Japenese maple chop
- Thread starter ForrestGump
- Start date
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
You are going to have a problem, because that is a grafted tree. If you look closely, you can see the graft line, and how the bark below the graft is of a completely different nature than the bark above the graft.
If it were my tree, I'd start by air-layering off the top, getting it well established, and then proceed from there.
Most of the time the top part of the tree is the valuable cultivar - while the root stock is generic green Japanese maple. If you chop it, you may find you throw away the good part!
If it were my tree, I'd start by air-layering off the top, getting it well established, and then proceed from there.
Most of the time the top part of the tree is the valuable cultivar - while the root stock is generic green Japanese maple. If you chop it, you may find you throw away the good part!
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Cypress187
Masterpiece
That low branch is pretty high and there is no movement, so air layering sounds like a good plan.
ForrestGump
Mame
Dang I kind of wanted to chop it pretty low lol. I don't really mind if it's green I actually kind of like the green ones :/
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
The root stock has nice short internodes (each of those rings you see mark nodes where buds may appear and then shoots - they are close together!). Personally I would chop the cultivar off and start developing the root stock.
But, I've been here before and on all those occasions I layered the cultivar off as @Bonsai Nut and @Cypress187 suggest. Then, at roughly this time in 2018, cut off the residuals of the cultivar from the root stock.
But, I've been here before and on all those occasions I layered the cultivar off as @Bonsai Nut and @Cypress187 suggest. Then, at roughly this time in 2018, cut off the residuals of the cultivar from the root stock.
ForrestGump
Mame
My only thing is I don't feel like waiting for the air layer lol. I made an unsuccessful attempt at an air layer last year and have been waiting all winter to chop it haha. If I wasn't worried about losing the top cultivar where should I chop it? And is now a good time or do I wait until leaves appear?
Cypress187
Masterpiece
You can still use the bottom half.
I would DO air-layer too. Right above the graft line. Till AL is done you can get some branches from the part below. So I think there is no loosing time, only the tree energy.
ForrestGump
Mame
I'm considering it now. I hate to look at another air layer all year though lol.
namnhi
Masterpiece
shouldn't take that long. Remember bonsai is a test of patience.
ForrestGump
Mame
I really just wanted to do a trunk chop lol. I've never done one before.
Buy another cheap tree/material, trunk chop that.
Either way I would suggest getting more trees and stock to work on, whether you air layer it, trunk chop it or just grow it.
Buy more stuff. It is the best BEST way to help impatience!
Either way I would suggest getting more trees and stock to work on, whether you air layer it, trunk chop it or just grow it.
Buy more stuff. It is the best BEST way to help impatience!
ForrestGump
Mame
Haha thanks. I plan on going out collecting real soon and probably getting another maple this year. I also started a bunch of seedlings I'm pretty excited about.
About how long does an air layer take?
About how long does an air layer take?
leatherback
The Treedeemer
anything from 4 weeks to.. 2 years on a deshojo here.
ForrestGump
Mame
I thought so lol :/
ForrestGump
Mame
Is now a good time to start one?
In zone 6a I start ALs in May and usually separate in summer/early fall.
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
Then, chop just below the brown-ish bark - remove just a shred of the green root stock. Within 6 weeks you should have buds popping from those node rings.
ForrestGump
Mame
I think that might be the plan lol!
It depends on your climate so my answer could be totally wrong but it would seem to me, done at the right time which should be around early spring, for a tree that size and as long as it's healthy, I don't imagine the AL would take more than 8 weeks really.
