Hey Everyone,
I have taken advice from a lot of people on this site as far as what to do for my trees. So far, it has been great. I have done my first trunk fuse, and I have also grown some nice aerial roots out of the trunk of my ficus. I am starting to see a tree that makes me more proud.
My trident Maple; however, has been growing like crazy. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a whole lot of growth beneath the canopy. What I mean is, the trunk has gotten thicker, but it has only grown taller from the top, as opposed to growing taller out of the pot. It is over 3 feet tall now, and I know I am still far away from styling the tree. I am curious, though, should I be starting to trim or train at all yet? Ideally, I would like the trunk to be about 4 to 6 inches in caliper. At this point, I would say it is about an inch, and maybe a little bit more. Also, should I be defoliating at all? pinching back any extra growth? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
[img]https://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq11/richm2778/4b94ddce.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq11/richm2778/b3a0944e.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq11/richm2778/d20cdaf7.jpg[/img]
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Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
Rich,
Don't prune the top either just allow it to grow, in fact encourage it to grow quickly. Even if you begin to get reverse taper at the crown you will likely cut it off when you begin the next stage of development. You are only growing a trunk, none of what you have now will be a part of the finished design.
Have a look at [url=https://www.bonsaikc.com/Trident2.htm]this article[/url] to see an example of a thick trunked Trident. It should give you some ideas and show you just how far you have to go to develop a really large trunk.
Norm
If you are serious about developing a thick trunk then no, you should not be doing anything like pinching or defoliating now, those techniques will only set you back. At this point consider it stock. It would not be a bad idea to consider setting it out in the garden if you are able and your climate permits.It is over 3 feet tall now, and I know I am still far away from styling the tree. I am curious, though, should I be starting to trim or train at all yet? Ideally, I would like the trunk to be about 4 to 6 inches in caliper. At this point, I would say it is about an inch, and maybe a little bit more. Also, should I be defoliating at all? pinching back any extra growth?
Don't prune the top either just allow it to grow, in fact encourage it to grow quickly. Even if you begin to get reverse taper at the crown you will likely cut it off when you begin the next stage of development. You are only growing a trunk, none of what you have now will be a part of the finished design.
Have a look at [url=https://www.bonsaikc.com/Trident2.htm]this article[/url] to see an example of a thick trunked Trident. It should give you some ideas and show you just how far you have to go to develop a really large trunk.
Norm
Last edited by Gnome on Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.
