Red Maple #1

[Orion_metalhead]

That is true... i guess the hundred other branches would have the same effect... we'll see in spring.

 

[hinmo24t]

love red maples. horses dont though

 

[AlainK]

Just playing. With three buds :

 

[hinmo24t]

Just playing. With three buds :

View attachment 336175

divine

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I like it @AlainK!!

 

[Slippery Pete]

I avoid wiring deciduous in fall because it can lead to branch die-back and the bends don't set well until the tree starts growing again anyway. Good discussion on wiring maples in this thread: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/is-there-a-wrong-time-of-year-to-wire.29181/

Good luck with the red maple, I will be following with interest. Everyone says they make bad bonsai because of the very long leaf petioles, and the best way to address that is to make a big tree--I'm ground-growing some to give it a try.

For what it's worth, "what everyone else says" in this case seems to be more like "what bonsai snobs" say. How much should a snob's opinion mean to you? I will let you answer that for yourself.

 

[Meh]

For what it's worth, "what everyone else says" in this case seems to be more like "what bonsai snobs" say. How much should a snob's opinion mean to you? I will let you answer that for yourself.

Generally, I trust the snobs. But most of all I trust the experts, and Michael Hagedorn has produced a world-class red maple bonsai that is no more than 12 inches tall, so I'm gonna give it a go.

I have been having fun with my red maples and am very impressed with how tough and vigorous they are. Easy to work with.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Decided to repot this tree now. I don't see any issues with protecting it for the next few weeks and it was one of my priority repots... turned out this tree grew a CRAZY root base... but I like how natural it is looking. I took off a few tips I didn't want, and left a nice curvy trunk line to develop.

Before:


Root Base before pruning:





After pruning the roots:


Repotted.. I like this angle nebari wise (same as above) and I like the trunk line as well... the top apical tip points towards the front.




Possible Future Design. Red maples grow wide with fairly straight branches, so I'd like to keep it low, with a wide canopy:

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I removed some buds which were definitely not in a good location.


Overall size for scale:

 

[Orion_metalhead]

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Today. Little skinny up top and leggy, need to cut back next spring to some lower buds in good places. Has nice color. May go into a nice pot next year.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Repotted today.





Trying out wood pellets as a top dressing. Will see how they do.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Jury is still out on the wood pellets... they are a bit messy and hose away easy. They definitely retain moisture well and drain well... seems like a good alternative to sphagnum in that regard. In the smaller maple where i incorporated them into the soil mix, the tree has done well, even in hottest days so far.

 

[19Mateo83]

This is a killer little maple! Its going to be awesome in the future when it’s thickened up and that nebari is huge

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Thanks!

 

[Backwardsvg]

Love the way you do year end stats, super cool way to have notes and watch the journey. I may have to take that idea and use it on my trees! Love the progression

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Thanks! I have more detailed notes in a google spreadsheet. Ill share some pictures.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

End of year info. Grew well. No repot next year.

 

[GGB]

Looks like you've kept the leaves happy this year, that color is great

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Yeah! Did ok. Wish I got a little more ramification and trunk growth but it seems trunks really thicken the year AFTER a repot. So I should see a good increase next year.