This tree is a Japanese maple, also known as the Acer palmatum.
I think it about 10 to 15 years old. In this movie we are going to style it, which means we
are going to prune some of the branches and do a bit of wiring to set the branches in position.
As you can see the trunk is long and quite straight.
We will cut off about half the length of the trunk, and then create a new apex.
The new apex will need a few years to develop, so today's styling is just one step in the process.
It's fall right now, so it is not a good time to do repotting as well.
The repotting will be done in the next early spring,
and then maybe change it to a Bonsai pot as well.
For now, only pruning and wiring - so let's begin.
This is what the tree looked like before it was styled.
After pruning and wiring, this was the result.
To cut off the top of the tree we use a very sharp saw.
Try to make a clean, straight cut.
Deciding on the design of a Bonsai isn't always easy,
especially when a tree is as full and overgrown as this plant.
Try to apply the pruning guidelines we just mentioned, to your own trees.
If you are interested to learn more about these techniques,
consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai courses.
Here, expert teachers explain the relevant techniques, and you can ask them questions.
For a free lesson, go to: bonsaiempire.com/courses
Alright, that was quite a drastic change.
We took off all the leaves because it is fall right now and the leaves will come off anyway,
and right now it will make our life much easier for the next step, which is wiring.
As you can also see, we took off the top - but we left behind almost an inch (or two centimeters)
of the trunk, because that will dry in over time and die off.
To make sure that the new apex will continue to grow, that is a good thing to do.
So the next step is wiring, and then we are done.
So in the next early spring, this tree will react to the
big cut that we made by growing a lot of new shoots and branches.
Especially the apex will start to grow a lot,
and that is important because this will need to thicken out over time.
But let’s continue with the wiring.
As always, we try to select pairs of branches that are more or less the same thickness,
and wire these with one piece of wire.
Start with wiring the main branches, and slowly work your way up the tree.
Smaller, thinner branches, need a thinner wire as well.
The tree will be repotted into a relatively large Bonsai pot in the next early spring.
The new apex will need at least two years to develop thickness and ramification.
And the same applies to the branches of the tree.
It will take at least five years from now until the apex and branches will
have developed enough to match the thickness of the trunk.
Make sure to subscribe to Bonsai Empire's YouTube channel to see
the progression of this tree over time!
Learn how to create your own Bonsai trees, by enrolling in one of our online Bonsai courses.
We explain techniques like pruning wiring and repotting,
and you can ask questions to the teachers.
For the curriculums and free lessons, go to: bonsaiempire.com/courses