first trident

[Greenhorn]

hey all i got this trident maple from red dragon bonsai at currumbin a couple weeks ago i'm pretty happy since i have been waitng a long tim e to get my hands on one its put on a heap of new growth already too. just thought i'd post a couple off pics and start a progression, so let me know what you think and i'll post some pics when its changes colour and drops its leaves.

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[Ray M]

Hi Greenhorn,
What I'm about to suggest will be influenced by the time you are prepared to create a bonsai. If you look at top looking Trident bonsai they usually have a very distinct taper. The only way to do this is to be willing to make the "big cut". You may have to do this several times to achieve the tapper you desire. After making a cut there will be a number of new shoots appear and you need to choose one that is at the front of the tree. Wire or tape it into a vertical direction and let it take off. Once the new leader has developed sufficient girth, repeat the process. I'm in Sydney so I'm not sure when it would be the best time for you to make such a cut.

I have included a photo that could be something to start to do at this stage of development.

Have a look at the root system a little deeper down and you will most probably find a better root distribution. The root showing above the soil may be to high and need to be removed. Also, you may choose to remove the first branch if you don't want it as a first branch.

These are just a few ideas. Look forward to seeing the development.

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Regards Ray

[Bougy Fan]

I agree with what Ray has said with the exception that I would air layer the top off instead off just chopping it and throwing it away. It should be still be warm enough to do it now and take it off before winter. Then when it goes dormant you can repot and sort out the roots - as Ray said there may be better roots down lower.

[Ray M]

Hi Tony,
Your right mate, I should have suggested that. Especially when you think I am just finishing writing my second book on bonsai and it is on Air Layering Trident Maples.

Regards Ray

[Greenhorn]

thanks heaps for the advice ray and tony air layering was one of my thought's so if you think i've still got time i might try give that a go. reguarding the roots i was planing on repoting in winter and posting the pics up i had an assumtion that root would need to be removed.

[Greenhorn]

so do you think i should set the layer just above that first branch there or a little higher?

[Ray M]

Hi Greenhorn,
When choosing where to layer, always choose the position where you would like to form roots for the new tree. Once the layer has been removed you can cut the host stock down to the level where you choose.

Regards Ray

[chipper5]

Hi Greenhorn,

Or another suggestion as well... If you do make a big chop you can just strike the top as a large cutting, tridents strike quite easily- just treat the cutting as you would any hardwood cutting. (Or perhaps chop it into pieces and get a few going... )

Chipper5

[Greenhorn]

indeed chipper that could be a way to go, but i havent had much luck with cuttings so far. I have only just stuck my first one using pup's method of honey and i also mixed in some hormone powder to be sure and they were all on figs (apparently the easiest). so i'm gonna use it for the grow dynamic figs quickly experiment. As for the maple i don't think i'll rush into anything to quickly i might just learn to look after it properly first and show a few pics in winter when i do a repot to get abit more direct help in reguards to root pruning and perhaps try layering or striking cuttings next spring/summer. Although i could try a couple of small cuttings now to see how it goes for interest sake

thanks heaps for all your input guys

[Greenhorn]

hi everyone just wondering with this trident it has lost a fair amount of its leaves now but still has a fair few green ones still on there aswell i have been keeping it out of the sun and trying to keep it dry to help it further but just wondering if it would be ok to manually defoliate it? im starting to get nervous as to why it is taking so long for this process to be achieved for me

[Bougy Fan]

Don't worry about it yet - it's just no cold enough yet. I bought some tridents a few weeks ago from Victoria and have planted them up. They are now pushing out new buds The tridents I had here already are slowly losing their leaves. If you wait a few weeks and the tree loses it leaves naturally you know it's dormant. Then you can repot safely. If after you chop or airlayer and get a branch down low keep it as a sacrfice and let it grow freely. That will help fatten the base

[Greenhorn]

thanks tony makes feel alot better now that you have said that. pretty funny about yours still pushing out new growth now I'm thinking i deffinately want to layer it this season but was also thinking it may need a root prune, should i just lightly root prune it in early spring and then layer it in mid summer or should i just choose one and stick with that?

[Bougy Fan]

Every year you should repot and sort the roots out until it's in a bonsai pot. Cut back any roots growing under and trim back any that are too big compared to the rest. Then lay them out radially when you put it back in the pot (or styro box if you want it to get bigger) Then wait until it fully leafs out and you can do the air layer then. I would use the split pot method and probably use a mix of chopped spag moss and diatomite or pine bark.

[Carlitos]

That tree is gonna be an absolute ripper with a bit of work.

[Andrew Legg]

Hey Greenhorn,

Just don't make the mistake I make with deciduous trees and chop too many branches off! I always go for the left right back thing and then end up with a scrawny looking unnatural tree. Its the single biggest mindset change I've had to make in my bonsai design learning. Our local nursery here called Bishopsford Bonsai Nursery is owned and run by Gail and Lionel Theron. Gail has a fantastic eye for design particularly with maples, elms and celtis, and the one thing I always notice is that she has far more branches, but each one is quite light. It works beautifully, and results in bonsai that look like trees, not bonsai that look like bonsai!

Cheers,

Andrew