Japanese Maple Birthday Gift

PaulC · Post by **PaulC** » August 9th, 2012, 1:32 pm

Hi everyone,

perhaps I was just a touch self induldgent, but..........................

I could not resist the opportunity to purchase this maple for my birthday.

After all, birthdays and maples like this dont come around everyday !!

There was a condition attached to the sale of this tree, and that was that it was not to be sold again,
so looks like I am stuck with it .........oh well !!

Enjoying my day,

Paul C.

Steve Warren · Post by **Steve Warren** » August 9th, 2012, 2:37 pm

Holy cow, now thats an impressive trunk you have there. What species of maple is that bohemoth. Now thats what I call spoilling yourself. Are you planning to get straight into styling and ramifying this tree or are you going to let it thicken up a little 1st

.

Regards

Steve Warren

Scott Roxburgh · Post by **Scott Roxburgh** » August 9th, 2012, 2:43 pm

Nice BIG maple. What are your plans this season?

My

Refinement:
1. Repot into a smaller tub to restrict some of the growth;
2. Root work - it'll need some of the large ones taken back;
3. Root graft;
4. Thread/Approach graft some more branches in areas that are lacking - you can never have too many, esp. in a tree of this size;
5. Take some of the larger branches back to get some taper going;
6. Lots of WIRE!; and
7. Let the top (main leader) continue to grow wild to heal the scars some more.

It'll be a really nice tree in a few years!

GavinG · Post by **GavinG** » August 9th, 2012, 2:53 pm

Tiny beers you're drinkin' there, Paul....

A fine powerful trunk, I'm partial to the angle in photo 4 for the front - it's got a graceful swing, and the first branch on the left has some good movement too.

Happy birthday, many more.

Gavin

FatMingsBonsai · Post by **FatMingsBonsai** » August 9th, 2012, 6:29 pm

happy bday and enjoy this maple...

PaulC · Post by **PaulC** » August 9th, 2012, 7:30 pm

Hi everyone,

thanks for the well wishes, much appreciated !

Steve,
to the best of my knowledge this tree is Acer palmatum, variety unknown.
A self sown seed from the Bilpin/Mt Tohmah region of NSW.

Scott,
good trains of thought.
I am planning thread grafts, especially to the apex area of the tree.
There are two strong leaders to the tree, with plenty of whips to be introduced to them to form a new apex with the best direction.
The main leader/s are now over 6 foot tall, so I suppose another few more feet of growth wont hurt ?!!
There are no shortage of fibourous roots, so all is ok in that department, I have been advised the tree has been in that container for over 12 months,
and the prevuoius owner has asked if they may have the pot back in the next year or two............so no immediate plans to change it over just yet,
but never know, I do have a new growing pot in mind, but its a matter of being able to lift and relocate it !!

Gavin,
notice the beer was unopened ?
Didnt last long after the pic was taken though !

Fatming,
thanks, yes, enjoying it quite a lot, have not even worked on it yet, sure it will give many years of happiness.....................and work !!

Again, thanks everyone for the well wishes.

Regards,

Paul C.

mattgatenby · Post by **mattgatenby** » August 9th, 2012, 8:28 pm

Happy birthday mate !! Bloody nice stock to work with there

Give me a buzz if you want a hand to move it.....

billa · Post by **billa** » August 9th, 2012, 11:14 pm

Well a very happy birthday to you indeed!!!

craigw60 · Post by **craigw60** » August 10th, 2012, 8:24 am

Very nicely grown trunk Paul, well tapered palmatum are quite hard to come by in this country so you should be very pleased. I wonder how you intend to train the branches ? with a slight upwards movement or wired flat ?
Craigw

Andrew Legg · Post by **Andrew Legg** » August 10th, 2012, 5:43 pm

Nice tree mate. I'm curious about the condition of not selling it again. What's up with that?

I'll understand if you'd rather not answer.

Cheers

PaulC · Post by **PaulC** » August 11th, 2012, 9:27 am

Hi everyone,

Thanks Matt, a helping hand may be required with this tree, thanks for the offer.

Thanks Billa for the well wishes, had a great day.

Craig, a good question as to the future styling of the tree.
One thing for certain is that I will have to treat this male as a maple, and not fall into the styling habits of my conifers.
A well rounded crown would certainly help the tree`s overall shape, which I hope to acheive with the help of some thread grafts.
There are two strong leaders, but the internodes are very far apart, (about 8cm), but has a width of at least 3cm, so plenty of room for the grafts.
A good example on thread grafting maples can be found here.

viewtopic.php?f=104&t=7263

Thanks to Grant Bowie for the maple thread topic.

Andrew, just a Gentleman`s agreement on the sale, which I am happy to comply with.

Thanks again everyone.

Regards,

Paul C

Scott Roxburgh · Post by **Scott Roxburgh** » November 5th, 2012, 3:21 pm

for an update!

bodhidharma · Post by **bodhidharma** » November 5th, 2012, 3:36 pm

Yes i would not mind seeing where this beauty is heading

Dario · Post by **Dario** » November 7th, 2012, 1:47 pm

Scott Roxburgh wrote: for an update!

bodhidharma wrote:Yes i would not mind seeing where this beauty is heading

Me three for an update please Paul

Cheers, Dario.

PaulC · Post by **PaulC** » November 7th, 2012, 4:23 pm

Thanks for the interest guys, I am more than flattered.

I have been away for about a month or so, and now that I have returned, I can really begin to do something with the maple.

Many thanks to Jonden for looking after things whilst I was absent.

It may be difficult, but I will try for a few pics of the maple in full leaf before I start working on it.

The tree is really healthy, although a little untamed.................for now !!

Regards,

Paul C

AusBonsai