Advice on a Japanese Red Maple?

[Kenshin14435]

I would like to buy a really cool red maple that has multiple trunks.
Any advice before i go buy one?
Thnx

K5

[Gnome]

Kenshin14435,

If I understand your question correctly you wish to purchase a finished tree. If this is correct you should start saving your money and in the meantime go to your local box store and get a couple of $20.00 one gallon trees and begin to learn how to manage them.

Seriously, a quality tree will easily cost hundreds of dollars, if not more. Better to get the experience you need by working on lesser material. I know from your other posts you are just starting out and it would be a painful setback to spend a lot on a tree and lose it to the kind of foolish mistakes that we all make in the beginning.

Here is a link to a few vendors that have Maples so that you can get an idea of development and pricing.

http://www.hollowcreekbonsai.com/productCat32709.ctlg

http://home.comcast.net/~okamigardens/catalog/catalog1.htm#finished

This one sold for $675.00


And you could buy a nice car for the price this one might sell for.


Norm

[Kenshin14435]

ok ummmmmm.............WOW!
a new car!
don't we all wish for something like that.
I knew some of them cost ALOT of money.
I've seen some that cost over 50 thousand.
And this will be duely noted.
Say Norm, My neighbor has a Japanese Red Maple in their side yard, do you think it would be okay if i take a grouping off?(with their permission of course)
Thnx for info

K5

[Gnome]

Kenshin14435,

I'm glad that my remarks did not put you off, it was not my intention to be discouraging just honest. I still suggest that you get one this year to learn how to manage it.

Japanese Maples can be propagated by seedlings, cuttings or air layers. An air layer seems to be the most probable for what you are interested in. Look for a branch that splits into two or three trunks. Take your time and locate a good section. You may even wish to try this on a less desirable section first and save the better one for next year.

If you are not familiar with air layering it is a technique that allows you to develop roots on a branch while it is still attached to the donor tree, it is a shortcut in developing material. Wait until this years leaves are fully formed and hardened off a bit. One hint, make sure to get some rooting hormone. Don't skip this step.

http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATLayering.html
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/airlayer.htm

Norm

[Kenshin14435]

Ok!
Thnx Norm.
And don't worry, I'll take the advice.
Thnx

K5

[Kenshin14435]

Ok Norm
I finally took the advice and got myslf 2 groupings.
I was a little disappointed because all the leaves faced one way on all the the branches.
But anyway, here are some pics of all the groupings.

This is the broadest and reddest grouping I found. There is quite a bit of length to the stem because I thought the grouping might need some stability.Also the branch is completely flat.


This is the front.

[img][img]http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Red%20Maple/IMAG0107.jpg[/img]


This is the back.


[/img]



Ok, heres the second grouping. There are signifigantly less branches on this one than there is on the first on.


This is the front.


[img][img]http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Red%20Maple/IMAG0109.jpg[/img]



This is the back.


[/img]





I got both just incase one of them dies. Also, if you could tell me what would be best in order to keep these little things alive, that would be great.
Right now I have them in a pitcher of water.
I think first I'm going to put them in a deep pot to give them some stability, then I'll probably switch the pots whe the rots get long enough.
I know that I should get thm root stimulantbut havnt any idea of what kind.
Pretty much its like bein a NOOB all over again.

So pretty much tell me EVERYTHING that needs to be learnd.
Type of soil, what kind of sunlight, what kind of fertilizer for which different seasons, etc.

Thnx So much for all yallz help


K5

[Kenshin14435]

Also root pruning. What about leaf pruning and all that?
Never had any experience in this kind of pruning.

[Gnome]

Ken,

Also root pruning. What about root pruning?

What roots? These are cuttings right? Worry about roots next spring if you are lucky enough to get any.

I finally took the advice and got myslf 2 groupings.

I suggested that you purchase a nursery tree in order to learn their cultural requirements and to look into air layering for the twin trunk tree you initially inquired about.

Although Japanese Maples can be propagated from cuttings it is not always successful. Commercially expensive misting systems are used to keep humidity up. I have tried with cuttings a few times and the only luck I had was by keeping them under glass.

It is the wrong season for hardwood cuttings which are taken during the dormant period. last years wood at the base of your cuttings is an example of hardwood cuttings.

Softwood cuttings are taken from this years new growth after it hardens off a bit. The fresh new growth on your cuttings is an example of softwood cuttings. This is what you want at this time of year.

Make your cuttings approximately 4-6 inches in length. Use a razor knife and make a slanting cut below a node. Remove all the leaves except the upper leaves to reduce loss of water through transpiration. Apply rooting hormone and place the cuttings in your chosen medium.

You already have you medium prepared and your rooting hormone on hand right? If not leave the cuttings attached to the old wood and in water until you gather your supples. Get rooting hormone at most any nursery or home center.

Never let the cuttings dry or they will fail. I have used various sized jars to cover cuttings with good results. For a group of cuttings an old 10 gallon aquarium can be used. Either turn it upside down over the potted cuttings or place the cuttings in the aquarium and cover with a pane of glass or sheet of plastic.

http://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basics_Cuttings.html
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/cuttings.htm

Norm

[kdodds]

I got your pm Kenshin, but well after Norm replied. And, honestly, temperate species aren't really my bag anyway, you're much better off listening to Norm.

I can say that I've never had luck transplanting "dug up" maple seedlings, even year and two year old specimens. And cuttings, forget about it, I've tried, even with rooting hormones, with no luck. My advice, if you don't want to go with nursery pot stock or air layering, is that you set up a controllable environment, like Norm suggests, and take as many softwood cutting as possible now, or hardwood cuttings in the fall/winter. Thing is, though, with the effort and expenditure of time and money invloved in cuttings, it's more prudent to either air layer or buy a nuresery potted tree.

[Kenshin14435]

hahaha very funny on that first part norm.
But I guess your right.
Anyway, thnx for the advice.
My mom had homemade root hormone that she says almost never fails(we'll see bout that wont we!)
I used that stuff.
I have planted them into a water well planter thingy.(you fill it up with a hose in a pipe and the water travels down the 6 inch pipe into a water resevoir, which will over flow onto the ground if you put too much water in.)
And also, I did take your advice on buying that sapling from a grower but I had failed to remember to mention it and put a pix in(on a time schedule).
These branches that I had cut off though are pretty big(about 12 to 15 inches tall)and I plan to keep it that way for a while so they can grow their roots easier. Then I will cut alot of it off and shape it.
Also, I took some mature seeds from the red maple and planted them in a different planter. I planted 5 groupings of seeds, with each grouping consisting of 3 seeds.
I thought this might be good if the other trees fail.
When the cuttings have their roots I will probably buy them their own pot.

Now, here comes a really important question.
I'm thniking about buying a greenhouse for my bonsai plants.
It wont be permenant and can be taken dowwn very easy.
I will probably be getting it from
http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/
go on and take a look.
Is this a good idea for what im doing right now?

And about that aquarium.
That is a perfect thing you suggested!!!!
I have a ten footer with 1 fish left in it(dad forgot to put in the dechlorination chemical in it and all died except 1)
I'm going to get rid of that fish real soon anyway, so when I do that I'll do what you suggested.

Thnx so much.

K5


P.S.- How do you change your member rank? I noticed that kdodds rank changed. Does it have something to do with how many post you make?

[kdodds]

I noticed that kdodds rank changed.

It did? Why am I always the last to know about these things?

[Kenshin14435]

YES!!!!
It did change.
And dude and/or dudette, WOW, ur slow.(no offense)
I'm tryin to up my posts to see if that does something.
HMPH

[Kenshin14435]

HAHAHAHAHAHA
I WAS CORRECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE RANK OF THE MEMBER IS BASED ON HOW MANY POSTS THAT MEMBER MAKES.
I'm NOW A FULL MEMEBER(whatever that means)
although, nowhere near close to kdodds.
ohwell.
WOW, I just relized that was REALLY random.




K5

[kdodds]

I was kidding Kenshin. I'm well versed in BBSs/Forums and, in fact, run a marine aquarium forum.

[Kenshin14435]

yeah, unh hunh, suuurrreee
dats what they all say.
although you did kinda give a hint(refer to odd, perverted smiley thingy)
ohwell


K5