A rather decent finding...

Two weeks ago came in my possession an acer palmatum which the owner wanted to get rid of for some reason and took it out of its pot and put it into the ground.
It was a tree of 2m height (above soil surface) and its pot was of 50cm diameter and 45cm height.

After a considerable root reduction and branch pruning this is how it is now.
Let's hope it will recover and leaf out next spring Long uncertain wait!

Nothing impressive just a double straight trunk tree. However, there are one or two potentially good air layers at the upper portion and for that reason I have kept the tree so high.
But I'm wondering if it's worth it to keep those long branches in view of air layering them... When the tree hopefully wakes up next spring wouldn't it be easier to support less branches?

What do you IBC friends think?

Nice rescue.  Trust your common sense  Alexandra.  You know the best how much feeders you have left in the pot and I am sure you have adjusted the top accordingly.  

A reduction of the long branches (trunks ) planned for the air layers is not necessary in my view as  they are just a structural system .   You may reduce the length/number of the branchlets  leaving there two or three pairs of leaves.

Hello, Vladimir!
Sound advice indeed!
However, sometimes the absolutely clear common sense

Vlad wrote:... ...is not necessary in my view as  they are just a structural system... ...

gets hidden behind the complexity of thinking, just making the easy matters to look perplex

and the left hand trunk is also presenting what appears to be a good place to cut back to after harvesting trees off the top !

Yes, I know what you mean, Kevin. I was also considering this proposal of yours.
Even though the photo is very poor (doesn't represent exactly the "V" point from current angle of shot) one can easily descry there is a problem at that point.
In hopes of the tree survival, I have also in mind to layer the trunk in order to make a better nebari. But this will be decided at the time of second repotting because there is a lot of work ahead to be done with the remaining of the rootball...
Thanks everybody!

Hello everyone!

The J. Acer palmatum has put a lot of new growth. It almost look like it was waiting for the root reduction  
Nevertheless, the leaves are too big for bonsai...

Regarding to species, it looks like a Acer palmatum atropurpureum... but without a label on the tree it's difficult to attach an ID to it.

I have asked in another thread https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t17833-air-layer-japanese-maple#181658 what is the best time for air layering.
Kevin has replied

Kev Bailey wrote:I do most of my deciduous layers as soon as the first flush of new leaves have "hardened off". By that I mean they have fully unfurled and look mature, rather than soft fresh spring growth.

But my question is this : Taking into consideration that the tree has had its first drastic root pruning last October 2016, might air layering now (even if it's growing very with abundance) put a lot of stress to the tree? Should I wait to air layer next spring? (this is what I have been told elsewhere)

Thank you in advance!

alexandra !

some good information was flying around in this thread i started that might help you out:

https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t17916-airlayer-vs-branch-removal-impact-question

hope all is well with you !

Are you in a hurry Alexandra? What is the cost of losing one year comparing to endangering a wellbeing of a plant like yours? Honestly not seeing the plant in live I will be very cautious to give any sound advice apart from - leave it for another year. But that just me...

Hi, Kevin!
How are you my friend?

kevin stoeveken wrote:alexandra !
some good information was flying around in this thread i started that might help you out:
https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t17916-airlayer-vs-branch-removal-impact-question
hope all is well with you !

Thank you for reminding me!
I did participate in that conversation but... you know... age... alzheimer

Hello, Vladimir!
Glad to "see" you again my friend!

Vlad wrote:Are you in a hurry Alexandra?  What is the cost of losing one year comparing to endangering a wellbeing  of a plant like yours?    Honestly not seeing the plant in live I will be very cautious to give any sound advice apart from - leave it for another year.  But that just me...

No, no hurry at all. Besides, those air layers I am going to give away to friends in our local club. I am going to keep the base.
I will try to make one of those crappy sketches of mine so that you will have (hopefully) an idea of the intended-to-be air layers.

Looking forward to see the progress of the airlayer once you start. Frankly I am wondering about the airlayering technique in your climate. In my region I try to keep the airlayered part in a shade while the top part of the plant is normally fully exposed to the sun. That helps to keep the temp at the airlayer in the range of 20-25`C. Mind you I do not use the plastic stretch foil. Always an open pot with substrate based on a sphagnum+kanuma/akadam/terramol. Lot of water - the evaporation helps to cool down a bit. Really keen to follow your progress...

This is the tree as of this day.
I have had located the plastic wrap (not closed of course either upside or bottom) for the intended air-layers on the relevant branches.
I have marked with red lines the exact location of the girdle, though it is not apparent under the foliage.



Some member of the local bonsai club had suggested that I could make only one of the layers now and check how the tree responds.
In case there will be no impact, I could then proceed to the second layering. In our climate this is doable...

Can you make an estimation as regards to the mass of foliage underneath the potential air-layers. I mean could they be enough to support the tree?
And what is your opinion regarding the suggestion I mentioned above?

Thank you in advance!

"enough to support the tree?"

I think so. What's above the air-layer is probably more important, as long as you don't dig too deep into the trunk/branch.

Thanks for looking, Alain!