Would this cut on muy maple create one of those really small bonsai?

[isaaquitas]

Hello everyone, on a previous post I asked how I could finish styling the maple attached in the photo and lots of people replied. There was one reply that suggested cutting where the red line is. I have recently learned about the small bonsai that are under 15cm more or less and I quite like them. Would this create such a bonsai if I did this cut? I would not mind it taking several years. I am aware that I would first have to improve the soil, the roots, and reduce higher up material before cutting it.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

It is hard to determine the size of this tree from the photograph. However, if you want to create a shohin-sized bonsai, this trunk does not have much movement or taper on which to build a great shohin-sized tree. When developing a small tree, it is important to show scale and proportions similar to a larger tree, or even more exaggerated. Find something smaller, with movement and taper in the first inch or so. Attached is an example, this is a trident maple, but gives the idea.

I would develop yours as a larger tree, since the internodes seem long, and the trunk movement and shape suggests the current size (and gradually larger) may offer the best potential. I can see chopping it at the red line, as it would force the trunk to change direction and add taper, but I would only remove the center trunk, and keep the right branch and develop the next trunk section with the left branch.

 

[Shibui]

Japanese maples are difficult enough to develop good mid and larger bonsai. Making good smaller bonsai is much, much harder.
All the current internodes on the tree are quite long suggesting it may be even harder to develop good small bonsai from this one.

Remember that after a trunk chop you need to allow for the new trunk, branches and apex to develop so the tree will almost certainly be quite a bit larger than the original chop because trees almost always grow up. As a rule of thumb, the first chop will be around 1/3 of finished bonsai height - if you are lucky but probably taller on a first try.

Small bonsai may sound easy and quick but they are actually quite a bit more tricky to do. Fitting branches and appropriate bends into a small trunk is challenging. Keeping a tree alive in a small container is also challenging. I tried and failed to keep smaller bonsai alive for quite a few years. After learning the techniques on mid and larger trees I finally managed to have better success with the smaller bonsai. Of course you may be a much better beginner grower than I was.

 

[isaaquitas]

Japanese maples are difficult enough to develop good mid and larger bonsai. Making good smaller bonsai is much, much harder.
All the current internodes on the tree are quite long suggesting it may be even harder to develop good small bonsai from this one.

Remember that after a trunk chop you need to allow for the new trunk, branches and apex to develop so the tree will almost certainly be quite a bit larger than the original chop because trees almost always grow up. As a rule of thumb, the first chop will be around 1/3 of finished bonsai height - if you are lucky but probably taller on a first try.

Small bonsai may sound easy and quick but they are actually quite a bit more tricky to do. Fitting branches and appropriate bends into a small trunk is challenging. Keeping a tree alive in a small container is also challenging. I tried and failed to keep smaller bonsai alive for quite a few years. After learning the techniques on mid and larger trees I finally managed to have better success with the smaller bonsai. Of course you may be a much better beginner grower than I was.

Thanks I think I will focus on growing it as a larger tree then