Mike G’s Massive Trident Progression

[manlion89]

I bought this trident at Bonsai a than at the Huntington for $60. It was hidden in the corner of an estate liquidation sale. I suspected a thick nebari was hidden in the pot based on how the sides of the nursery pot were being pushed. I was not disappointed; 18 inch nebari and 7 inch trunk at first branch! The previous owner had the tree planted in bonsai soil which resulted in a very good root system minus a few areas where dense muck resulted in bare spots.

Today I repotted in Boon mix and removed some faulty branches and roots. I carved down the chop scars, reopened some of the edges that were not healing and sealed with cut paste. The next step is healing the scar and developing the branch structure. I’m leaning towards informal upright but need to spend more time with the tree to be confident on a path forward. The tree was chopped at a very drastic angle by the previous owner and is 24 inches tall from the top of the soil to the tallest chop point. I plan to use this thread to document the tree’s progression as well as leverage this community to help with suggestions for improvement.

 

[j evans]

Nice find, now that's a nice start.

 

[Shibui]

It's big but there's now a lot of work to heal the chop, grow branches and improvements to the nebari. Quite a few years of work and development before this big brother is ready for the show.

 

[jonathanvperth]

I would trunk chop it. Do you want

Theres a solid 5 years before it resembles anything looking like a Bonsai anyways

look up piglet

 

[PieterVE]

Great find !

 

[sorce]

Sorce

 

[manlion89]

I would trunk chop it. Do you want

Theres a solid 5 years before it resembles anything looking like a Bonsai anyways

look up piglet

I’m familiar with Piglet and have been contemplating chopping it lower. I decided to wait a grow season before making any impulsive cuts. My plan right now is for a 3 foot tall tree with a large and extremely ramified canopy. That vision won’t work on a “stumpier” tree.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

That is a beast! Nice find.

If it were mine, I would probably work with it the height that it currently is. No trunk chop. But that is mainly from looking at just a couple photos. The chop is already has a couple years of healing, if you chop again you are setting the timetable back a few more years.

I'd just use what you have.

 

[manlion89]

That is a beast! Nice find.

If it were mine, I would probably work with it the height that it currently is. No trunk chop. But that is mainly from looking at just a couple photos. The chop is already has a couple years of healing, if you chop again you are setting the timetable back a few more years.

I'd just use what you have.

Thank you! The plan right now is to use what I have and not chop. The current height is a pretty solid foundation to build a old natural looking tree.

 

[manlion89]

Update on this tree. It’s been super cold and rainy in SoCal and this trident has been slower to leaf out than my others. Had 2 days in the high 70s last week and all the swollen buds opened.

 

[MrWunderful]

I want a stump like that!

 

[Carol 83]

I want a stump like that!

You're leaving yourself out there for some interesting comments, lol. I'll restrain myself, gotta' keep this place classy.

 

[manlion89]

You're leaving yourself out there for some interesting comments, lol. I'll restrain myself, gotta' keep this place classy.

Wow! I just realized how Freudian my Bonsai obsession is....

 

[manlion89]

This tree was slow to wake up but has exploded over the last few weeks. Light pruning today. Before and 2 after pics.