AusBonsai

Hey Guys,

As I am only new to Bonsai, I am totally lost here. I bought this Trident Maple and now I don't know how I should style it. I fell in love with the nebari, but have no idea what to do as the main trunk seperates into three half way up. I had someone with a lot of experience take a look at it. He pruned it right back and Wired it up a little for me but I just can't see where to take it. Could someone please help me as any suggestions would be more than helpful at this stage.

Thanks,

Gav.

Have added a few pics of the maple (apologise for the quality, they were taken on my phone)

You certainly are right about the photo quality.

From the little I can make out:
Decide whether you are happy to grow a 'mallsai' - yes? just keep pinching the new growth to maintain a neat outline,
-or do you want to grow better quality bonsai - join a club, visit club shows, etc to pick up tips and ideas and maybe invest in some decent starters to develop into quality trees while you enjoy this one as it is.

Decide what style you want to grow this tree in. The 3 trunks indicate broom style but the lower branches wired out suggest formal or informal upright? - the bits of 2 styles on one tree really don't match.

Look for another bonsai adviser -

I had someone with a lot of experience take a look at it. He pruned it right back and Wired it up a little for me but I just can't see where to take it.

Decide what size you want to grow this tree - small trees are harder to style convincingly but this one needs a lot of growing to achieve a good larger tree.

gday gav
not be to harsh but i would bugger the wire off and have it as a broom style it would suit it much better than the way it is wired now
cheers dean

Hey,

Thanks for your replies, my intent was to have it broom style but just wanted to hear what people thought. Just reinforces what I originally had in mind. This was not purchased at a Store, but from another local bonsai enthusiast who had the tree with a lot of healthy foliage creating a lovely canopy. All my bonsai starters have been purchased from either enthusiasts or from Club shows. I will be joining a club in Brisbane when I move in a couple of weeks, so if anyone can recommend a club it would be greatly appreciated.
I have removed the wire from the lower branches and it looks better already. Thanks for the advice.

Hi mate looks more like a triple trunk to me .if this tree were mine i would layer it about 2 inches below were it branches into 3 and train some nice roots .then after a year or 2 chop all 3 trunks back to say an inch or 2 depending were buds are and grow each one out again in the same direction they are in only farther apart like an upside-down tripod. Keep growing them out until they thicken enough and then cut back repeat until you have 3 nice tapering trunks .then remove all twigs and growth and start to develop branches . In ten
Years it will look sweet. Lol. Google triple trunk bonsai pictures for inspiration .

Agree with Paul, Air Layer the top off as a triple trunk and see what happens to the bottom bit. Win Win u get 2 trees as well as get to keep the nice nebari