Trident maple before and after

[Jak]

Heres how it looks thanks for all the advice, the more i look at it the more i prefer it like this.
cheers Jak

[Craig]

Jak, cut the wired part off completely now and wire up the new leader

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[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Hi Jak

Have you considered growing trees that are more suitable to your location? I'd imagine that most varieties of fig would go ballisitc up there in the far north. I haven't seen if there are many far NQ members since joining, but the guys at Rocky are more likely to have conditions that match your locaton. Perhaps you'd like to PM them and get their impressions on what may grow easily in the tropics.

Also get out into the nature strips, vacant allotements and the like and see if what is growing profusly in your area and then go for a dig (legally of course.. ) - if the locals call it a weed, then there's a good chance you'll get a potential bonsai out of it. If you dig up three and one survives, then you've increased your collection and gained some experience too

I've just started to collect some urban celtis around my suburb and they are so hardy it's not funny. They take a beating, root prune, trunk chop, hacking etc only to look back at you and say "Is that all you got??"

Find the plant around you that's like that and have a go. Have a look at the developig figs tutorial... you won't be able to hold youself back after reading this gold!

good luck with it all and enjoy!

Stew

[Jak]

Hi Jak

Have you considered growing trees that are more suitable to your location? I'd imagine that most varieties of fig would go ballisitc up there in the far north. I haven't seen if there are many far NQ members since joining, but the guys at Rocky are more likely to have conditions that match your locaton. Perhaps you'd like to PM them and get their impressions on what may grow easily in the tropics.

Also get out into the nature strips, vacant allotements and the like and see if what is growing profusly in your area and then go for a dig (legally of course.. ) - if the locals call it a weed, then there's a good chance you'll get a potential bonsai out of it. If you dig up three and one survives, then you've increased your collection and gained some experience too

I've just started to collect some urban celtis around my suburb and they are so hardy it's not funny. They take a beating, root prune, trunk chop, hacking etc only to look back at you and say "Is that all you got??"

Find the plant around you that's like that and have a go. Have a look at the developig figs tutorial... you won't be able to hold youself back after reading this gold!

good luck with it all and enjoy!

Stew

Hey Stewart,
Iv'e actually recently raided the parks, I'm not entirely sure what they are, but im thinking either poinciana, jacaranda or tamarind? Ill post some pics see if someone can help ID them.. Maples were what started my interest in bonsai, so i had to have 1 in my collection, Iv'e also got a zelkova serrata which also needs cooler conditions buts after a year of practising on it (amounts of sun and water etc) iv'e managed not to kill it.
The guy i bought it from has had his trident for several years and its going strong. I have read of a few others on here from townsville who managed to grow maples. I agree with the figs for sure, a year and there huge, i havn't been able to find a fig young enough but when i do ill get one. Trying to stick with the Japanese theme for now besides from my olive and pyracantha haha.

Thanks for your time and i'll deffs check out the tuts
cheers Jak

[Glenda]

Jak,

Maples in Townsville are HARD work to keep alive. They do OK for a couple of years, then die because they are not getting a dormant period. If you want something that looks like a maple, try a liquid ambar. I know they grow in Townsville - there is one in the botanic gardens there. Fully deciduous too. Mine here in Mackay even get lovely purple and red leaves in Autumn.

I am not trying to tell you to chuck out your maple. Certainly give it a go. You should also check out the local Bonsai people there. Zelkova do quite well here, so you shouldn't have any problems in Townsville.

If you contact Loretta on here, she will give you Norma's address, who runs a small bonsai club. She has a top bonsai demonstrator, Tony Bebb coming soon. Anyone on this forum would recommend Tony - we had him here in Mackay last month also.

Good luck with the Maple.

Glenda

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Hi Glenda

I'll agree 100% to the good value Tony brings to a tutorial or workshop. We've had him visit the Tba club on several occasions and he has never failed to impress. Great bloke too

Jak - you don't need to find a fig small enough to start with, look around for ones that are larger and then do a trunk chop, that way you get good girth to start with and build taper with the shoots that will grow in the future months. I try to find something that's the thickest possible to 'harvest' and then work with what shoots.

I've found attending a bonsai club to be so rewarding - not just for the knowledge and experience of the people you will meet, but just being around likeminded people who completely share your passion is really fulfilling and confirming. Finally you don't need to explain to others why you're so focussed on looking at the trunk lines of plants as you go walking - they actually get it! Having a young family, my club meeting once a month is the only real time i get into my plants fully

I hope you can get to the Tony Bebb demo -am quite jealous actually

Stew

[Jak]

Hey Glenda,
That sounds like the way to go, Ill look around for A liquid ambar, if not i might be taking a drive to mackay haha. Thanks heaps for your advice, going to a bonsai meet sunday so id say ill meet a few of them then. Im pretty sure tony invited me last month but it was fathers day so i couldn't make it. Ill post some pics of the maple down the track

cheers Jak

[Jak]

Jak - you don't need to find a fig small enough to start with, look around for ones that are larger and then do a trunk chop, that way you get good girth to start with and build taper with the shoots that will grow in the future months. I try to find something that's the thickest possible to 'harvest' and then work with what shoots.

I've found attending a bonsai club to be so rewarding - not just for the knowledge and experience of the people you will meet, but just being around likeminded people who completely share your passion is really fulfilling and confirming. Finally you don't need to explain to others why you're so focussed on looking at the trunk lines of plants as you go walking - they actually get it! Having a young family, my club meeting once a month is the only real time i get into my plants fully

I hope you can get to the Tony Bebb demo -am quite jealous actually

Stew

haha yea Stew i know what you mean, Being 19 my mates think Im wierd for looking at trees. It will be good to share my interest for trees with fellow bonsai enthusiasts . I understand what you mean with the figs too, Im looking for a gnarly taper so that does sound like the way to go, sorry for my ignorance haha cheers Jak

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Don't apologise mate - everyone starts out at the beginning - i am REALLY jealous that you have all this time ahead of you to develop your skills, trees and appreciation. I'm 45 and get told at my club 'you're still young, you can work on young trees still..." where does this put you!!

Let me know how the Tony demo / workshop goes hey?

[Jak]

Don't apologise mate - everyone starts out at the beginning - i am REALLY jealous that you have all this time ahead of you to develop your skills, trees and appreciation. I'm 45 and get told at my club 'you're still young, you can work on young trees still..." where does this put you!!

Let me know how the Tony demo / workshop goes hey?

Hahaha at the best stage in life hey, wish i was settled in a house were i could just keep expanding, Im limited to what fits in my garden box for when i move haha.
Yea thats it cheers stewart, Ill grow old with my plants, thats why Ive been choosing young stock also. Ill let you know how it goes sunday, thanks for your wisdom looking forward to learning more
Thanks

[NathanM]

Choose the oldest stock you can get your hands on and afford also. If you think how great you 1yr old cuttings/seedlings will look in 20+ years, think how good a 20year old tree (now) will look in 20+ years
Go out and spend $100 or more if you can afford it on the a nice, big fig. You'll kick yourself for not doing it sooner

[Petra]

What is the rock hanging there for?
not a good way of bending.

Pat[/quote]


And whats wrong with hanging rocks in the tree!
do the bends with whatever early in its life and the better the flow.Thats what i say. Each to there own.
In nature i have seen many a rock divert the flow. Just head on down the river & see
for yourself.If it works, why not.

[chrisatrocky]

Jak, I would have to agree with Matt and Glenda when it comes to keeping trident maples or any other maple in tropical Qld. Liquid ambers are the better option. But you can try, keep them in dappled shade through the summer months, stop all ferts after March, If small enough, keep in vege crisper of fridge at night in June and July (take it out in the morning), or water with iced water (ice blocks in a watering can) once a week from the 15th June to end of July, defoiliate remaining leaves at the start of August.

chris

[chrisatrocky]

What's the rock hanging in the tree?
It was caught horse stealing.

chris

[Andrew F]

What's the rock hanging in the tree?
It was caught horse stealing.

chris

*Chuckles*