Another Maple

[Trent McKenzie]

OK, I know, AUSbonsai, but you just gotta have some Japanese Maples right.

This is one I have been working on for about 18 months, it had chop at first branch and has since grown well. Did grow a secondary branch at the chop, should i train this as the first branch or dispose of it? Thoughts, critique welcomed.


Next post ill put up some natives promise

[Josh]

If your wanting this to grow the best thing would be to put it in a bigger grow pot and feed and let it grow. Problem with trees in bonsai pots trying to grow bigger is the limited supply of fert and water it has access to in a bonsai pot and limited root growth. It really should only go into a bonsai pot when it's the size you want. Ahoto from other angles will help with the new leader as it will depend on which one fits the existing trunk better, hard to tell at the moment. It will take a long time to became a great tree growing it on in a bonsai pot. Please don't take these comments as a negative, they are meant to be constructive and helpful. I pulled some of my trees out of smaller pots and into grow pots/boxes and the difference in a years growth is incredible. Hope this helps. as far as the new leader not sure yet, maybe let it grow and it will tell you what it wants to do.

Josh

[kcpoole]

I would remove the left "trunk" and work with the right one only
Removed trunk should back shoot from where it joins and a branch be grown there

Ken

[shibui]

Hi Trent, I take it you are referring to the branch at the back in the pic? Depends on what size you want the tree to be. I reckon it is a bit low for the first branch but I would leave it on as a sacrifice branch to help thicken the trunk. Ken is spot on about the left branch. it is too straight and strong for a branch so cut it off and wait for shoots to grow a better branch.