Very young Japanese Maple advice

[Shinkitai]

I have a very young just out of tube stock Japanese maple that I have recently planted into a larger growing pot. It is currently a thin stick about 25-30cm high it is growing very well at the moment. I heard maples are really brittle to bend so should I be introducing some shape now whilst it still very young and thin or when should I do it? I intend leaving it in a growing pot for a few years yet and hopefully if it lends itself to it create a broom style out of it so I am not after to much radical movement in the trunk just enough to eliminate the straight lines.

I have a trident Maple that I have broken many times trying to get some shape into it, (it's also had a ladder fall on it and snap and a tradesman stand on it and snap it over its life time) so not sure how to approach maples. I would appreciate any advice.

[Mojo Moyogi]

Hi Shinkitai,

I intend leaving it in a growing pot for a few years yet and hopefully if it lends itself to it create a broom style out of it so I am not after to much radical movement in the trunk just enough to eliminate the straight lines..

Broom style bonsai usually have straight trunks (at least the good brooms do). If you are trying for broom style, you might like to keep the straight lines.

See below.

http://www.bonsaiempire.com/images/stor ... idachi.jpg
https://sites.google.com/site/cnybonsai/bonsaificus.jpg
http://shohineurope.files.wordpress.com ... .jpg?w=776

Cheers,
Mojo

[Shinkitai]

Broom style bonsai usually have straight trunks (at least the good brooms do). If you are trying for broom style, you might like to keep the straight lines.

Thanks Mojo, good point so I think to learn how to do a broom style I would be better of buying a more established Maple from a nursery and using that.

So too make my skinny little Maple a future informal upright or other style at what stage should I try and shape the trunk?

[kcpoole]

It is never to young to start.
Apply wire now, but do so loosely and make sure it does not cut in over the next month or so. It need only be on a short while at this time of year anyway.

More importantly is to ensure the tree does not come out of the ground vertically. Lean it to one side so it has movement from the soil level. This applies to all trees we are developing unless they are destined for broom or formal upright styles.
check out this wiki page that helps to explain the process. https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _Bonsai%3F

Ken

[shibui]

wiring a maple as young as this is a complete waste of time when it is to be grown as a larger tree. Wiring might give good movement (but often doesn't) but it will not give taper in the trunk. Cut and grow produces much better movement for me and also gives good taper.