Root over rock trident maple

MSU JBoots

Shohin
Messages
468
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Location
Grand Rapids Michigan
USDA Zone
6a
I realized this tree never got its own thread. It’s been with me a few years so I guess it is time. Here’s was the initial tree and post from 4/26/22.
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My first attempt at a root over rock. Carefully bare rooted this trident maple I picked up from a bonsai dealer at the local club show last fall. I was surprised after dealing with only nursery stock how many fine roots this had growing in proper bonsai soil. I did my best securing the roots in place with raffia and secured the rock deep in the pot to hopefully get good roots gripping the rock. The original roots were very vertical so I figured I’d give it a shot.


Now here it is today with a much bigger trunk!
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I wish the roots went over this part of the rock shown in the final picture so maybe someday when my skills are much more advanced I’ll try some grafts. As for the near future I see a major trunk chop to compact it and really start building the future tree. Just not sure when that will be. I would like the trunk maybe another 30-50% larger than what it is now.
 
Will you cut more of the smaller roots near base over time and uncover to roots in future? Do you plan on cutting back down after your desire trunk thickness? Given small size of rock , a more chuhin or shohin design might fit the scale better ?
 
Will you cut more of the smaller roots near base over time and uncover to roots in future? Do you plan on cutting back down after your desire trunk thickness? Given small size of rock , a more chuhin or shohin design might fit the scale better ?
I hadn’t thought of cutting the smaller roots until you asked it so I guess I don’t really know. In the future I do plan to uncover more of the rock and expose more roots. I agree that the tree needs to be smaller. I always envisioned a shohin myself.
 
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