Maple Seedling Development through the years?

[thatguy]

Hi All -

Thanks again for the advice and support thus far. I've really appreciated it! In my research both online and in some of the books I have has not filled in a slight gap. Which is what to do with early seedling development? So you have seedlings with established root systems in their second or third year of growth. Maybe on the verge of going into a clump or forest. Or perhaps the goal is to let them grow out and up pot into something larger. Do you continue to prune their tops every year to generate lower branching? Do you selectively remove any side branches? I haven't seen much info in this area between a tiny seedling, >1yr and being able to begin a more rigorous bonsai training. Most texts show you how to get seedlings starter or how to work on fairly far along pre bonsai. But surely there must be some inbetween?

One book I'm considering picking up is Andrea Merrigioli's Bonsai Maples which may fill in some of these gaps?

 

[sorce]

There are a thousand ways to build a tree.

No matter what, you can't start growing branches until the trunk is where you need, or they will be out of proportion.

See the @Brian Van Fleet thread with advice about "keeping something viable".

That is the one most important peice of advice.

If it just a little stub, or even a only a node, all you need to do is keep it active.

Enter, the thousand different ways and tricks to keep it pretty and active.

Sorce