Keep it or Cut it?

[Brian Van Fleet]

Getting it free takes a minute...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Combing out the roots and trimming them back took about an hour. I’m careful to keep everything trimmed off the bottom, and keeping only roots that radiate out. The bottom is pretty flat by now and spreading out nicely.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I decided to plant it just a little higher than the previous few years, not much, maybe 1/8” higher to start showing some of the nebari. It might prove to be too soon, but with a good layer of sphagnum moss, the new roots at the surface should grow just fine.

 

[cmeg1]

Nice nebari!

 

[Nanuk]

Just read through this whole thread.
Beautiful tree Brian, it is killer with those red leaves.

 

[Davidlpf]

it's going quite well. Congratulations and many thanks for sharing. It's very instructive see how times goes by, and how you'r working the tree.
Maybe a little bit of sphagnum moss in the surface will help the root establishment.
Greetings from Spain.

 

[leatherback]

Nice to see these long development threads and to be able to "read your mind". Thank you for sharing.

As for your graft.. Has it finally taken? If not, have you considered wiring the outer half of the branch upwards to encourage growth?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

As for your graft.. Has it finally taken? If not, have you considered wiring the outer half of the branch upwards to encourage growth?

It has taken, but I haven’t separated it yet. You can see at the arrow how it is wired upward:

 

[leatherback]

You can see at the arrow how it is wired upward

lol. I was thinking more like.. Middle finger upward

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Growing along...

 

[Gary McCarthy]

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Aeast]

Brian, using pure akadama, how often do you have to repot this tree?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Brian, using pure akadama, how often do you have to repot this tree?

Annually, though the akadama will last much longer; it’s the roots that need attention.

 

[MAPLE]

Beautiful! well done!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Night shot when it was inside hiding from the (not) storm.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Partially defoliated today, removing one leaf from each pair throughout the tree. Slightly tedious, but lets in light.
Before:

After:

 

[Paulpash]

Have you ever thought about replacing the vertical back branch like you did with the other?

 

[cmeg1]

Looks nice!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Have you ever thought about replacing the vertical back branch like you did with the other?

Many times, but it would destroy the tree and take the rest of my life to heal and remake. It’s a much larger part of the tree than it appears from the front...and frankly, much less obtrusive in person than the photos depict. It makes up everything you see below either side of my hand, and outlined in red:

If anything, the tree could be rotated counter-clockwise a bit to hide the straight “stalk”, but that front is rather dull.

 

[Lazylightningny]

Partially defoliated today, removing one leaf from each pair throughout the tree. Slightly tedious, but lets in light.
Before:
View attachment 248511
After:
View attachment 248512

Sweet tree Brian. You've put a lot of hard work and love into it over the years.