Giant Japanese maple project

kohaku Tue Jun 17, 2014 7:22 pm

This maple was part of my garden for many years untill i decide a few months ago to digg it up and start a new project. (acer palmatum atropurpureum cultivar )
Base of the trunk is about 25cm and the hight is now 75cm.(i have to lower the top a bit in future after re-growt of this part of the trunk)
The first 2 months i left some big branches to be sure the wounds didn't die back. After i saw some new buds and growt of many new small shoots i also cut all of this branches. (small new callus edges on the wounds are also beginning to grow so i'm sure there will be no die back)

I put it in a big pot....and now let it grow free for some time...(only pushing the new shoots in an horizontal direction) .i'll see wat future will bring;-)

All comments and suggestions are welcome :-)

Guest Tue Jun 17, 2014 9:25 pm

Hi Kohaku

I try to understand why you removed the 3 very nice placed, and in nice proportions to the trunk lowest branches, but the tree look healthy, and good luck with it, as I can see you have a idea of how to make the tree in the future...a trunksice is meassured on the trunk right ower the roots, so your trunksice is a bit wider than the can next to it.

Kind regards Yvonne

kohaku Tue Jun 17, 2014 10:09 pm

Yvonne,

The removed branches would only be usefull if i wanted to make a bonsai with 3 base branches......(i'll never manage to create more branches from the trunk in the correct proportions to the removed ones)
My interest is going to a bonsai with more branches in future wich i can grow as i want...( i'll let them grow longer and thicker at the lowest part of the tree, and make them denser to the top part..
Yes it will take some years......but the way i see it.....i think it will become a better tree without the thick straight branches..
The tree can grow without pruning now for a longer time and after this i'll make a new branch selection.
The new buds that appear now...will give me a lot of potential in selecting this new branches and as i can see now ,extra graftings will not be necessary.

The 25cm trunkbase is measured just above the soil.

thx for your reply.

Guest Wed Jun 18, 2014 11:43 am

Yes, bonsai take time, and you have your plans, so not realy any reason to talk about what could have ben done with the 3 branches...we could have had fun to have this discussion before they were taken off ....ofcourse their would have ben more branches in the future, and not just the 3.
For the generel understanding of how to meassure a trunksice, is this the right place to take it, on a trunk like this, with a nebari like this

Kind regards Yvonne

kohaku Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:12 pm

Hi Yvonne

Trunksice at your marking is abouth 17 cm.

And yes you're right .....the big branches are gone.. Very Happy

...I'll be to focussing on the new shoots.

regards

Kohaku

Guest Wed Jun 18, 2014 2:12 pm

Impressive trunksice Smile

...look forward to updates

kohaku Mon Jul 21, 2014 5:33 pm

After the firtst shoots were growing long enough.....i made several approach graftings wich will now grow freely the rest of the season .
I also lowered the top of the tree.

GerhardGerber Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:05 am

Amazing, thanks Cool

Neli Thu Jul 24, 2014 3:36 pm

You will have lots of fun developing it...it will be a fab tree.

Moreno Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:02 pm

Nice tree! I look foward to see it in some years!

kohaku Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:44 pm

Ok THX,
I enjoy this trunk every day when i see .it's new branches growing rapidly , and the edges of the wounds are also healing as expected All the graftings are doing well so far....
Japanese maples are always fun...and easy to work with....
I love them.. ;-)

rrubberbandman Tue Jul 29, 2014 1:10 pm

I have tried collecting "wild" american hornbeams with the same amount of root base as you did with this maple and have yet to be able to keep one alive!
Great looking prospect!
Bryan

kohaku Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:18 pm

let the spring begin :-)
url=https://servimg.com/view/17910973/120] Giant Japanese maple project 20150321

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kohaku Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:54 pm

suggestions welcome...

LanceMac10 Wed Mar 11, 2015 11:15 pm

Time Machine. Gonna be an incredible tree!

Dave Murphy Thu Mar 12, 2015 12:29 am

Fewer branches in the lower 2/3 of the trunk...the ones that remain need to thicken a lot.

f1pt4 Thu Mar 12, 2015 2:46 am

Thanks for your progression. It's gonna be an awesome tree!

Dirk Hoorelbeke Fri Mar 13, 2015 7:44 pm

let it explode and gain strengths this year. Don't cut. Next year repot in bigger pot for a few years. Spend time on health early... save time later... Like the tree... a lot

kohaku Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:24 pm

Dave,

Yep..... maybe later, some of the lower branches have to go......for now i'll keep all braches .
Some of them are approach grafted and others are grafted true the trunk......(most are natural Smile

Gaftings true the trunk were almost always succesfull on my other maples in the past. The approach graftings were not always a succes.....so i'll make the choise of branches in a later stadium.
On this tree i see the approach ones are already thicker were they come out of under the pieces of wood i used to keep them on place. They were made in late summer last year.....so gives me hope Laughing

Dirk,

Yeaah......this one has to GROW for a period without cutting. especially the lower parts and the trunkleader will be left alone for a longer time.