Japanese Red Maple Bonsai – Species Guide

The Japanese Red Maple Bonsai tree comes Japan, Korea and China where the name means Acer Palmatum. This tree is sought after because of its beauty and red leaves. The tree has been grown all over the world since the early 1800’s. The colours and leaf shapes are why most people seek this species of tree to grow. The Red Maple Bonsai will display both the adult and juvenile characters which makes it a cultivar. The cultivar is a species of a plant where the plant displays specific characteristics, these characteristics are then determined for the propagation. With over 300 Red Maple Bonsai cultivars, all have different features and characteristics.

Placing Your Japanese Red Maple Bonsai Tree

The best place to set your Red Maple Bonsai is near a window where the tree can get some sun in the morning and have shade in the afternoon. The area should not have harsh winds and should be avoided in strong daylight or sunlight. It is also best to rotate the tree from summer to winter in a garden to help ensure that is has good health.

Watering Your Red Maple Bonsai

When it comes to watering the Japanese Red Maple, you want to know that you should not water the blooms. If you water the blooms of the Bonsai, you can cause them to wilt before they are ready. The best time for you to water the Bonsai is in the morning however you want to make sure that there is no frost or ice on the ground if your Bonsai is outside. If you are unsure if the tree needs water, place your finger 2 inches into the soil and check for moistness, if the soil is dry, your tree will need to be watered.

Soil For Your Red Maple Bonsai

When it comes to the best soil and fertilizer for your Japanese Red Maple tree, it will grow and prosper best with organic fertilizer. The recommended type of fertilizer is either blood, bone or fish meal. You do not want to fertilize after October and always be careful when you are feeding the tree once you have transplanted the tree. You will want to make sure the fertilizer in spring is balanced and in the fall keep the mixture to a 0-10 to 10. The use of organic and mineral fertilizer that comes in a liquid is also recommended.

Pruning The Japanese Red Maple

When it comes to the Japanese Red Maple, the best time for pruning is in spring but the leaves can be trimmed back in late spring. When it comes to the ramification of the tree, the best time to make total ramifications is in late autumn and in early winter. To do so, you can make changes to the branches as you see fit. If you want to remove any of the major branches, it is best to remove them in spring as this will allow the tree to heal faster.

Propagation Of The Red Maple Bonsai

You first will need to select a tree limb that is low on the tree. This twig is going to be younger than other branches and therefore will most likely be able to root. You want to also make sure it is disease free as well as strong. The best time to do this is in July. You then need to place the pruning shears at 6 inches from the very tip of the twig and snip. The shears should be sterile as this helps to keep the branch disease free while growing. You will want to remove the flowers and seeds from the branch and remove the leaves from the bottom two thirds of the branch. Next, dip the twig into the root hormone. You will need to fill a peat pot with peat moss and insert the twig. You want to then place a plastic bag around the pot and seal. Next place the bag in a window that is sunny but that has some shade throughout the day. Once the roots have produced, remove the bag from around the pot. Remember that before you remove the sapling, you want to leave it grow until there is a good root structure before you attempt to start your own Red Maple Bonsai tree.