Lighting:
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Tomlinson disagrees with Simon and Schuster: he
believes this maple needs full sun; S&S recommends partial shade.
This may have a lot to do with the environment of the tree in
question; tridents in climates with extreme sunlight require
shade.
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Temperature:
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Although hardy in zones 5-8, the trident maple's roots
have a high moisture content, and are susceptible to frost
damage. This is a potentially fatal problem expereinced by
members of the list/RAB and warned against in almost every book.
Tomlinson goes so far as to suggest the substitution of Acer
ginnala, the Amur maple, in colder areas. At the very least,
this tree should be carefully winter protected.
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Watering:
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Moderately in summer, easing off in winter. One
poster remarked that tridents seem to get along fine in a
climate with much rain.
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Feeding:
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Tomlinson, as he usually does, suggests an aggressive
feeding schedule: once weekly for the first month after leaves
appear, then every two weeks during growth. S&S recommends
feeding every three weeks during growth, with an interval in
midsummer. I've used the more conservative schedule with my
tree and have been happy with its growth, but find it entirely
possible that more frequent feeding would improve the vigor of
the tree. More frequent feeding, however, requires increased
vigilance in pinching back. If a liquid fertilizer is used, it
should not be sprayed on the leaves, as this may result in leaf
burn.
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Repotting:
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In spring, before bud burst. Roots grow very quickly,
so annual repotting may be necessary for young trees; older
trees tend to need repotting every 2-3 years. If root die-back
has occured during the winter, trim off old root matter to allow
room for new growth. Tomlinson recommends a fast-draining soil
mix; I've had success with a standard bonsai soil.
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Styling:
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Pinch back new growth to the first two leaves. The
tree may be wired at any time during growth, but the branches are
somewhat brittle and it is also wise to provide some protection for
the bark. The tree, given ample pot space, will grow rapidly, so it
is essential to continually check the wire to avoid scarring.
Leaf pruning can be carried out in midsummer to miniaturize foliage.
Make certain that the tree is healthy and vigorous before leaf pruning.
Total leaf pruning should not be carried out annually, as the tree needs
a year to restore its stores of energy. I've been told that it's safer
to leaf prune gradually, removing only 1/3 to 1/2 of the tree's largest
leaves at a time. The trident's leaves reduce readily, but it
is more difficult to get short internodes and finely ramified
branches. For the more advanced/courageous among us, Brent
Walston suggests:
For smaller pieces, in one gallon training pots, I let them grow wild for
2 or 3 years until the roots completely fill the pot and there is a
noticeable decline in vigor. Theinternodes shorten and the leaves get
smaller. It is at this point that I do major pruning shortening them to
under a foot. The depleted state of the roots due to the rootbound conditions
prevents them from forming the typical coarse growth that usually results
following such a pruning. Performing this operation in summer will have an
even more dramatic effect, since in essence it is a radical (very radical)
defoliation. Root pruning and repotting can take place at the same time. As
Michael would say, these are not procedures for beginners. Once there are
potted up and the final branches are selected several defoliations a season
will result in the short internodes and small leaves so desired.
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Propagation:
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Trident maple can be grown from seed, air-layered,
or grown from both hardwood and softwood cuttings. Tomlinson
says that even wrist thick cuttings may take, and one instance of a
six-inch (!) cutting being rooted successfully has been reported.
Best results are achieved taking cuttings in late winter-early spring
for hardwood and midsummer for softwood. Seeds require a 24 hour hot
water soak, then cold-moist pretreatment for three months.
Seeds need to be stored refrigerated, which will start the cold-
treatment process. Seeds kept in dry storage are tough to
activate, resulting in a poor percentage of germination. If you
cannot collect your own seed, it seems that purchasing fresh,
properly stored seed from a reputable dealer is essential.
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Pests etc.:
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As with other maples, tridents seem to be
sensitive to leaf burn. Tridents are also vulnerable to
caterpillar attack.
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