1 and 1/2 Acer Griseum starter tree

[_#1_]

First let me apologize for the large and crappy pics. I don't know how to post thumbnails that enlarge when selected

Went to a local nursery to pick up this paperbark maple today and the nursery dude threw in a seedling as well to sweeten the deal. The tree itself isn't in the best of shape. Has some leaf burns. But the seedling looks pretty darn good since he left it in bright shade.

It's grown from seed and is about 7 yrs old and around 6 1/2 feet tall. I peeled most of the barks on the trunk off because I like the smoother look better. Is this okay?

If you look closely in the first pic, You'll see the wings of a seed

I think maybe chop the trunk to the second branch next spring?

This was an impulse buy lol

 

[somnium]

Beauty. I think that seedling will make a great bonsai. I was wondering if an Acer griseum bonsai would grow paperbark on it if the trunk was grown out. Personally I adore the peely bark. I will try to grow some from seeds next year as i have a bag of seed already. Thanks for sharing.

 

[M. Frary]

Is this okay?

Isnt that a question you should have asked before you peeled the bark off?

 

[sorce]

Nice...

F thumbnails...
If the connection ain't good they take forever to load and just suck all around!

Big pics all day!
And they aren't crappy either!

Sorce

 

[Dav4]

In my mind, the whole point of using A. Griseum is because of the exfoliating bark. The tri-foliage nature of the leaves isn't an advantage either when it comes to developing a canopy. They make great landscape specimens, and I've seen 1 or 2 attempts at a bonsai with them-nothing great, mind you, but not bad either, and yours has a decent base, so it might be worth a go...but leave the bark alone!

 

[_#1_]

Isnt that a question you should have asked before you peeled the bark off?

Lol yes. I'm just impulsive a lot of the time. Thought the peeling barks might become home to unwanted bugs.

Just realized after the fact that taking it off prematurely might be like picking a scab. It will not heal correctly. I'm not sure if this is how this works though lol.

Thanks sorce. Big pics ARE nice, but a couple in a row and the scroll wheel works over time lol.

I would like to make this tree more feminine but the base could be just a bit wider. Do I put it in the ground and let it grow out without chopping till it reach the desirable width? Or can I chop next spring to create a new leader for taper and grow out the base the same time?

Yeah, I'm a newbie to the T. If there was a T in newbie... :/

 

[sorce]

scroll wheel

I thought about folks that are on the computer inside....
Whatevs!

I'm outside enjoying outside....and Bsing on the phone....

Inside is for non bonsai folk!

Sorce

 

[_#1_]

it might be worth a go...but leave the bark alone!

Lol you're right Dav4. The exfoliating barks is what makes this tree interesting. I will most definitely leave the barks alone from now on!

I personally don't think this tree will be anything spectacular but it's one of those "just gotta have" in the collection. Just loooove the color!

These are like the steampunk of trees

 

[sorce]

gotta have

spectacular

I corrected your thinking!

Anything can become spectacular.

All it takes is a reasonable plan!
Have one...
Get spectacular!

Sorce

 

[_#1_]

I thought about folks that are on the computer inside....
Whatevs!

I'm outside enjoying outside....and Bsing on the phone....

Inside is for non bonsai folk!

Sorce

You middle America people have it easy. In my neck of the woods, there are lots of those flying leads. I'll be damned if I have one land on my head

But I digress. Bonsai is an outdoor sports. I lose again

 

[sorce]

You middle America people have it easy. In my neck of the woods, there are lots of those flying leads. I'll be damned if I have one land on my head

But I digress. Bonsai is an outdoor sports. I lose again

We got lead that falls from the sky too...
Mostly on the 4th of July...

But quite frankly....
I have no idea what you are talking about!

Bro...you win...I want one of those and you got one first!
Just make em Bitchin!

Sorce

 

[jomawa]

Sorry, but smoothe naked skin is inappropriate on bnut. Please get some coverage before showing again.

 

[ConorDash]

I would like to make this tree more feminine but the base could be just a bit wider. Do I put it in the ground and let it grow out without chopping till it reach the desirable width? Or can I chop next spring to create a new leader for taper and grow out the base the same time?

Yeah, I'm a newbie to the T. If there was a T in newbie... :/

I'll take a stab at this, but bear in mind I'm no expert either, far from it, but I've learnt a lot from reading.
Although I don't know your species of tree specifically, so it may react in a way unbeknownst to my advice.

Both of your suggestions are true. For the most part, planting an established tree in the ground, should, over the years, continue to grow it and the trunk will eventually get wider and wider.. This is time consuming, very. It varies from species to species but seems to me like increasing the width of a trunk that way, might take 3-4 years + before any real noticeable increases in width is made?
The other suggestion, chop, leader, yeh that's exactly how it works. However that will begin to give you taper, it won't increase the trunk width. That is if you are happy with the trunk width and want to start the taper from it.
I believe if you could get branches or a good one to grow from nearer the base of the trunk, you let that continue growing and it will help fuel the growing width of the trunk but this, I believe is also a slower alternative.

So there's my 2 cents..

 

[Giga]

I bought a massive paperbark this spring and cut it down to nothing - I'm excited to see where I got with the tree. Good to see another thread on it

 

[_#1_]

I bought a massive paperbark this spring and cut it down to nothing - I'm excited to see where I got with the tree. Good to see another thread on it

Ummm do you mind thread jacking and post a couple pics please? I(we) would love to see it!

I read these trees grow notoriously slow. Wonder how they will heal. I guest I'll chop next year so the wound will be small, and let it grow out and chop again.

My original plan was to let it grow out a couple years then chop. but I think I'll scrap that.

 

[Timbo]

I like the three leaves. I have no exp with these trees but i find the foliage nice to look at.

 

[_#1_]

So after 1.5 month I decided to look at the root and slip pot it into something a bit larger. Why it took so long to do this I have no idea. Should have done this as soon as it got home but lesson learned.

Root doesn't look vigorous to me at all. One side barely has any feeders. The other wasn't as bad. Saw a bunch of those small darkish hairy looking roots though.

What would you guys use on a grow box next spring?

 

[_#1_]

Stupid Photobucket! Some update.

April 1st 2018
Cleaned out and 90% root reduction. Did the same 90% root reduction to the little guy and it survived, even through this cold ass winter. So I figure I'll do what needed to be done and off it went! I had to nip off a few larger roots to get a clear shot of the taproot. Once in there, 90% gone just like that! There's more chopped roots under whats in the pic. If all is well this year, I might go back next spring to flatten bottom more.


They supposed to have this really vibrant scarlet red new growth but this one skipped spring and went to summer new growth since over a month behind. Right side is the little guy and it's leaves are fulling out and green.


Don't know if they are strong back budders but they do backbud some. First pic shows 3 buds but I'm hoping for one a little higher up and outside of the curve.Light patch under first branch have a bud there .


Are these crap as bonsai? Most likely. But I like the bark color, And spring color contrast of new and hardened leaves...

 

[TrunkTickler]

Stupid Photobucket! Some update.

April 1st 2018
Cleaned out and 90% root reduction. Did the same 90% root reduction to the little guy and it survived, even through this cold ass winter. So I figure I'll do what needed to be done and off it went! I had to nip off a few larger roots to get a clear shot of the taproot. Once in there, 90% gone just like that! There's more chopped roots under whats in the pic. If all is well this year, I might go back next spring to flatten bottom more.
View attachment 190727

They supposed to have this really vibrant scarlet red new growth but this one skipped spring and went to summer new growth since over a month behind. Right side is the little guy and it's leaves are fulling out and green.
View attachment 190730

Don't know if they are strong back budders but they do backbud some. First pic shows 3 buds but I'm hoping for one a little higher up and outside of the curve.Light patch under first branch have a bud there .
View attachment 190731 View attachment 190732

Are these crap as bonsai? Most likely. But I like the bark color, And spring color contrast of new and hardened leaves...

Hey, did you chop at the same time as the root work?
Cheers

 

[_#1_]

Yup. But I worked it when it wasn't strong enough. Did wayyyyy too much and it poofed out. Biggest lesson is to be patient. Let the tree push out lots of growth and get strong first before doing anything drastic. The big one was still limping along When I hacked away.

On a side note, the little one that I did exact same thing to is still alive and kicking Love them red THIN bark!