Do mame need to start in a grow out pot?

[GailC]

I have a amur maple I'd like to use for a mame. I'm wanting to repot and chop it today, should it go into a bit bigger pot for grow out like a larger tree would? I have a shallow 3" pot that would work great but my little tree is only 1/2" or so at the base.
I really don't have anything smaller right now unless I chop down a 2" thumb pot but they are pretty flimsy.

 

[Handsome John]

Do you have any pics? i know amur maples get pretty coarse growth so i would see if you can fit it into the 3" pot to help try to keep it under control. how thick were you thinking about the trunk getting to?

 

[bonsaidave]

@GailC To clarify.
Is 1/2 inch your desired trunk thickness and you are ready for the fine twiggy growth? Bonsai!
Or are you wanting it to grow more than the 1/2 inch trunk?

 

[GailC]

Yeah, the trunk size is pretty much where I want it. I went ahead and put it in the 3" pot and did a trunk chop. This particular maple isn't very good material, part of the trunk has died and the roots grew down instead of out. I cut quite a few roots too, good chance I'll kill it but its not a loss. If it survives, I'll do my best with it.

 

[parhamr]

Regardless of the tree size, this order of operations is canon for bonsai…

1. Grow some nebari and a trunk base
2. Grow some taper into the trunk
3. Grow out a first branch to the desired thickness
4. Continue with ramification and your additional canopy branches
5. Maintain ramification

So, yes, a grow out container would be good if your aim is some manner of nebari or trunk taper.

 

[GailC]

Thanks @parhamr
Hopefully I left enough roots to keep this thing going. There is more, slightly larger base under the soil but nothing to consider nebari.
Maybe I'll take a little air layer off a different amur for a mame, it would be easier and look better.