Keep it or Cut it?

[drew33998]

Brian, I will say this is one of the best maples I have seen. Good job

 

[discusmike]

I agree, top notch.

 

[Q-Bonsai]

Brian,

I think if you keep it, you need to let it grow out, thicken and be a larger presence in the tree. Right now it looks out of place because it looks a bit out of place due to its size and relative position in the tree. If the primary branch is larger and the pad is bigger, then it would be great!

Cutting it off is a short term solution in my opinion. It would look great now, but that extra branch makes the tree more dynamic as a whole.

My vote: Keep it!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Had a chance to trim back some of the stronger shoots today, with the goal of replacing them with finer growth. It's kind of hard to see, but overall, gradually replacing the heavy growth softens the overall appearance. The night shots are before and after.

 

[cmeg1]

Looks great.I could definately see the difference in the softer image.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Repotted today. The thread grafts were not as successful as I had hoped, but roots are developing at the trunk, so I went easy on pruning back. Next year I can work it harder again.

 

[MACH5]

Again beautiful Brian. Definitely a favorite of mine by a long shot. Why do you think some of the grafts failed? Did you apply sulphur again?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Again beautiful Brian. Definitely a favorite of mine by a long shot. Why do you think some of the grafts failed? Did you apply sulphur again?

I'm not sure, but 3 of the 7 failed, and unfortunately, the best-located of the grafts. One of them died back at the junction, but layered itself along the trunk, so I pinned it down and left it to see if it will fuse.

And yes, it got another coat of LS after the repot; it's still a bit yellow in that last shot.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Spring '14 update...some of the brighter red color is already bronzing. It will be completely green in 6 weeks!

 

[barrosinc]

Threads like this make me love bonsais!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Better shot of the red color...

 

[barrosinc]

Better shot of the red color...

I find it kinda funny/curious that the grafts from the same tree don't turn red at the same time...

Do these grafted roots go straight down, and during next repot yo make them radial?

 

[tmmason10]

Could be regular palmatum grafts?

Tree is looking beautiful Brian. Probably my favorite tree on this forum still.

 

[Dan W.]

Barrosinc, these are regular Acer palmatum seedlings grafted at the base to fill in the nebari. They will eventually be cut out once the root systems have merged, and there will only be "Chishio" foliage.

 

[barrosinc]

Barrosinc, these are regular Acer palmatum seedlings grafted at the base to fill in the nebari. They will eventually be cut out once the root systems have merged, and there will only be "Chishio" foliage.

ohhh I got it... I thought this was a regular Acer Palmatum

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Trying another video...
[video=youtube_share;U-I6Oq7JTIY]http://youtu.be/U-I6Oq7JTIY[/video]

 

[Smoke]

Interesting......

I prefer to seeing a lot more trunk and structure, but its got a lot of leafs/leaves....

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Yeah...I agree, but this time of year, leaves are good!

 

[barrosinc]

what do you think you are doing wrong with the grafts?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Some fall color starting on the maple...