[Trident Maple]Is it too late in the sesaon to start thicking the trunk

[Jhervi]

Hi guys,

So I am basically brand new to the world of bonsai. I have two small trees:
Trident maple 1-2 years old
Juniper Nana 1-2 years old
I live in zone 9b in Sonoma County California

I just got these about 2 weeks ago and was trying to get some input whether these trees are still too young to either plant in the ground or a container to thicken the trunks? Also is it too late in the season?

What type of soil mixture would I need to buy in order to accomplish this?

Any input is appreciated, thank you

 

[Shibui]

Never too young to start thickening trunks but I don't think it is the right season to transplant.
To get the best out of your maple you should root prune and arrange the roots before growing it. Small bad roots can quickly become really thick bad roots if you just transplant and grow it larger. Winter or very early spring will be the best time to do that work. Patience is the key.

Roots are less important on juniper but it would help to at least untangle the roots before growing that one too. I actually find that junipers grow better in large pots than in the ground here but J. procumbens does grow a bit quicker than the shimpaku I grow. Much depends on what you expect to achieve.

Not sure why you have paid extra for trees in bonsai pots just to unpot and grow them larger? Surely similar prebonsai or starters would be much cheaper and would achieve the same or better.

 

[sorce]

Aye.

Look in the other section of the nursery!

Sorce

 

[WNC Bonsai]

If you have a good place to ground grow them do it. The trident in particular will respond quickly. Also consider planting it over a square tile or piece of plywood and splay out the roots to get a good radial pattern going. Of course I would wait until spring before the plant leafs out to do it.

 

[Jhervi]

Never too young to start thickening trunks but I don't think it is the right season to transplant.
To get the best out of your maple you should root prune and arrange the roots before growing it. Small bad roots can quickly become really thick bad roots if you just transplant and grow it larger. Winter or very early spring will be the best time to do that work. Patience is the key.

Roots are less important on juniper but it would help to at least untangle the roots before growing that one too. I actually find that junipers grow better in large pots than in the ground here but J. procumbens does grow a bit quicker than the shimpaku I grow. Much depends on what you expect to achieve.

Not sure why you have paid extra for trees in bonsai pots just to unpot and grow them larger? Surely similar prebonsai or starters would be much cheaper and would achieve the same or better.

Hi Shibui,

Yeah I kinda figured It was a little too late in the season to transplant and grow in the ground. Good to know that they aren't too young to do so. When spring rolls around next year, I plan to grow both in large pots/shallow but wide containers. I currently rent so I don't have a yard to actually plant in the ground. Do you know of a good soil mixture to plant these in when I do decide to transplant for trunk growth?

Note: I got the two bonsai as a gift for my birthday so thats why I just didn't start with Prebonsai or starters. That is a good tip for the future if I buy more and plan for trunk growth I will go that route for sure.
Thanks for your insight

 

[Jhervi]

If you have a good place to ground grow them do it. The trident in particular will respond quickly. Also consider planting it over a square tile or piece of plywood and splay out the roots to get a good radial pattern going. Of course I would wait until spring before the plant leafs out to do it.

Hi Cofga,
Currently don't have a good place for ground growing since I am renting at the moment. But hope to grow trunk from a large pot/ container. And I know its not as effective as growing directly from the ground but gotta work with what I got. When spring rolls around should I just plant it? Or would a trunk chop provide better growth?

 

[electronfusion]

As other commenters have mentioned, bonsai isn't fast, and trunks (the slowest part!) are really step one. I'm in the same boat of not having a huge space to grow out trees, or the patience to let something be wild for a decade before I can make it pretty. A friend bought me a tiny, overpriced juniper twig in a bonsai pot a couple years ago, and it instilled in me a fondness for junipers, so it still turned out to be a great gift, and in it's own way, worth what he paid. Anyhow, the best way to get nice trees for a sensible price and not too much wait time is to buy huge ones and cut them way, way back, in the right season, under the right conditions. For those little ones you received as gifts, I'd recommend you just enjoy them for what they are, and start other projects alongside them.

 

[rollwithak]

Hi guys,

So I am basically brand new to the world of bonsai. I have two small trees:
Trident maple 1-2 years old
Juniper Nana 1-2 years old
I live in zone 9b in Sonoma County California

I just got these about 2 weeks ago and was trying to get some input whether these trees are still too young to either plant in the ground or a container to thicken the trunks? Also is it too late in the season?

What type of soil mixture would I need to buy in order to accomplish this?

Any input is appreciated, thank you

Yo Brutha!!!

If you’re in 9b, that means it’s very Very very hot and we have another 2 weeks of 100+ temps headed our way. I wouldn’t advise repotting and/or transplanting anything for the time being. @Smoke is a fellow 9ber, and he knows his stuff. If you’re willing to close your mouth and listen, he’ll help out.

My advice, keep feeding and let them grow baby.... watch out for the nitrogen levels with the heat!

Best of Luck my friend!!!

 

[TN_Jim]

could mindfully put in big pot, externalities respected

 

[John P.]

With the trident at least you would have no problems slip-potting the tree into a bigger pot. Don’t mess with the roots or soil—just pull it out of that pot and put it in a larger one with free-draining substrate around.

Next late winter/early spring you can ground layer it to address the roots or do a full repot.

Feed it and get the trunk growing.

 

[leatherback]

With the trident at least you would have no problems slip-potting the tree into a bigger pot. Don’t mess with the roots or soil—just pull it out of that pot and put it in a larger one with free-draining substrate around.

Next late winter/early spring you can ground layer it to address the roots or do a full repot.

Feed it and get the trunk growing.

That is my thinking too. You have still have the summer ahead. in california that might make you grow another 3 feet of trident before fall. Roots will be resonably thin still by winter so you can clean up and replant

 

[Shibui]

Do you know of a good soil mixture to plant these in when I do decide to transplant for trunk growth?

The larger the pot the less critical the mix is. I would just use whatever mix you use for other pots but as these are your first you probably don't have a regular potting mix. For small numbers I found it far easier to just buy a good quality potting mix from the plant nursery. Something designed for large tubs seems to be the best option over here but I have no idea what you have available.

A number of members have pointed out that both of your trees could be slip potted into larger pots now and that would be fine. Roots are not going to get out of control in the last half of your growing season and the larger pots will give extra insurance against drying out in your summer heat.

 

[John P.]

Try orchid seedling bark from a nursery (Home Depot or the like doesn’t carry it). It’s cheap, holds moisture, drains well, and it’s easy to pull up the plants roots and all when it’s time. Roots also move through it really well. This season I’ve been using it solely in raised garden beds for growing out maples, an elm, and oaks and have been very happy with it.

 

[Jhervi]

As other commenters have mentioned, bonsai isn't fast, and trunks (the slowest part!) are really step one. I'm in the same boat of not having a huge space to grow out trees, or the patience to let something be wild for a decade before I can make it pretty. A friend bought me a tiny, overpriced juniper twig in a bonsai pot a couple years ago, and it instilled in me a fondness for junipers, so it still turned out to be a great gift, and in it's own way, worth what he paid. Anyhow, the best way to get nice trees for a sensible price and not too much wait time is to buy huge ones and cut them way, way back, in the right season, under the right conditions. For those little ones you received as gifts, I'd recommend you just enjoy them for what they are, and start other projects alongside them.

Hey,

You have a very good point there. I was actually thinking about just letting them be and buying some other bonsai stock that is more developed. Since bonsai is an art that takes lots of time, it definitely doesn't hurt to have multiple projects going if space allows for it.

 

[Jhervi]

Yo Brutha!!!

If you’re in 9b, that means it’s very Very very hot and we have another 2 weeks of 100+ temps headed our way. I wouldn’t advise repotting and/or transplanting anything for the time being. @Smoke is a fellow 9ber, and he knows his stuff. If you’re willing to close your mouth and listen, he’ll help out.

My advice, keep feeding and let them grow baby.... watch out for the nitrogen levels with the heat!

Best of Luck my friend!!!

Rollwithak

Yes, being in 9b we definitely have been having those very hot days. Lots of watering to keep them hydrated and happy. So Far my trident maple has been growing lots of new foliage for only having it for 2 weeks. I will have to check out some of @Smoke posts since he is a 9ber. Thanks for the advice

 

[Jhervi]

With the trident at least you would have no problems slip-potting the tree into a bigger pot. Don’t mess with the roots or soil—just pull it out of that pot and put it in a larger one with free-draining substrate around.

Next late winter/early spring you can ground layer it to address the roots or do a full repot.

Feed it and get the trunk growing.

Slip-potting, at least for the trident, sounds like the best route for now. Sonoma County zone 9b seems to have pretty long summers. Up into early September it can stay pretty hot, so still have some time in the growing season if I act soon. Thanks for the advice of the orchid sapling bark will have to try and find it or something similar. Thanks for you insight as well