Help with Trident Maple for a beginner (pictures)

[annnie]

Hi,

I'm absolutely new to bonsai and i really wanted to give it a go. I bought a trident maple and i have no idea where to start. I've looked all over the internet and i can't seem to piece all the information together for my particular tree.

Here it is:


Should i prune it? and how?

Is there anything i shouldn't do when pruning?

Should i re-pot it?

And any information you can give me would be very much appreciated.

I really like this style of bonsai but i know thats a bit ambitious at the moment.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... ,_2008.jpg

thanks,
annie

[Fish]

Hi Annie and welcome, I have a trident also, good website are dime a dozen, but this is the best, just ask any of the more experienced people and they are all to willing to help.
All the best with the trident and enjoy the rest of the soon to come stock.

Fish

[astroboy76]

hi annie,

what you need to do is dependant upon how you eventually want it to look. One thing that can sometimes turn of a beginner is the "destruction" required to create good bonsai.

First thing though, do you keep this bonsai inside? most bonsai, including maples will suffer and quite possibly die if kept indoors for more than a day or two at a time.

with regards to the image you showed of how you would like yoru maple to look, it is completely possible. the question is do you have the time and patience to appy to make is that way? Cos that is really all you need.

for starters, the first thing you will want to work on is thickening the trunk up.This wont happen any tiem soon in a bonsai pot. You can either plant it out in yoru garden or is a large foam box or wooden crate. Feed it and allow it to grow until you have the size of the trunk you want. To induce taper you can perform a trunk chop once a year and train a new leader. There is much advise about this on the forum is you do a search for it.

Once you have obtained the sized trunk you want you can then work on your branch structure.

Not all maples have to be big bonsai though. I have one at home that is aonly about 25 cm high and the trunk is about 2 cms across but it s a little beauty just as she is.

[astroboy76]

hi annie..again hehe

check out this site. its extremely imformative and easy to read. much info here ot get you cracking and please, ask as many questions and check out this forum as much as you can. no better way to learn then thru the experience of others

http://www.bonsai4me.com

[annnie]

Fish: Thanks!

astroboy76: Thanks for all the info!.. i'll defiantly have a look at that website.
I feel that i do have to time for it.. I was very into planted aquariums but when it comes to moving house it's just too stressful. So i'm thinking bonsai will be my new hobby.

I am keeping the tree inside with sun on it most of the day.. is that still not good?.

Is there any bonsai that will do well indoors.. i don't mind keeping them outside for a bit but i would love to have them mainly inside.. Or if i have a lot i can alternate them

Can i buy a tree that has already developed a nice thick trunk? and are they expensive?.

Is there any good quality bonsai nurseries in W.A?

Sorry about all the questions.. I have a feeling I'm going to have a lot of little bonsai's soon haha


thank's for the help!

[astroboy76]

hey annie,

My advice woudl be to keep it outdoorsmore often than not. keeping it indoors will effect its health. especially if you use air con. being a deciduous tree, it needs to feel the 4 seasons and go thru its dormant stage etc. Plus, if you keep it indoors it wont turn its fabulous autumn colours.

for inside bonsai chinese elms are quite good as long as it gets plenty of natural light but not direct light thru a window as this can burn the tree. regular misting with a spray bottle of water on its foliage will help keep it in check too.

most bonsai nurseries sell advanced stock. im not sure what is available in WA but there is a segment on this forum for nurseries so give it a read

[BirchMan]

Hi Annie,

In terms of WA nurseries the main ones are Bonsai Emporium in West Swan/Caversham on West Swan rd. They have a lot of stock but the best "non finished" stuff is mainly black pines and junipers. Then there's Lee's Bonsai World in Bedford, they mainly sell finished trees and the prices reflect that. I've been meaning to check out Bonsai N Bamboo in Cockburn Central, North Lake rd, open only on weekends i think they might be the best for affordable large stock. There's always Wanneroo Markets too.

That's about all i know of, i'm on the hunt for big stumps too but i'm almost finding it's easier to keep an eye open for yamadori...

[nealweb]

Hi Annie, there were a few threads about finding bonsai stock in Perth lately. The best idea is to join a club, then you find great stock and great guidance and advice. dare I say the bonsai workshop is the best because its totally hands on practical, you bring in your trees and work on them together. My favorite nurseries would be Subiaco markets, Bonsai 'n' bomboo (weekends only on North Lake rd), Lee's bonsai world on Grand Promenade and Bonsai Emporium out in west swan, happy hunting

neal.

[annnie]

thanks everyone! Lots of helpful info. I'll check out those stores... bring the man alone and persuade him to buy 1 hahahaha nah.. i had better start off slowly.

I wouldn't mind going to workshops but i work funny hours.. mainly in the arvo to late night.

So for now i should plant the maple in the backyard? in full sun?

by the way.. this hobby is very distracting! i keep noticing tree's everywhere i go that i consider digging up and taking home haha.

[Taffy]

by the way.. this hobby is very distracting! i keep noticing tree's everywhere i go that i consider digging up and taking home haha.

That's it - you've caught the dreaded Bonsai bug! Don't worry about it though, you're in good company. Most of us here already have it - and we don't need medication for it

[bonsai_Dan]

by the way.. this hobby is very distracting! i keep noticing tree's everywhere i go that i consider digging up and taking home haha.

That's it - you've caught the dreaded Bonsai bug! Don't worry about it though, you're in good company. Most of us here already have it - and we don't need medication for it

Just more trees more space, more time and more money!

[Michael]

hi ya annie

u got the bug hey when driving with my wife anywhere i will say to her look at that tree imagine it in bonsai scale (her answer can u stop dreaming about bloody bonsai and talk about something else) but she does love them also ,enjoy and many friends u will meet here

good luck happy growing


cheers mick