Neglected Japanese Maple

[srunge55]

Hi,
I just acquired a Japanese maple that is about 12 inches tall and 1.5 inch trunk. It has a couple dead branches and in general seems to need some work. I would say its been somewhat neglected. The tree has been in a bonsai pot but will be coming bare-root. Would it be a good idea to put this tree back in a training pot and work on its development or should I put it back on a suitable bonsai pot? I would like it see it a little bigger with a thicker trunk.

Thanks for any advice,

Steve

 

[edprocoat]

Steve, you need to supply your location in your profile so people will know where you are to give you proper advice. For example this time of year in the United States its coming into winter and your dead branches may be just the natural loss of leaves at this time. Generally to thicken the trunk a grow/training pot or planted in the ground gives it a better chance to fill out more quickly. Good luck with her. try they search function here for Japanese maples and you will find a bunch of info.

ed

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Why and when is it coming to you bare-root?

I would not buy a bare-root JM at this time of year. Timing is everything in bonsai and this is not the time to work on roots in STL.

 

[srunge55]

So this was an Ebay impulse buy on my part. I am very much a novice but for some reason I thought I could do something with this tree. I guess the seller wants to keep his pot hence the bare-root delivery. I expect I'll receive it in the next week or so.

My thoughts are not distrub the roots as much as possible and put it back in a training/growing pot rather than trying to fit into a new pot. I'm hoping I can get ride of the two dead branches at the bottom and graft a new bottom branch.

Here is a link to the auction with pictures of the tree:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Ma...fdgJCXY%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_231wt_1328

Any and all advice welcome.

Steve

 

[mat]

Even if he wants the pot, that doesn't mean he has to bare-root it. Maybe it's a shipping-weight thing? If so, you could offer him a couple extra bucks to leave the soil on, wrap it up or stick it in a cheap plastic pot.

 

[srunge55]

I'm afraid it already on its way. I'm just trying to figure out what is best to do with it when it arrives. I suppose I didn't think this through very well.

Thanks for the advice,

Steve

 

[sikadelic]

Some trees can be more resilient than others so you may get lucky and receive a tree that can be saved. I would recommend putting it in an oversized pot with quality soil immediately after you get it. Winter it appropriately and hope for the best. There isn't much that you can do aside from that. Good luck and keep us updated!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

When it arrives, slip pot it (undisturbed) into the closest-sized pot you can find...no deeper than it is now. Hopefully it won't be bare-root, but rather root-wrapped as an intact root ball.

If you want some advice on selecting trees in the future, a number of us would be willing to offer pointers.

 

[Jaberwky17]

The seller said in his ad that it would be shipped with roots wrapped in as much natural medium as possible and then some moss. So it won't be bare root.

 

[srunge55]

I'm showing my ignorance here. My idea of bare-root was sans pot. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Brian Underwood]

First thing's first; get it potted as suggested above. The tree isn't horrible and might actually be fun if you're into carving, but that would be done in spring/summer after you have determined the health of the tree.

Personally I would start off by examining the bark and stripping away any non-living tissue and then decide where I want the hollows to be and then carve it up. After carving is done and deadwood is stabilized with a wood hardener I would cut back the branches and wire the whole thing. It should be a fun project if it lives!

Here is a link to one I did last year; http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthr...p-quot-Shi-(Death)-quot&highlight=death+maple

And no worries about showing your ignorance, we've all made stupid buys at one time or another and you'll learn from all your mistakes. I never ship anything bare-root this time of year and if weather is really bad I prefer to ship trees when it becomes more hospitable. The seller should know what they're doing, but it IS eBay as you mentioned...

 

[srunge55]

Brian, very interesting tree in your link. I didn't even think about carving out a hollow. I assume you are referring to the area with the two dead branches. I was thinking remove the branches and try to graft a new branch in that general area. It seems the tree needs a first branch somewhere. I will take your and the others advice and pot it up and wait until spring to see what I have. Then look to remove the two dead branches.

Thanks for the advice,

Steve

 

[iant]

Check the trunk directly below the dead branches when you get it. Sometimes when a branch dies the area of the trunk below that would be feeding that branch dies as well. That would be the part to consider the carving if it's needed.
Ian