Trident Trunk Chop

[Scott Roxburgh]

So, lately I have been inspired by Suthin thread over at IBC...http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/bonsa ... -t4450.htm


Today I bit the bullet...Im thinking Kifu sized, just a tad over 25cm in another 5-10 years

trident before chop.jpg

Around 18 months ago when I got the tree

Trident After chop.jpg

5 mins ago

I got a bit of advice from Leigh earlier in the year, and he said that it should pop buds nice and low.

It has been in my care for around 18 months. Originally from Ray's ($190), it has been feed osmocote, fertiliser balls (Arthur's Recipe) and Miracle Grow/Seasol/Charlie Carp/Powerfeed for almost all of that time. I have been playing with it chopping bits off etc but here's hoping I get buds.

If it works, I've got hundreds of trident seedlings for root grafts next year.

I'll keep updates coming.

[BirchMan]

Mate you've got balls that's for sure. Did you layer the top or just chop it?

I saw Suthin's thread and i must say it's an awesome result, it'll be great once it turns out with that mega-taper for you. I'm hoping to buy a trident around this size once i scrape a few hunge together.

Good luck,
Birchman.

[damo19]

Thanks for the post Scott, I'm trying to bring myself to chop my trident but couldn't bring myself to go that low. As Birchman said, thanks for the link, they are an inspiration.

Cheers,
Damo

[Craig]

Hi Scott, mate thats a HUGE chopyou've done there, are you going to train 1 new leader or multiple leaders? It's going to take a fair few years for the flat cut to heal up, i'm not quite sure i would of gone that far good work mate, can't wait to see some progress in the future, Craig

[Scott Roxburgh]

BirchMan, No layer just a chop.

Advice on a new trident - Ray has some great stock on a large scale but be prepared to pay for the best ones. If i could have the past few years again, i would have spent double (at least) on a decent trident (there was an excellent one for $500, i should have taken that one!), this one only has size hence the chop! BTW dont take the mrs with you they just dont get $500 on a tree!

Damo, make sure you feed the tree a lot before the chop. You don't want to do this to an unhealthy tree!

Don't worry if you chop to high, you can just air-layer it off at the appropriate spot on the trunk.

Craig, I chopped that low to get rid of all of the rubbish up the top. I spent the last year or so trying to make it work but it just wouldn't. Im going to train just one new leader and a first low branch - there will be another large sacrifice off this branch to help heal the scar.

A very large chop but its a 10 year project and probably going to go back into the ground once some of the root grafts are taken care of.

http://www.royalbonsaigarden.com/gallery02.htm < more inspiration