large trident top rebuild

[Matthew]

im starting this thread alittle early but this is now my biggest trident after selling a monster awhile ago. The top was cut off by the previous owner last winter i think and a new leader regrown . i have since cut to induce more taper into the top. A few centimetres below my chop is a bud which shoud become the new apex next spring. I think this tree has good promise in a few seasons. the bark is nice and flaky with that orange tone and the base will be well inside the 1-6 ratio when im finished. final height just under 600mm i hope. Ill continue to update as the new top develops and branches grow. since moving south ive fallen in love with them. ( dont tell my GF that )

last trident leaves 2010.JPG

big trident base.JPG

[bodhidharma]

Whoa...this WILL be a lovely tree in the future. It has all the ingredients Noah. If you ever want to swap it................ see me first.

[hugh grant]

That has a great trunk! It's going to look really good in a couple of years. All my tridents trunks are about 1cm wide at the most so I have I while to go before there like your one

Hugh

[MelaQuin]

Nice one!! Can I suggest you consider a more shallow oval pot. I know without the foliage the look is different but the pot is very dominant and the trunk is so deliciously round I think the softer curves of an oval pot with less depth would suit the tree better. But this is really a nice bonsai.

[Matthew]

Nice one!! Can I suggest you consider a more shallow oval pot. I know without the foliage the look is different but the pot is very dominant and the trunk is so deliciously round I think the softer curves of an oval pot with less depth would suit the tree better. But this is really a nice bonsai.

I completely agree. I havent repotted this tree yet so im not sure how shallow the rootmass is or how much i can reduce but going off who the previous owner was im pretty confident i can get it into a shallower oval pot next spring. ill just have to find one now ..........

[chrisatrocky]

great looking trident mate. however, your leader still seems a little too long and strait to me. I know when its in leaf you probably want see it but in winter it will be noticable. just my opinion from the pic.

chris

ps I reckon she already knows matt, she is a lot smarter than you.

[Matthew]

great looking trident mate. however, your leader still seems a little too long and strait to me. I know when its in leaf you probably want see it but in winter it will be noticable. just my opinion from the pic.

chris

ps I reckon she already knows matt, she is a lot smarter than you.

Chris

the pic is alittle decieving. it does have some flowing movement through it , the previous owner made sure of it as part his reason for chopping in the first place. i think with the new bud site once i get small side branches going to the apex it should fit the overall design well. i will however be thinking about it before spring. And yes im sure she knows

[Jamie]

gday noah

this is a sweet trunk, everything you could ask for! if it were mine i would be tepted to take it back to the second level of wire down from the top, it just looks a touch long i think someone may have mentioned that though

great tree this will come up trumps in no time aswell mate!

[craigw60]

Hi Noah, I reckon you need to shorten the leader more. One of the mistakes I made so often in the past was growing my trees too tall too quickly. Its much better to grow and cut and grow and cut.
Your tree has such a beautiful trunk it would be well worth spending some years getting the rest of it right. Each time you make a cut and take up a new lead you will improve the taper and create a bump in the trunk which adds to the illusion of age.
Craig

[Matthew]

Hi Noah, I reckon you need to shorten the leader more. One of the mistakes I made so often in the past was growing my trees too tall too quickly. Its much better to grow and cut and grow and cut.
Your tree has such a beautiful trunk it would be well worth spending some years getting the rest of it right. Each time you make a cut and take up a new lead you will improve the taper and create a bump in the trunk which adds to the illusion of age.
Craig

craig you and others have convinced me ill give it a few weeks to go fully dormant cut to a bud or small branch i can wire up and go from there. yes the trunk and lower primary branches in good positions was the reason i bought it again thanks to all who commented. any ideas on a glazed oval shallow pot feel free to post

[Jamie]

hi noah glad you have decided to lower it some i will do a few virts for you, what colours are you keen on for it? creams, blues, greens?

jamie

[Matthew]

jamie,

i find blues and creams work well , not sky blue but lighter tones are always a good match to tridents . feel free to go your hardest. Not sure if ill transplant to a shallow pot this season as the deeper pot will allow better growth for my new top when i chop again

[anttal63]

Well and truly inside 1:3 by the looks of things! Lots of greatness possible here. I too think a bit more off.

[Jamie]

little bit rusty mate

noahtrident.jpg

noahtrident2.jpg

[craigw60]

Hi Noah, you should leave it in a deeper pot for a couple of years while you are re-growing the top, then use a more shallow pot once the structure has been laid out a bit more.
Craig