Hey everyone. I recently moved into a house and found this maple species growing in the back yard. It has two big main branches coming up that I whacked off around 3 feet tall to try to keep the tree small. What other moves or care should I do to try to make a bonsai out of this guy over the coming years?
What would Nigel do
- Thread starter Phe508
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Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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You don't have your general location listed in your profile. I'm assuming that the maple is a Norway Maple, but it could be anything, location information would narrow down the suspects.
I would not ask what Nigel would do, ask what Bill Valavanis, or Ryan Neil, or Bjorn Bjornholm would do. Or even ask what Owen Reich, or James Doyle, or Colin Lewis would do. All are far better artists than Nigel.
I would not ask what Nigel would do, ask what Bill Valavanis, or Ryan Neil, or Bjorn Bjornholm would do. Or even ask what Owen Reich, or James Doyle, or Colin Lewis would do. All are far better artists than Nigel.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Won't argue with you as far as good artists go, but Nigel is an important reminder to have fun with it.
If bonsai is going to be an everyday part of your life, you should get a bit whimsical now and then.
@Phe508, he is right, though. A rough location would help us know what you're dealing with.
Mikecheck123
Omono
Your first move should be to order a Chinese elm online.
One of the most common beginner mistakes is chasing dead ends. This tree is a dead end. Wrong time of year, wrong species, it's simply not worth your time trying to dig it up or otherwise develop it.
One of the most common beginner mistakes is chasing dead ends. This tree is a dead end. Wrong time of year, wrong species, it's simply not worth your time trying to dig it up or otherwise develop it.
Wrong time of year? What am I in a hurry?
Mikecheck123
Omono
Hopefully not. You could spend an infinite amount of time on this tree and never achieve anything worthwhile.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Might help if you said something about WHY, not just crap on it.
Look, your first tree is never likely to be your best tree, no matter what you do. So it really doesn't matter what your first tree is in most cases. You're first tree SHOULD be something you're ready to experiment and make mistakes on. Yes, it takes a long time to make a good tree, so no one wants to waste their time, but if you're learning and YOU'RE making progress- not just the tree- then you're not wasting your time.
MSU JBoots
Shohin
I’m going to go out a limb here (get it 
) and say it was suggested this is not a great specimen for bonsai based on the fact that the leaves are naturally large and probably won’t reduce much even with bonsai techniques. At least that’s my first thought as a bonsai beginner.
However, as was stated there are other things you could learn like trunk chops and growing leaders, and sacrifice branches to thicken the trunk that would translate to future endeavors.
) and say it was suggested this is not a great specimen for bonsai based on the fact that the leaves are naturally large and probably won’t reduce much even with bonsai techniques. At least that’s my first thought as a bonsai beginner.However, as was stated there are other things you could learn like trunk chops and growing leaders, and sacrifice branches to thicken the trunk that would translate to future endeavors.
skot
Seedling
Probably a silver maple I think.
Backwardsvg
Shohin
I am messing around with a silver maple. I have let it grow in the ground and did a significant trunk chop and now am letting it grow again. It will never be some show tree or something special but I am learning about trunk chopping, taking care of a new species, patience of growing it in the ground etc...
I am a completely new bonsai person and have no clout like the people above but I think it is fun, I like the tree, and I am learning which is why I started bonsai in the first place. If you like the tree, want to give it a shot, and think it'll help you learn DO IT! I guarantee you'll have many trees in the future so just enjoy the journey.
I am a completely new bonsai person and have no clout like the people above but I think it is fun, I like the tree, and I am learning which is why I started bonsai in the first place. If you like the tree, want to give it a shot, and think it'll help you learn DO IT! I guarantee you'll have many trees in the future so just enjoy the journey.
This is sound advice IMHO. I would have abandoned this hobby and likely killed all of my favorite trees if not for messing around with yamadori and nursery stock to learn things along the way. I think sometimes its hard to remember where we start this hobby from in this hobby.
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