AusBonsai

Today I went to an advanced tree nursery as I heard they had Trident maples available. They were all about 3-4m tall in 450mm pots with bases as thick as your wrist for $82.50. I was going to grab one when I spotted a sick looking one on the end. ( I know you shouldn't start with sick tree) But It was dead from where I intended to trunk chop up, so I thought I might be able to use it. I asked(tongue in cheek) if he would do a discount due its lacking health, and he said I could have it for free

Anyway, I only have a commodore sedan, so the option of both trees was out of the question, and it dawned on me I won't be able to fit the whole 3-4m tree in my car regardless So I chopped some of the top off the free tree, and proceeded home.

I Immediately chopped more off the trunk as it was dead anyway, and being that it was a nursery tree I assumed its prob pot bound, so thought I would try and slip-pot it into a foam box with my diatomite/zeolite mix. Problem was it appears someone had root pruned this tree fairly recently and they weren't looking healthy at all.

I guess all I can do is keep my fingers crossed, and hope I give it the TLC it need to bring some vigor back into it. As you can see it is a bit one-sided branch wise(the roots were the same too) so I'm thinking I may have a perfect candidate for a hollow/semi-hollow trunk trident?

Any suggestions, opinions, critiques and especially virts are always welcome by me, but please remember I got this tree for free. Thanks for looking
Luke

gotta be happy with that Luke, no reason why it won't kick on mate, good score

Echo Craig's sentiments Luke.good score and with diligence, consideration and care you'll be able to create something of it. Way too early to be asking for critiques and you'll get no criticism for asking a question and scoring fee stock!

Good score Luke, keep us posted on its progress.

great score, plenty of healthy foliage on that so no reason why it shouldnt spring back. As said its a bit too early to ask for critiques and virts, could go anywhere from here. Good luck and keep us updated

Hi Luke,

Going by the leaves, they look very healthy.

You can feed it light liquid Seasol once a week or so to keep the roots more happy.

When some new buds come out, I would slowly feed it dynamic lifter (DL). When it gains apparent strength, I would increase the DL amount.

Once a week or so, I would use a little to stir the DL on the surface to keep them from caging up.

Oh, and watch out for strong winds!! Tridents just keep shooting up way before the branches get times to harden up, strong winds can snap them right off. It has been happening to me a few times.

Please keep us posted. Cheers.

Nice, but I would be getting some wire on those branches ASAP.

Handy Mick wrote:Nice, but I would be getting some wire on those branches ASAP.

Really? so soon? I would have thought to let it settle in, because majority of those branches will probably end up being cut off? Id really appreciate some direction on this, as this is the biggest size trunk tree I have. Im guessing you mean wire them more horizontally to allow light in and encourage growth ? Am I right? If not, please help me

And thanks to everyone else for their replies, Its nice to have a great bunch of encouraging, knowledgeable people working together for the greater good of Bonsai.......I love this site

Hi Luke , that's a free xmas tree . If the roots were good , strong and healthy cut it back harder and yes wire the branches out more horizontal . Noxious weeds "Tridents "ramify very quickly . By cutting them back you will most likely get more side shoots and ramification will begin now. giving more opportunity and scope to work with . Plus it easier to hang Chrissy decorations off horizontal branches . If they thicken to much they will snap or dislodge when trying to wire them horizontally later on . A free tree is the best for me .

Cheers Alpineart

Have just wired the branches (if you can call them that) out more horizontally, and I have to say I need to learn how to wire properly Worst wiring job ever I tried to use the "cage wire" method that peter Adams has referred to in his maple book ( I think that is where I read it) Anyway, I gave it a bit of seasol and some fish emulsion and now its time to see what happens next. I will keep you all posted on my bargain tree.

Oh I forgot to mention, I used some Seamungus "crumble" (which is in the green bags/buckets) when I re-potted it at the root level. I hope this helps it settle in to it's new home