Trident Maple front and back views

This tree came from the man who introduced me to bonsai. He sent it to me around Christmas. The tree is twenty years old and started from a seedling. Comments are welcomed!

This one has had no training only been cut back through the years.....take care john

You will have trouble with that base, I think, though maybe planting it deeper in the pot will do some good. Otherwise, it's a decent tree.

Overall, not bad. I agree that the roots need work. I would also consider reducing the tree a bit more, as the upper 1/3 of the trunk has little taper. It should be a fun tree to work with. Good luck.

Dave

Burying the base will solve nothing in the long term. Airlayering is very easy with Tridents and will solve the problem quickly. Airlayer at the widest part of the base.

Thank You Jim, Dave, Will,,,I know the base of the tree does not look good and will be a problum to fix....he sent the tree almost bare root so i had to get it in a pot really fast..what do you think about branches???just wait and see what pops buds and where??? it is doing good so far green all the way up the trunk...thanks guys for your comments take care john

Hello John. I wouldn't worry too much about the branches, at least until it has settled in the new pot and regained some vigour. The same goes for the airlayer too. Quicker results from a strong and healthy tree.

This has got me interested. If this trunk was on a Japanese maple it could be a great trunk. Yet I don't remember seeing any great tridents with a trunk just like this. I only remember short and chunky or elegant and almost straight.

As Will states I reckon a ground/air layer will be the best option for the base. I have been advised the best time is early Summer. Guess that is when the tree is really moving? I like to let the tree grow as wild as possible when doing layers. The base should look real good if it goes well.
I reckon this tree will be alot of fun playing with the style

Edit: Just realised Will suggests leaving the air layer for later as well. I am not sure there is any lack of vigor to this tree (there was no mention) but I would not be keen on doing this work in the bonsai pot. I would wait until just before bud burst and pot up agian in a nice deep ordinary nursery pot. Not to big though
Then come early summer you will have a good idea how vigorous the tree is and decide wether to ground/air layer or not.

Thank you Will and Brent,,,Maybe it should go in a nursery pot for a season,,that would be the only way to air layer because it is in the largest pot i have...thanks take care john

Hello John and Brett. The reason I mentioned vigour was because it was bare rooted at Christmas time? A big pot is a good idea.

will baddeley wrote:Burying the base will solve nothing in the long term. Airlayering is very easy with Tridents and will solve the problem quickly. Airlayer at the widest part of the base.

I agree with Will. An airlayer at the widest part will make a sweet tree in no time.
Good luck with it and keep us posted
Sam

Thank you Sam,,,i will post again in summer if spring ever gets here!!!!! take care john

I feel your pain, but fear not spring is around the corner. Driving around today I saw many cherries pushing out their flower buds. I can't wait for the next month when cherries all around here start blooming.

Good luck with that tree. My trident is extremely vigorous.
Sam

thats a really nice tree. the only problem is that very bottom part. You could probably use a deep pot. Really nice tree though. good luck with it.

Thank you Tylerwashere,,for your nice comment..Everyone agrees the base is not good,,i planted the tree in the largest pot i have so i will have to wait to do anything until it gets stronger..i can,t lose this one it came from a special friend.....thanks take care john

You can try root grafting. It is well practiced in Japan and it is easy to do. From the photo I can see some disturbing roots in the front need to be cut off. You can use them to compensate blank area on the left side in the second photo.

How is the tree doing? Have you decided on a plan?

Chris

COH,,,, All i did this year was plant the tree a little deeper let the branches grow out and cut them back i am going to see next year if i can get it lower in the pot....thanks for asking take care john

roberthu526 wrote:You can try root grafting. It is well practiced in Japan and it is easy to do. From the photo I can see some disturbing roots in the front need to be cut off. You can use them to compensate blank area on the left side in the second photo.

Can you explain this technique robert? I have a number of large tridents whose nebari could be improved with this idea.