Bloodgood Japanese Maple Root Pruning

Bloodgood Japanese Maple Bonsai Root Pruning
In order to fit my maple into a fairly small pot after years growing in normal sized pots, I had to do some significant root pruning. The tree itself still needs a lot of work before It can be ready to show at our local bonsai demonstration this summer, but I hope they have space to show a few trees in progress by a beginner bonsai enthusiast.
I was careful to do this at the right time of year, the buds had already started to open, and all danger of frost had passed. There were still a few cool nights and I was sure to keep the tree close to the house under cover for the first week or so.
I was still nervous, but I was relieved to see the first few leaves starting to open up today, so hopefully it will do fine.
00:00 Intro
03:52 Potting up
06:50 Wire the tree in place
09:13 All done :-)
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My channel is mostly Bonsai related, but I make no promises.
I like to make videos about air-layering, wiring for bonsai, pruning, growing seeds, and well... anything I find interesting.
I am documenting my bonsai progress on KZbin to share what I am up to with my friends and family, to document the progress of the trees so I can look back at them over the years, and maybe show others that bonsai is something that anyone can get started with since really all you need is a tree (or a seed!) and some patience.
I've always grown trees in pots; ever since I was a little kid growing apple seeds in elementary school. I think bonsai is a great way to keep interesting species at home without having a lot of space. One of my favorite families of trees are maples, but I'm getting into all sorts of other trees as well. Fruit trees and flowering trees are also super interesting to me, and if it has seeds, I want to try and grow it!

[@Frank_Diaz.]

Beautiful trunk! Great work.

[@willbreeze397]

Thanks!

[@JohnDavis-tj1bl]

My god! That was brutal!

[@willbreeze397]

It will be interesting to see how the roots grew the next time I repot.

[@GritCityBonsai]

Definitely a risky amount of roots in my opinion but I think you did a great job! Hope it is thriving! 🤘

[@willbreeze397]

Hey thanks! I still worry about it a bit. It is pushing new growth, but it’s definitely looking stunted.

[@KetogenicWoman]

I actually love that big knot on the front (or back?) of that tree!

[@willbreeze397]

Yeah, I’m not sure how I’m going to decide…

[@Maples-and-cats]

So nice vid...colors all around😊😊😊

[@willbreeze397]

Thank you 😊

[@matshagstrom9839]

it took me too long to realize i need to focus as much effort on the roots that i do on the branches. i was out of sight out of mind until i took a bonsai class with Peter Tea. I still have a long way to go but i now see the roots as the other half of the tree. I decide where the ramification of roots should be. just like the branches. I no eliminate the highest and lowest roots during each repot. for deciduous trees in early stage of development I repot Deciduous trees every year in early development every year to get root structure that is as close to ideal as possible. I think Nigel Saunders explains it better than anyone.

[@willbreeze397]

I was really noticing past mistakes on these roots. There is still a very large one going almost straight down from between the two big roots. That probably should have come off a few years ago. And then the last time I repotted this, it was too high, which is why there wasn’t a lot to work with. So far it is doing well. And you are right, I should probably take it out and have a look again next year. Then I can check on my assumptions about what the roots would do when I cut them this year.

[@H-T-HUYNH2020]

Great video. What kind of soil are you going to use now ?

[@willbreeze397]

I’ve been using pumice, coco coir and a little sea soil. Some people use lava rocks, but I only ever see tiny bags of it around here.

[@willbreeze397]

So as soon as I say there isn't small lava rocks around, I find some reasonable bags at my local nursery today :-) I'll start adding in some lava now.

[@user-wx3cr5tr4d]

新手來說這樣的跟移除是需要勇氣的，加油。

[@howardmckeown7187]

I've never put a tree in the pot without some soil underneath, your method makes life simpler, didn't know this would work. I assume you've done it before? I'm a beginner, thanks

[@willbreeze397]

Oh, I am completely a beginner as well. I was really having trouble getting it to sit into the pot the way I liked it because the larger roots are completely inflexible. I think in this case it should be ok, because I was able to work the soil in underneath. So far it is still alive ;-)

[@howardmckeown7187]

@@willbreeze397 thanks, i'll not chance it yet, could try it with something i'm not too worried about 🤔

[@kellykaitrade]

Is it still alive now?😂

[@willbreeze397]

@@kellykaitrade - so far so good! - It is growing much slower this year, but it is still growing :-) kzbin.infoCjEC7JxU4S0

[@joejung7401]

Did it survive? No roots fine roots

[@willbreeze397]

So far it is still alive. The growth has been very small though. I didn’t show it very well but if you pause at 6:50 in the video you can see there are still fine roots under the larger thick root.

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

In my opinion ,Its to early to go in a pot... Why dont you plant it in a Training pot and Look forward to reach a more radial Nebari? But thats only my view🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@willbreeze397]

I think you are right. I should have developed the roots more. I was too eager to get a few trees into proper pots. I have lots of other skinny trees to develop though. I should probably stick a few in the ground to thicken them up.

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

@@willbreeze397 dig a hole,put a big tile underneath and fill it up with good soil and cut the roots around the tile once in a while but not all of them at once...while you leave it in the ground for 3 to 4 years ,you can style the tree as you like, the cuts will fast heal over...after 5 years you have a great tree to put in a pretty pot🤷‍♂️

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

@@willbreeze397 I made this fault alot myself by being impatient🤷‍♂️

[@johnforth4219]

Sorry but you’ve just killed that tree.

[@willbreeze397]

Because I took too much of the roots at once, or something else?