81. Japanese Maple 'Orange Dream' first steps to becoming a bonsai.

I take my 'Orange Dream' Japanese Maple out of its tub and repot it into its first bonsai pot. WARNING! Major root work ahead!!

[@mrscotchguy]

I think I would've kept the first root you chopped off and removed the big downward honker instead. Best of luck with this beauty!

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

You may be right but the main thing is the tree is leafing out nicely now and has survived. I'll have another look at the roots in a couple of years. Many thanks for your comment. 😀😀

[@mrscotchguy]

@Guy Watson - Bognor Regis Bonsai rootwork can take many years to sort out, we sometimes forget patience. Happy to hear it survived surgery!

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

@@mrscotchguy Thanks

[@bobcatbonsai]

That tree was really stuck in there. It is looking really good in that pot, I am glad you were able to get it out of the other pot. Hope you are feeling much better and able to move around easier!

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

Thanks Matt. I'm getting around a lot better now and just waiting to get my knee done later this year. Another Orange Dream to repot but I won't be filming the tub extraction for that one. 😀😀

[@DiscotopiaUk]

Interesting idea with the plasterboard tape. I’ll give that a shot 👍

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

It's cheaper than plastic mesh and if the pot's dry it'll stick in place while you fill with soil. Hope it works with you. 😀😀

[@grahamperkins6911]

Hope it survives. Looks like it has the potential to be a good bonsai... Great job

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

Thanks Graham. As long as it survives but this is always the problem with trees 'from the field'. I'm hopeful with this one. Fingers crossed. 🤞😀

[@AlexBraunton]

What a great effort getting that tree out of the pot! Bravo Guy, not a job I'd want to do. The root spread looks good, I'm sure it'll fill out now

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

Thanks Alex. I hope you're right. I'd hate to have wasted all that effort with the extraction! 🤞🤞😀😀

[@andrewbeattie5245]

Wow, quite a pruning 🤞🙏 like you said, to become a bonsai it needed to be done.

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

The roots got out of control due to not having a high enough level of soil in the tub I believe but fingers crossed that it'll survive to become a reasonable bonsai. 😀

[@KennetDeBondt]

A great start for this tree Guy!

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

Thanks Kennet. As long as the roots recover ok. Fingers crossed. 🤞😀

[@andrewclack4881]

I just re-potted a 4ft lace leaf maple that I grew in an old council dust bin. My God the trouble I had getting it out. couldn't lay it down because the branches were too wide and it weighed a tonne. Turned out I had put house bricks and broken concrete slabs in to fill it out!

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

Lol. We've all put in stuff to fill up space not thinking about the problems it will cause later when the whole lot has to be moved. It's a good workout anyway. 💪💪

[@snox7320]

Those cutters look brilliant. Mind me asking what brand they are .

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

Hi there. All I can remember is that they are a Japanese stainless steel type concave cutter. I may have bought them from Beechfield bonsai on ebay a couple of years ago & paid between £30-£40 for them. The stainless steel holds its edge a lot better than Carbon. 😀😀

[@snox7320]

@@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370 appreciate the reply .

[@265petsar]

A tree that size in that mica pot should have been wired down. Once the leaves become full size in early May with the Orange Dream Maple, your trees roots will become unstable below by wind creating pockets. The movement of the roots will create a difficult environment for roots to grow. The tree is too top heavy and needs to be fix in.

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

Thanks for your thoughts. I have actually got 3 quite heavy rocks on the soil surface and the tree is situated in a fairly well sheltered area. It actually feels quite firm at the moment in late May and is growing well. I do normally tie in trees but I'm trying to follow Nigel Saunders with the rocks to avoid marking the roots with wire. Thanks again. Take care. 😀😀