AusBonsai

Hey all,
so inspired from this weekend at Ray's!
I've just started this year, and here is a maple forest I put together in late March. Very nervously I watched to see if new leaves would come in Spring or if I'd stuffed it, and it seems to have survived!
Now... because it is so new, do I leave it as is and let it grow out a bit to get established in the pot? or do I start shaping immediately? If so... what's the first step?
Also, there are seven trees in the pot, does this mean I have to re-pot more or less often? Still every 2 years? When I re-pot it, will the whole structure remain, or do the individual trees separate?
Thanks for your help!

The picture is far too small to allow a good appreciation of your forest, which looks like it might be worth it.

Lisa

yes... i can see that now! the first time I tried to upload the picture it was too big... let me try again...

this is it when i'd just planted it...

Looking good mate, perhaps when all the new growth has settled in you should start looking at pruning it to the basic shape of a forest?

-Mo

good effort
Now is the time to be trimming back each of the branches to start to keep them under control and start to build shape

Cut them back to 2 leaves so they will reduce.

Ken

just an update on this forest:

Looks impressive for your first forest!

I love your choice of pot as well, really accentuates the features.

Thanks Elysius! For some reason the moss on this setting does so much better than on my other pots... must be the forest shade

Update:

2018 Spring

All your trees are the same height. If it were mine I would shorten the outer trees, this would give you the start of your triangle shape.
Cheers
Kirky

Thanks Kirky, that's a good plan. I'll see if the centre trees want to grow a little taller too.