How to style trident maple

[bwaynef]

for the majority of trees that are in training, i think the last thing you would want to do is stunt your trees growth by directing branches away from the light.

I believe that's the essence of what happens to bonsai, by any means necessary that doesn't affect the health of the tree (too) negatively.

 

[BobbyLane]

Bobby, it’s true that new growth grow up towards the light. On lower branches, the branches higher up get the light, so they have to grow “out” to get the light. As the branch extends, the weight of the leaves pulls those branches down even farther.

LOL. I had maple trees at a house where I lived. I’d prune the lower branches so I could walk and mow the grass underneath without hitting my head. All would be fine in spring and early summer. By mid to late summer, the branches would be hanging down so that I had to duck under the branches as I mowed! It’s the sheer weight of the new wood and leaves that pull the branches down! And they can’t grow UP, because they’d get shaded. They have to get longer and longer to grow out of the shadow of the higher branches of the tree, to the point that the wood isn’t strong enough to keep them from sagging.

I see what youre saying Adair, they will expand out to search for light if its being blocked by branches above, this also depends how dense the tree is too. usually in most cases once shaded branches find the light they rise up. or at least the tips do.

 

[BobbyLane]

I hope we got permission to dissect another ones tree in a separate post. This sits in my mouth as done in poor taste. I don't understand this post...as I've seen them styled both ways. Depending on the artist's bench. this tree is dramatic...and I absolutely love it. First styling eh @Adair M even more impressive..

this isnt about Adair's trees, i believe the thread is in regard to imported tridents.

 

[Adair M]

Ok here's a Trident i purchased a few months back, i dont have it now though.

now this is an import, looks a lot different to ones we've been speaking about.
its more of a stump, will be impressive in a few years once the crown has grown out and been cut back a few times.
this type of Trident gives you a chance to put your own stamp on the tree.
it will develop rather quickly, i wired it up n out there is only one way for the branches on such a stump to go. up n out. suited to a powerful broom style maybe, or just a wide spreading dome
View attachment 344687

if you try to style this as a broom, it will look very odd for a very long time. A big fat trunk with skinny little branches? That’s not very “natural” in my eyes. It needs some big fat branches to go with the big fat trunk. Those big scars show that it used to have big fat branches, but they’ve been cut off.

 

[Cadillactaste]

this isnt about Adair's trees, i believe the thread is in regard to imported tridents.

Guess...I mistook it. Still...Adair's tree chosen when one could grab any imported tree off the internet.

I'm a bit testy...my mother in law was taken to thehospital yesterday. They didn't have room for a covid patient. She spent all day and until Midnight with no food...a diabetic. While they tried to pawn her onto another hospital. Finally finding her a bed at midnight. So maybe I'm just tired and read this wrong. But there are a dime a dozen imported trident to be found in a Google search.

 

[BobbyLane]

if you try to style this as a broom, it will look very odd for a very long time. A big fat trunk with skinny little branches? That’s not very “natural” in my eyes. It needs some big fat branches to go with the big fat trunk. Those big scars show that it used to have big fat branches, but they’ve been cut off.

Had i kept it, it would of went in a larger container and left to grow out, or even had a spell in the grow bed.

 

[Adair M]

this isnt about Adair's trees, i believe the thread is in regard to imported tridents.

Bobby, my tree was imported some 30 plus years ago.

That stump you’re showing... I can get as many of those as I want, locally grown by people here in the US. Piglet was locally grown. If I want one, I know the guy who has the field full of them.

 

[BobbyLane]

Guess...I mistook it. Still...Adair's tree chosen when one could grab any imported tree off the internet.

I'm a bit testy...my mother in law was taken to thehospital yesterday. They didn't have room for a covid patient. She spent all day and until Midnight with no food...a diabetic. While they tried to pawn her onto another hospital. Finally finding her a bed at midnight. So maybe I'm just tired and read this wrong. But there are a dime a dozen imported trident to be found in a Google search.

yeh we were just following on from another post, but changed threads so as not to disrail Adair's thread. All the best to your mother in law

 

[Adair M]

Had i kept it, it would of went in a larger container and left to grow out, or even had a spell in the grow bed.

Fair enough. It needs a decade of “growing out”, and repeated cut backs.

 

[BobbyLane]

Bobby, my tree was imported some 30 plus years ago.

That stump you’re showing... I can get as many of those as I want, locally grown by people here in the US. Piglet was locally grown. If I want one, I know the guy who has the field full of them.

but you wouldnt right? just not your cup of tea to grow one out like that?
anyway, going back to your thread, that was the initial question, if you would like to continue your tree as is. wasnt trying to be highly critical at all. as i was saying it would be too far gone if you wanted to change it, but you bought it because you like it thats all that matters.

 

[leatherback]

to dissect another ones tree in a separate post. This sits in my mouth as done in poor taste. I don't understand this post

Ohw. I took the discussion away from the original thread as I did NOT want to discuss the tree, nor take away from a great tree. As such, I wanted to have this discussion in a separate thread. Not to discuss that tree, but the type of stylings done to tridents. I am sorry to hear this comes across the wrong way.

 

[BobbyLane]

To avod cluttering a thread o a great tree with side-line discussions, I am starting a solo thread on styling trident maples.

I am going to admit it. I am lost. I know I should not be. But.. All tridents I can recall are styled as the gorgeous maple @Adair M is showing here: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/and-now-for-something-completely-different.47289/

This tree:
View attachment 344634

In the thread this comment is placed:


I think I agree. It is more a pine than a deciduous tree that I know. Yet.. I never see tridents styled any other way.
As I have a big chunkcy trident that I have just given the first styling, I know I also put the branches like the tree above. Not in the least because I do not know how else to style a trident.

Is there anybody with insights? Maybe some pictures of mature tridents styled very differently?
Or should I not worry and say: All tridents from Japan are in this style, nothing wrong with it?

So confused!

J

To sum up and to tie up the thread. as everyone knows, Tridents can be styled anyhow you want to.
whether youre influenced by wild trees or other Tridents you see online, in books or from Japan its your call.
Leatherback you might as well just say that your Trident has been influenced by the Japanese style and leave it at that mate.

To see them styled differently you have to look no further than piglet and a couple of Walter's ones.

To sum up, nothing wrong with it.

There is absolutely nothing to be confused about.

 

[Ruben Bouwmeester]

This is so typical of Jelle unconsciously consciously turning people against each other.

 

[Adair M]

but you wouldnt right? just not your cup of tea to grow one out like that?
anyway, going back to your thread, that was the initial question, if you would like to continue your tree as is. wasnt trying to be highly critical at all. as i was saying it would be too far gone if you wanted to change it, but you bought it because you like it thats all that matters.

Actually, no. I’m not that big a fan of tridents. Even sumo tridents. They’re rather common, frankly.

I purchased my tree because it’s a very uncommon and unusual species (or cultivar). For it’s uniqueness and character.

And because no one else has anything like it,.

 

[Clicio]

I guess we can pick up some hints from this video:

 

[leatherback]

This is so typical of Jelle unconsciously consciously turning people against each other.

uncalled for.

 

[BuckeyeOne]

If I want one, I know the guy who has the field full of them.

Care to share?

 

[Djtommy]

i think a few may have mis read my post. i didnt suggest that Adair should cut the branches off. nor do i 'hate' other styles lol.

Well, you did show this below virt on the other thread which you said youd be tempted to do on this tree. If it was yours I’d suggest you better sell it as it is in stead of running its design. I do realize that you would most likely not buy this tree in the first place.
with the stump you showed you can go all in as there isn’t any design to start with.

 

[Djtommy]

For the sake of the thread
here are some more pics of tridents. and yes I still think tridents are indeed generally more “pine” like shaped then other deciduous. there are also a lot more root over rock tridents then other deciduous trees.

 

[Adair M]

Well, you did show this below virt on the other thread which you said youd be tempted to do on this tree. If it was yours I’d suggest you better sell it as it is in stead of running its design. I do realize that you would most likely not buy this tree in the first place.
with the stump you showed you can go all in as there isn’t any design to start with.
View attachment 344723

Yes, that would be a travesty!

My tree is perhaps 75 years old. It’s due some degree of respect just because of its age.