Field Grown Trident Maple Bonsai: Unlocking the Hidden Potential

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Nice work Terry, it's going to be a beauty!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much Nigel! Yes, I am excited about this one. 😁

[@abhinav3101]

Very helpful

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Glad to hear that

[@Krisz-nm1zv]

Thanks🤝

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

👍🏻

[@razor2ts]

Thank you Terry for yet another excellent video :-)

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for commenting :)

[@NoQuarter01]

Do you also do this with any Japanese Maples or other deciduous tree varieties? It looks like alot of fun and obviously produces some massive trunks. Thanks for the video

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Yes. You can do with any species. Just be aware of the ability of the species to heal over scars and adapt the technique accordingly

[@FIZZYYAM]

Nice one Terry.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much! 🙇🏼‍♂️

[@thinkbonsai]

Great video terry!!!!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much! 😃

[@alfredgrechbonsailicious4827]

Awesome.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Glad you enjoyed it ☺️

[@MD-wk3gj]

Diving into your field grown maple videos. Do you have a video detailing the initial process when you discover the tree, cut and first dig it up? I’ve found what I believe will be a great tree at my mom’s house. I could cut it, leave it for a season or two, or if appropriate dig it and plant at my place. What are your opinions?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks! Yes I have several videos covering that. Please see this playlist: Field Growing for Bonsai kzbin.info/aero/PL07aoEnuQCWNIr9XNFYRoVSTFzrLbB-TR

[@maplejapanese9375]

What do you think of the approach of placing newly transplanted trees directly in the sun? According to this methodology, this gives the roots the benefit of better growing conditions due to the warming of the pot, speeding up recovery times. Also, there are no new leaves on the trunk yet that could dehydrate. I would really appreciate your point of view.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Interesting idea. In theory I think. My experience has been that if I put a maple into any direct sun at first it will push new growth and then that growth will really suffer and stagnate. The moment I put it under cloth, say 40% shade, it pushes new growth from the trunk which surpasses the previous. So no, I don't think what you describe is a good approach based on my personal experience.

[@maplejapanese9375]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai I understand that the approach I mentioned is mainly intended to speed up the recovery time of the roots from shock. A tree with its root ball quickly back in operation can generate sustainable growth and of course, also avoid giving diseases or fungi the opportunity to damage the tree. Thank you for your opinion Terry, it is very valuable to me.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@maplejapanese9375 I got ya. Thanks.

[@W9SL9Y]

Don't know what is in that Somerset soil but it must be good, another amazing specimen ❤ is it weird that I get more excited seeing videos of these over the refined trees on You Tube 😂

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Ha ha Wesley, thanks for such positive feedback. If I may, I’d suggest the reason you feel this way is as this tree presents opportunities to create something with. Refined trees are “finished” with all the formative (and arguably the most exciting) work completed. For most of us I think, refined trees typically featured on social media are also unattainable or at least we struggle to relate to them being part of our reality.

[@W9SL9Y]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai Thank you for the content (and therapy haha) but yeah that makes sense, Spring just kicking off in NZ and all my trees are finally pushing new growth so looking forward to working on my trees over this coming season after what felt like a long winter/wait of watching content and way too much repotting these past few weeks.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thats great! Yeah, repotting can really drain one's energy. I hope you have also taken to wearing gloves when repotting? I find it really saves one's hands and keeps them a tad cleaner.

[@ScottTheExperimentalist]

Amazing! Curious why you use pumice only? Obviously for fast draining and water retention but what other qualities does pumice offer that are superior to using lava or pine bark or other mediums?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks. You will have to settle for what you see is what you get. I cannot go into an adequate explanation for your question on KZbin. I trust you will understand.

[@TheJimford]

Hello and thank you for your videos, they are a great inspiration. Terry, your works are all phenomenal. Because this video has just been posted in September, and the field grasses appear to reflect that? However, I do see emerging leaves on the trident. Am I correct to assume this, September, is a good time to collect, or did I miss something? Old man here, so… thank You. 😊

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you Jim for those kind words of encouragement! Yes the tree was collected about a week ago, so early spring. This is as the new buds are just pushing. Best time to collect deciduous in general.

[@tanayprabhu5633]

excellent video; i’ve been wondering, I am younger and have yet to settle down enough to field grow trees in a location for the next 5-10 years, is it possible to grow such a thick trunk using grow boxes only? What other tips would you provide to someone looking to grow larger (1-4ft tall) sized bonsai who is limited on space in the ground.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Hi Tanay, sure you can but it will take longer to get big trunks in a box because the growth is just that much more when in the ground. But for the size trees you want I think you can just use the appropriate size box and you will achieve your goal. Use a fast draining medium and fertilize a lot; those are the other 2 tips I can give you off the top of my head. Good luck!

[@BASSCHALLENGESA]

Hi Terry, great video as always! Not sure if you mentioned, but how old was this tree before you removed it? I have a few field growing trees, and just want to know how much longer I have to wait!😅 I sound like my kids when we go on holiday!😂

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Ha ha ha. Yeah I can relate to that for sure. This tree is probably about 12 - 15 years from seed.

[@BASSCHALLENGESA]

@TerryErasmusbonsai oh boy!! The kid in me wants to pot these field grown trees!!😵‍💫😅 Mine are also from seed and planted in 2021, but will wait some more. 😵‍💫👍

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@BASSCHALLENGESA best to wait yes. 2 seasons in the ground is good but depending on the size of trunk you want you have a ways to go. Another option is to buy a trunk from me. You can contact us about this if interested

[@AlexBraunton]

Brilliant video Terry. I always enjoy your content. May I ask more about the large grain pumice in your drainage layer? There's an argument about drainage layers being more negative thab positive due to perched water tables. Im not an expert on this matter but I'd like to know whats best?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Alex! Appreciate the support. I am also not an expert when it comes to the drainage layer but here are my thoughts on the subject. Firstly, the Japanese masters have been doing this for a very long time - I don't think they would if there was no evidence to support it. Second, it makes perfect sense to vary the particle size from the top where more moisture retention is needed (which fine particles give you) to the bottom where you need little moisture retention being that this zone is at the bottom of the container. Using fine, small and then medium at the bottom gives you more even drying. Using any single particle size throughout the container means you either overwater the bottom or underwater the top. Hope that gives food for thought :)

[@andrewt1176]

Hi Terry, another great video. I purchased a trident that had been recently been dug during the winter. We’re in the first weeks of spring here and the majority of my other trees have leafed out or are showing signs of life. This tree has not but still green underneath. Will a freshly dug tree take longer to leaf out or is it possibly not going to make it

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Hi Andrew. The tree might stall after being collected yes. Just look after it carefully, don’t overwater and keep it in a shady spot. Should be fine. If you see the cambium turns from green to brown then it’s dead. That’s an extremely unlikely scenario though.

[@stonelanternbonsai]

Nice trunk Terry. How long did you grow it in the field and did you cut it every year? Where will you keep the tree and what will you do for after care? Great video.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks for all the questions Stephen. Happy to share the answers. I grew most of my Trident maples from seedlings so at a rough guess I’d say this trunk was grown for the last 12 - 15 years. No I didn’t cut annually, probably every few years, too frequent and trunk thickening does not really happen. I used to lift the trees and chop trunk and roots every couple years in the beginning but that was a mistake. Better to wait longer periods in between. I have the tree in a 40% shade, sheltered position now. It gets misted daily and only watered when necessary (so only every few days). This dry/wet/highly aerated state produces a lot of new roots in the first growing season. In the future the tree will be potted into a more water retentive media which better caters for the then increased foliage mass. For now, as mentioned in the video I don’t fertilise, the growth which develops now is from stored nutrients. Fertilizers will be applied in a month or so. No work is performed in the first season ie no pruning, no wiring etc. just let it grow and let the tree replenish depleted reserves. It will be moved to more sun in a few weeks but it needs to be watched carefully as with the greatly reduced root system there is a real danger of the tree drying out and dying (although I’ve never yet lost a field grown tree which I treated in the manner in which I treated the tree in the video)

[@FIZZYYAM]

Some great info their Terry.@@TerryErasmusbonsai

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@FIZZYYAM thank you 😊

[@claudiocrevoli7710]

Interesting video. You only used pumice, don't you add a little organic substrate?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you Claudio. Yes, only pumice. No need for organic. Actually I don't grow bonsai in organic substrate; I only use akadama, pumice and lava stone.

[@georgematys]

Great video but im still searching for the thanks button😅😂

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Below the video in the same line as like, share etc.

[@robertosanchezpalomares369]

👏👏👏👏

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you 🙇🏼‍♂️

[@marcoreptile86]

❤

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

🙇🏼‍♂️