I'm looking to buy some Trident Maple's here: www.herons.co.uk/Trident-Maple-Bonsai-Starter-Tree-090

I'm pretty new to bonsai and have never grown a tree in open soil as this website suggests. I have looked into all of its needs in regards to sunlight, pruning, watering, etc but can't find anything on planting it in open soil. I only have a Chinese Elm at the moment (as does everyone it seems) but I'm looking to make bonsai more of a hobby than the occasional pruning.

Would it be able to grow in my garden's soil, or would I need to buy something more specialised that drains better?

If you recommend using a pot, do you know of any websites to buy large training pots in the UK? (Or is it possible to buy a normal plastic garden pot and cut drainage holes in the bottom?)

Probably a stupid question because I'm sure it depends on many factors, but could anyone estimate how long it would take for the trunk to reach a thickness of about 3cm in diameter in partial sun?

Thanks!

Valkyrie2271 wrote: I'm looking to buy some Trident Maple's here: www.herons.co.uk/Trident-Maple-Bonsai-Starter-Tree-090

While they call these bonsai starters, essentially they are just young trident maples that have been cut once - which wasn't very useful, looking at the pictures.
While GBP 7,00 isn't much, maybe you can try and find an ordinary nursery that sells them. Not necessarily to get a cheaper one, but to get one that is bigger.

Probably a stupid question because I'm sure it depends on many factors, but could anyone estimate how long it would take for the trunk to reach a thickness of about 3cm in diameter in partial sun?

I don't know - and yes, it depends - but I do know that my trident maple has been growing for 2 years now, and will need at least 10 more years if I want to make it a decent pre-bonsai. 3cm isn't really thick.

the nice thing about these young startes is that you can still bend them

Free-draining course substrate is easier to manage wit regards to water (Avoid soggy roots) and fertilizer. However, if you want to grow trident, probably a good quality potting soil will do initially as well. I would not chuck them in graden dirt. TGHat is usually very heavy, dense and poorly aeated.

UNder ideal conditions tridents can grow the 3 cm in a season. In UK conditions, like my conditions, I think, you are looking at at least 2 seasons of optimal growth, once they start going. NOte that young plants like this will not get growing that strong initially. I think you are looking at some 4 years before you are at 3 cm. At which point you probably want to grow them to twice that. Don't worry too much about the time it takes, but also enjoy the journey.

Meanwhile, look at local advertisements: People cleaning out their garden are often a good source for big-trunked shrubs that you can dig up, cut back and grow on towards a bonsai.

After reading what you said about finding shrubs to turn into bonsai, I watched some videos by GrahamWPotter on Youtube which has really opened my eyes to more possibilities and I'm really excited to try some things out, especially seeing as I have a large break from university now.

Thanks for all your help!

The nursery isn't too far from me, so I'm planning on visiting it and looking around to get a better idea of everything they have, instead of buying online and hoping they send me something good.

Thanks for your help

leatherback wrote: the nice thing about these young startes is that you can still bend them

I actually don bend trunks of deciduous trees... so I did not think of that, but yeah, good point.

I bought my trident maple from Brussels bonsai. Kinda pricy on what I got but over all it's a good tree. The trunk dosnt have much movement or a great taper but over the course of a few years hope to chang that. It is nearly 2ft tall and already has great branch ramification. Plan on doing detailed wiring this winter.