Feb 25 2012

Root Over Rock Trident Repot

I had hoped to repot this last Sunday but ran out of time. A week later it has opened further and I had to get it done today. Stephen and Michael came over to my place and did a little repotting of their own. Stephen was able to help me man handle the Trident as the rock made it rather hard to work with.

This was it before we started.

As you can see the rock over hangs the pot and I wanted to incorporate the rock within the pot this time around. I bought a nice Walsall Ceramic pot for it last week from Willowbog Bonsai.

When I removed the Tree from the pot I was able to see how it had been wired in last time. I decided that I was probably best to follow a similar process this time too.

I pulled out two wedges from the mix that had been used to get the tree sitting at the right angle and position.

This is it after root pruning and washing out.

I prepared the new pot with wooden supports for the tree and to aid the tying in of the tree.

Once we got it potted up, it got a good watering in. The mix is akadama and kyodama.

This is the final image. I much prefer the new look and am delighted with the pot too. It’s at a slighted different angle and rotation in the pot.

Side by side before and after.

Feb 18 2012

Starting to Move

I checked most of my trees last Sunday and didn’t see many signs of Spring. Then, 4 days later, I checked again. This was what I found on Thursday!

These are fast swelling flower buds on a Fuji Cherry.

These are Trident Maple buds, 3 different trees.

I even saw a cloud of midges outside our lounge window! February? What’s going on!!

Dec 14 2011

Trident Maple Winter Image

I finally managed to grab a few quick photos of my Trident Maple today. As expected it requires some work on the branch structure after a years growth. It was pruned back during the year but you don’t get to see the structure until now. I will do this in the Spring.

Dec 10 2011

Trident in December

This is my Trident pictured during the week. As you can see, it has been reluctant to drop its leaves. The few that are missing is more down to gale force winds than Autumn/Winter. This tree has been outside since March.

I usually defoliate this tree every year but next year I’m planning on a different technique to compare results. I’ll keep you posted.

Nov 19 2011

Another virtual, same tree!

Peter, in the last post suggested a tilt to the left to change the angle. It means hiding part of the rock under the soil. What do you think?

Before Tilt

Put think video clip together this afternoon as well. Sorry about the Japanese Music, but I breech no copyrights this way 🙂

Nov 18 2011

Following on…..

from my last post, at the suggestion of Mr Snart, I have altered the virtual of the Trident again. I have extended the pot to the right giving more negative space. I have also extended the foliage to that side.

The original Virtual for comparison.

and the original.

Nov 18 2011

Pot Virtual

Had a quick 20 minutes last night and tried a pot virtual for the Root Over Rock Trident.

This is the tree a few weeks ago. It’s current pot isn’t to my personal taste.

One of the first things I thought about when I first saw the tree sitting on a bench at Willowbog was what pot it should be in. I realised then that I would probably buy it 🙂

I wanted to see what it would be like with the rock incorporated within a pot, not over the edge. It’s hard to imagine without actually trying it. I was worried that the bulk of the rock to the left and then the mass of foliage all sitting to the right, might not balance. I liked the idea of a simpler oval. I have a folder of pots on my computer that I use for virtuals. This was the closest I could find to fit my taste. Colour not quite right but not bad either.

Seeing it now, I think I’m happier that including the rock within the pot works.

Nov 17 2011

And Then There was One…

This is my main display area a few months back…

and this is it now…

Only the one tree left, everything else is tucked away for the Winter. The lonely Trident Maple has yet to show any signs of Leaf drop, or even Autumn Colour, so I’ve left it sitting there so I have something to look at out of the window while on the Computer.

Nov 16 2011

Trident Summer to Winter

A slow day for me, not much going on tree wise. So I thought I would put these few together and post before the BT Engineer arrives for the 3rd day in a row to try and fix my Fibre Optic Broadband!!

Trident from full leaf to no leaf in pictures.

Nov 10 2011

Autumn to Winter

I’ve been looking forward to seeing this Root over Rock Trident sans Leaves for the first time. This was it last week with the dregs of the Autumn colour hanging on.

A quick tap and things fell apart 🙂

Today I removed the last few leaves to see the structure and then allow me to pop it into the tunnel for the Winter.

I’m very happy with the ramification and all pruning wounds are perfectly healed over.