Got a new Tree

[airloaf]

My question is, is it to late to repot it? It feels pretty root bound. Or is it ok to leave it as is until next year? I'll post some pictures in a bit.

 

[aml1014]

Leave it till spring for sure no matter how root bound it is.

 

[sorce]

Just when you thought dildocannon and Iron Beaver were enough......

Airloaf.

Sounds like fertilizer smells!

Welcome to Crazy!

Chop it!

Sorce

 

[Bunjeh]

First of all,..you are from Kent. Where did you find that? I live in DuPont. Nice. Second; I concur with ami. Though is in the 70's here right, wait till spring.

 

[Stickroot]

First of all,..you are from Kent. Where did you find that? I live in DuPont. Nice. Second; I concur with ami. Though is in the 70's here right, wait till spring.

That is an Iseli tree. Good stuff!
Is it a graft or true stock?
Def leave it till spring!

 

[Stickroot]

Oh def a graft! I had to zoom on the first pic to see yellow graph band still stuck on it.

 

[airloaf]

It's a Japanese Maple...My parents found it at the west port winery.

 

[MACH5]

I agree it looks very much grafted from what I can tell. If you care to have a great tree in the future (or at least a good one) you will need to address the graft as the union tends to get worse with time. You'll do this by air-layering the tree but that's another story for another time. However, if you do not care if you ever have a good, showable bonsai, it is perfectly fine to leave it as is and just enjoy growing it in a container. Japanese maples are beautiful refined trees that bring something different with every season. If you are relatively new to bonsai, I would not worry at the moment about the graft and concentrate in learning to care for it and ensure that it thrives under your care.

Like others have mentioned, wait until the spring to repot.

 

[airloaf]

So it's been repotted, and I'm not really sure where to go with it now. The guy down at the bonsai store said that it was too tall and that I should cut a good portion of the top off.... He didn't really offer any guidance.
Mach you mentioned airlayering, I'm guessing that, that would be getting new roots to grow around or above the graft. Would that fix this?

 

[MACH5]

Yes it would fix it since you'll be getting a new set of roots right where you air layer it. Do your research on layering. Most fail because the cut is either not wide enough or the cambium layer is not completely removed thus the tree will bridge and never produce the desired roots.

 

[Johnnyd]

Yes it would fix it since you'll be getting a new set of roots right where you air layer it. Do your research on layering. Most fail because the cut is either not wide enough or the cambium layer is not completely removed thus the tree will bridge and never produce the desired roots.

Would it be ok to use the ring bark method and wire tourniquet together? (For Japanese maples)

 

[MACH5]

Would it be ok to use the ring bark method and wire tourniquet together? (For Japanese maples)

Not necessaary to do both. Usually is one or the other. I much prefer the ring method.