force the lower trunk to flare out. The best thing you can do is to spend a few years developing a nice root spread and a good well tapered trunk. Tridents have the capability to shoot back on very old wood so you should worry about the branches once your roots and trunk are in order.
I grow lots of tridents from seed and cuttings every year I love them. I usually spend between 5 and 10 years developing the roots and trunk before I put them into a bonsai pot and begin work on the branches. This time frame may seem long to you but it is nothing compared to the time it will take you to grow a good tree in a bonsai pot. If it stops raining today I will photograph one of the trees I have grown from seed and attach it to this post.
Craig

Honesty is the best policy, dont be sorry. Are you talking about the roots that are coming off the "legs" at the bottom? so would i have to bare root it or just clean them up?

As for the sacrifice branches ill need to work on that as some of the branches are much thicker towards the apex. I take it those would have to be taken out to help the lower ones grow?

Very impressive trident by the way. Love it.

[kcpoole]

Hi Doonbar

The top growth needs to be kept in check so as not to get away from you, and grow more then the low branches. Constant trimming and pinching will do it for you.

As for the roots. I believe the reference was to the "knee" coming from the side of the trunk above the soil line. It looks unnatural and will need to be fixed

It can be disguised by inserting a nice shaped rock in the gap, but rarely this looks good. The usual way to fix a problem like this will be to layer it off so you develop new roots radially around the tree above the fault, and then cut off the problem ares below the new roots

Ken

ps nice colour

[doonbar]

so an air layer would have to be placed just above where it divides into 2? and then remove whats left underneath... hmm ill have to look into air layering.

if it wasnt for this place i probably would have never thought about it for years to come! haha

Cheers
Ryan

[craigw60]

there should be a number of posts on this site with regards to layering. Its basically a matter of ring barking the tree and growing a new root system at the desired point. Tridents respond well to this treatment. The nebari or root base is the most important part of a bonsai it has been the subject of some very heated debate on this site. If you want to learn to grow good bonsai you had best join a club, I am sure there is a very active one in Canberra.
Craig

[Scott Roxburgh]

If you want to learn to grow good bonsai you had best join a club, I am sure there is a very active one in Canberra.
Craig

By the look of Craig's trees, I would take his advice...

And I know just the place for you... http://www.cbs.org.au

We meet the first Saturday of each month, come along and introduce yourself, bring your tree and we can have a good discussion about it.

Scott.

[craigw60]

There you go Ryan I knew that would happen someone at the club will be able to explain to you in detail the intricacies of layering much more clearly than I am able to here.