Self seeded maple bonsai conversion attempt!

[Mark2020]

Hi,

I'm hoping to get a little advise regarding a tree that self seeded in a pot on my balcony (actually about 30 of them self seeded and germinated, but this one was leading the pack).

I think it's a maple of some description, with a leaf shape that's almost identical to the one on the Canadian flag. It had grown to about 1 metre, but I cut it back to about 6 inches with the intention of throwing it away with the others when clearing up. This one had a nice curve on the trunk (it grew around a bag of compost!), and a few days after I cut it back there were a couple of shoots starting to grow from the trunk. I reckoned it might be worth trying to make a bonsai out of it, so repotted it. Sadly, in the process, I broke off one of the new shoots. The remaining shoot is thriving.

It was shaping up to be great with the two opposite shoots growing up. I'm wondering if there's any way to encourage a new shoot/branch from the side I broke the one on? Should I cut off the thriving shoot in the hope that the little tree starts over? I had to cut about half of the main root off when I repotted it, so don't want to shock it any more than necessary. It's been pretty resilient so far and I want to give it a shot! I've included a photo of its present condition! Is it too late in the season (based in UK) to strip it back to a stump again?

Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Welcome to the site!

I would suggest you start by reading up on some great progression threads here on the site of people developing maple bonsai from scratch. Here's one to whet your appetite:

Trident maples, a chronical

Trident maples, a chronicle Six years to the month I began a project that would come to be the most rewarding of my bonsai journey so far. I started developing three trident for the future by growing them out to what I would call sumo proportions. Many will remember the project as chronicles at...

www.bonsainut.com

Usually, people will tell you to put your tree in a field and come back in five years so it will thicken up. But maple is one of those species that is pretty adaptive to a lot of styles, including taller, more slender and feminine designs. I would recommend you find a maple bonsai that you find attractive (online or in person) and come back with that photo and ask "how do I get from here to there?" People will tell you different things based on whether you want to end up with a 5" tall, squat tree, or a 24" slender tree with weeping branches. It's a much more productive way of thinking about your trees than just staring at them and wondering "what next?"

Some of my trees I actually have photos of real trees in nature that I use for styling direction. Even if you aren't going for a literal execution of the image, it helps keep your styling honest and less artificial looking (or so I tell myself )

 

[Mark2020]

Thanks! I'm pretty new to bonsai, and am at that point of complete information overload. I think possibly leaving this guy alone until next spring to get back up to strength, and then review, might be the best approach. Also has the benefit of giving me time to read up and try to get a handle on all the information!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Thanks! I'm pretty new to bonsai, and am at that point of complete information overload. I think possibly leaving this guy alone until next spring to get back up to strength, and then review, might be the best approach. Also has the benefit of giving me time to read up and try to get a handle on all the information!

We've all been there. I would highly recommend obtaining 20 trees. Otherwise you will stare at the maple until your eyes cross. There is an annual rhythm to bonsai. Depending on species and state of development, you want to do certain things, at certain times. Then, in many cases, it is best to do nothing until the next step. Often when just starting out with one or two trees, it is not uncommon to kill your tree with kindness. Every day you touch, pinch, poke, prune... Trees need to be left alone 360 days a year (give or take). Those other five days may be a flurry of activity, but you need to be able to leave your tree alone. Hard to do with one or two trees. Easier with 20. Much easier with 200

 

[Mark2020]

Haha, this one came about after lockdown boredom led to an Acer Atropurpureum and an Elm Parviofolia purchase. I had a spare pot and they inspired me to have a try with this guy who was destined for the bin otherwise. Admittedly I've got a cherry blossom and a horse chestnut (perhaps not the most practical bonsai, but its my favourite tree) on the way also. I'm going to make a major effort to stop at these 5 until I know I'm able to keep them healthy!

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce