Japanese maple chopping advice

[Eric Group]

Looks like you are well on your way here. Thats great, because I feel that the best way to improve in the hobby is to make decisions and do the work. If it dies, thats life, or death depending on how you look at it, but things are learned and that becomes knowledge. Knowledge is nothing more than several failures, to the point that when it happens to others you have "knowledge" of why.

That's deep man!
Perfect time to quote my favorite plant quote: you don't truly know a plant (/TREE) until you have killed it 3 (or in some cases 7-10) times!

 

[petegreg]

At the picture from the top it looks it's the S-K variety. I can see some young young branches turning coral red. And the graft is really well and low done.

If it helps here is the actual picture of mine from above, with foliage not "forced", wasn't chopped this year:

 

[sorce]

@ConorDash

Did you read that Smoke post?
It's up there in a quote.

Sorce

 

[ConorDash]

@ConorDash

Did you read that Smoke post?
It's up there in a quote.

Sorce

Yeah I see it, thanks, I get your point Sorce, don't worry lol.
I had already checked if sphagnum moss and root hormone were in my more local shop, which they are and also got a bag of bark recently for more decorative use elsewhere, but I understand it can be used (if finely broken up) as a good feed for air layering too.
Either way, I'm just giving it a little time to think and plan, as time will only help bonsai in any case.
I'll be speaking to you if I air layer any way .

 

[ConorDash]

Yeah I see it, thanks, I get your point Sorce, don't worry lol.
I had already checked if sphagnum moss and root hormone were in my more local shop, which they are and also got a bag of bark recently for more decorative use elsewhere, but I understand it can be used (if finely broken up) as a good feed for air layering too.
Either way, I'm just giving it a little time to think and plan, as time will only help bonsai in any case.
I'll be speaking to you if I air layer any way .

@sorce

Was looking up some maple trunk chopping advice, and came across this thread. This must have been one of my first posts.
To be honest, as much as I disagree with Smoke's methods or the way he is (I don't disagree with his results), his line: "because I feel that the best way to improve in the hobby is to make decisions and do the work" is a very good one and very right.. something, 5 years later, Im still trying to achieve!!

 

[sorce]

Smoke's

Lately, I've been having this thing in my head...

"I'd rather have a Smoke."

Sorce