New tree, new owner :)

[Megan_Dee]

Hi there!
New to bonsai.
Was gifted this pretty little Amber Ghost Japanese Maple.
Upon my initial reading up on pruning and shaping Japanese maples, I read that I shouldn’t allow two branches to twist or grow close together. But there were no pictures for examples.
Do I need to prune off one if these branches? Is the crotch too narrow?
I feel like I’d be taking off a huge part of the tree, and I rather like how it looks. But of course I want to set my new little guy up for long term health.
Thoughts?
(Also, it doesn’t live inside. Just getting cold tonight so I’m bringing it in since it’s so little still)

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Hi and welcome aboard BonsaiNut!

In bonsai a lot of times we give the answer, “It depends” ...on your goals, the intended style, what media you are using, your fertilizing regime etc, ...amount of sunlight, ...your location etc

In this case, however I’d say your goals would be how to learn keep this new little maple alive for the next year in the best shape possible and decide what size and type of bonsai style would be best for this maple in the long run.

That’s a big chump of knowledge to take in yet never fear most, if not all resides on this site over the years.

Now to answer your questions. Sure, you can prune that branch off, but I think the very first thing is to grow it out more so it’s healthy, full of strong growth and shoot for next winter to prune, or even in two winters, depending on your ultimate style.

Usually the main initial phase in bonsai is to grow a trunk thick enough and as fast as possible to style into a bonsai. That’s because growing branches is easier than growing a trunk. That means keeping every bit of greenery on the tree as possible until you get the desired trunk thickness. Here’s a link to an article from Brent at Evergreen Gardenworks to explain this concept... and another short article for beginners. Also water only when the soil media is almost dry until you learn about soils for bonsai.

But you were interested in getting some general pruning knowledge. I’d try a couple basic videos to help you. Here one by Peter Chan at Herrons Bonsai to get you started. Here’s another by Jason at Eastern Leaf explaining what internodes are and how to prune these.

I hope that helps get you started.

Oh by the way please do two things for us.

1. Double click your icon and enter your approximate location and USDA growing zone (google) This lets us tailor our advice to your location. Answers often depend on knowing where the tree is Geographically
2. Keep your maple outside, unless it’s -15F . It’s much more cold hardy then you are and doesn’t do well when kept inside.

cheers
DSD sends

 

[Shibui]

Do I need to prune off one if these branches? Is the crotch too narrow?

Pruning is not the only way we can affect the shape of our bonsai. We can use wire to move a branch to change the shape and angle. Rather than cut off half your tree you could wire and bend that branch whichever direction will look good.
Another option would be to prune part of that branch but leave the lower part. New shoots would then sprout from the lower section. Some should have better direction. Just let them grow back to fill in the space or you can direct the new shoots as they grow using wire or judicious pinching and pruning to get what you need.

The aspects you have mentioned are more aesthetic than health problems. having branches close together or further apart won't affect the tree's health but it will make a difference to how it looks.
Your tree is very small and very young so really technical aspects of bonsai style are not going to make much difference at this stage. Just enjoy the tree and your bonsai journey as you learn more.

 

[sorce]

Just getting cold tonight so I’m bringing it in since it’s so little still

@leatherback ....it's not a puppy! Lol!

Welcome to Crazy!

Short shipped plants from severely different climates, it won't get too cold for it, in fact, the cool may keep your leaves healthier longer.

Sorce

 

[leatherback]

@leatherback ....it's not a puppy! Lol!

True story!

 

[Megan_Dee]

@leatherback ....it's not a puppy! Lol!

Welcome to Crazy!

Short shipped plants from severely different climates, it won't get too cold for it, in fact, the cool may keep your leaves healthier longer.

Sorce

“Welcome to crazy”

What the heck is that supposed to mean?


I brought it in for the night because every time we get a frost warning here, ALL of the plant nurseries and gardening groups put out a warning to cover or bring in small/not yet established Japanese maples. All of them, every time, as soon as temps drop below 32 degrees.

So I brought it in for the night. It’s already back out. Nbd.

 

[Megan_Dee]

Pruning is not the only way we can affect the shape of our bonsai. We can use wire to move a branch to change the shape and angle. Rather than cut off half your tree you could wire and bend that branch whichever direction will look good.
Another option would be to prune part of that branch but leave the lower part. New shoots would then sprout from the lower section. Some should have better direction. Just let them grow back to fill in the space or you can direct the new shoots as they grow using wire or judicious pinching and pruning to get what you need.

The aspects you have mentioned are more aesthetic than health problems. having branches close together or further apart won't affect the tree's health but it will make a difference to how it looks.
Your tree is very small and very young so really technical aspects of bonsai style are not going to make much difference at this stage. Just enjoy the tree and your bonsai journey as you learn more.

This is really helpful, thank you. I actually don’t mind the way it looks. So if it’s not a health problem, I won’t worry about. I’ll let it get bigger and stronger for a while before I do any shaping. Thank you

 

[leatherback]

What the heck is that supposed to mean?

bonsai NUT

 

[Megan_Dee]

Hi and welcome aboard BonsaiNut!

In bonsai a lot of times we give the answer, “It depends” ...on your goals, the intended style, what media you are using, your fertilizing regime etc, ...amount of sunlight, ...your location etc

In this case, however I’d say your goals would be how to learn keep this new little maple alive for the next year in the best shape possible and decide what size and type of bonsai style would be best for this maple in the long run.

That’s a big chump of knowledge to take in yet never fear most, if not all resides on this site over the years.

Now to answer your questions. Sure, you can prune that branch off, but I think the very first thing is to grow it out more so it’s healthy, full of strong growth and shoot for next winter to prune, or even in two winters, depending on your ultimate style.

Usually the main initial phase in bonsai is to grow a trunk thick enough and as fast as possible to style into a bonsai. That’s because growing branches is easier than growing a trunk. That means keeping every bit of greenery on the tree as possible until you get the desired trunk thickness. Here’s a link to an article from Brent at Evergreen Gardenworks to explain this concept... and another short article for beginners. Also water only when the soil media is almost dry until you learn about soils for bonsai.

But you were interested in getting some general pruning knowledge. I’d try a couple basic videos to help you. Here one by Peter Chan at Herrons Bonsai to get you started. Here’s another by Jason at Eastern Leaf explaining what internodes are and how to prune these.

I hope that helps get you started.

Oh by the way please do two things for us.

1. Double click your icon and enter your approximate location and USDA growing zone (google) This lets us tailor our advice to your location. Answers often depend on knowing where the tree is Geographically
2. Keep your maple outside, unless it’s -15F . It’s much more cold hardy then you are and doesn’t do well when kept inside.

cheers
DSD sends

Thank you for the links and resources. I will check those out.

And done! Put my location and growing zone up.

No worries, it doesn’t live outside. I was just gifted it from a local green house. I don’t know how hardened off it is and it’s in a TINY pot with barely any soil or protection. Nurseries and garden groups out here put out cover warnings for young and new Japanese maples whenever we get a hard freeze, which we were expecting. So I just brought it in for the night.
It’s getting potted up properly and placed outside today

 

[sorce]

What the heck is that supposed to mean?

You'll know one day!

Sorce

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

I’ve been up to McCall quite a few times as one of my best friends has a condo up there for over 30 years.

You are correct to be cautious with a young tree. Yet we tend to be a bit concerned about folks bringing outdoor prebonsai indoors as so many folks have damaged or lost their trees by doing so. With that in mind, if you intend to grow this tree as a bonsai it might be wise to begin to figure out a wintering over plan sooner then later.

Good luck and please keep us posted on your progress.
DSD sends

 

[Megan_Dee]

I’ve been up to McCall quite a few times as one of my best friends has a condo up there for over 30 years.

You are correct to be cautious with a young tree. Yet we tend to be a bit concerned about folks bringing outdoor prebonsai indoors as so many folks have damaged or lost their trees by doing so. With that in mind, if you intend to grow this tree as a bonsai it might be wise to begin to figure out a wintering over plan sooner then later.

Good luck and please keep us posted on your progress.
DSD sends

Thanks I will be putting up a small greenhouse that might work best for it in the next winter. Just enough to help for the really bad freezes. And it should be okay once it’s a more established tree. There are Japanese maples that seem to do okay out here outside with some good mulching
I’ll live and learn!