marc206
Mame
Japanese maple collected 2012. It's obviously Grafted. Could material like this even work as bonsai?
![101_0954[1].jpg](https://www.bonsainut.com/data/attachments/31/31657-a39d86b66d868e3e09480ca85f685426.jpg?hash=o52Gtm2Gjj "101_0954[1].jpg")
![101_0956[1].jpg](https://www.bonsainut.com/data/attachments/31/31658-92a81fcc10bae6f7cb3e179786bdff89.jpg?hash=kqgfzBC65v "101_0956[1].jpg")
![101_0957[1].jpg](https://www.bonsainut.com/data/attachments/31/31659-d98565cff64f0c75cc7d23aeb5ccf155.jpg?hash=2YVlz_ZPDH "101_0957[1].jpg")
![101_0958[1].jpg](https://www.bonsainut.com/data/attachments/31/31660-c9b165de2a5c280e552de27e5e2105be.jpg?hash=ybFl3ipcKA "101_0958[1].jpg")
FYI: It was grafted with a red laceleaf rootstock
FYI: It was grafted with a red laceleaf rootstock
Virts anyone?
- Thread starter marc206
- Start date
marcosolo
Mame
I doubt the rootstock is laceleaf ( that doesn't follow much logic)...Rootstock is most likely plain old Acer Palmatum...I'd say chop to the rootstock...Graft's are bad, and as soon as you learn this, the better....Ill post a pic of JM similar to that(much smaller) that got the chop to the rootstock, and I actually got it to bud...In one stupid place, but yeah...Ill post....And if you want any of that green maple, just airlayer before you chop....
marc206
Mame
It was a red laceleaf maple for sure, I already chopped it off. But now that you say that I'm sure it was supposed to be the other way around. But the rootstock probably tookover.
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marcosolo
Mame
If that actually is the case, you might be in a unique positions to locate the rest of the red lace leaf tissue, remove it, choose two of those huge trunk and start yourself a nice twin trunk GJM....If that is the case....That actually makes sense, which means my assumption was correct...Scion was laceleaf, rootstock was GJM.....I'm so good...lol
marc206
Mame
Yes there is another trunk in the back were the laceleaf grew its own trunk and died back. All that needs to be done is saw that trunk down and carve in the future. What gjm trunks would you choose?
I can take a picture after I defoliate a little more to get a feel of the trunks available.
marcosolo
Mame
No need to defoliate...DO NOT!!!!...Just slows down growth when you do....the trunks in question would have to be chopped further down then the lowest foliage next spring anyway.....Ill take a look at this later on tomorrow to maybe help and define two trunks different enough to serve the design.....Anybody else is welcome to try....
Paulpash
Masterpiece
Air layering the top prior to chopping could give you another piece of material to play with later on. The downside is that it will put your main tree back a season but it's an option if you want it.
Chop the tree when dormant and then protect from frost. In my climate I do this in late February but this should be dictated by local conditions - look at the buds and do this operation when you see them swell a little. Chops should be higher than you envision for the next section of your trunk and flat across.
The reason is the possibility of die back girdling your next trunk section and killing it - a high cut means you can select your next bud / branch and then do the more traditional diagonal chop later. A flat cut minimises surface area and encourages budding on both sides of the branch - more options.
Chop the tree when dormant and then protect from frost. In my climate I do this in late February but this should be dictated by local conditions - look at the buds and do this operation when you see them swell a little. Chops should be higher than you envision for the next section of your trunk and flat across.
The reason is the possibility of die back girdling your next trunk section and killing it - a high cut means you can select your next bud / branch and then do the more traditional diagonal chop later. A flat cut minimises surface area and encourages budding on both sides of the branch - more options.
