Summary
Grown primarily in gardens, the Japanese Maple is a great species for bonsai.
Because this tree is very compact, has delicate foliage, and produces
magnificent color in the fall of gold and red, you cannot help but fall in love
with the Japanese Maple. In all, you would find over 300 different species, all
with different size, color, and leaf shape. Therefore, no matter which species
of the Japanese Maple you choose, the results will be fantastic.
Proper Care
During the summer months, the Japanese Maple needs semi-shade. For the remainder
of the year, full sun is fine as long as the tree has some protection from wind.
During the spring, you will need to pinch back unwanted shoots and perform most
of the pruning. Once new shoots reach about four to five nodes, they need to be
pruned. However, be sure you leave them about one-half inch longer than wanted
for die back.
The Japanese Maple also needs to be fertilized in the later winter months to
early spring, using a well-balanced soil. This tree needs to be repotted during
this time as well. For water, you should provide the Japanese Maple as much
water as needed. The key here is to keep the soil moist but not overly wet. The
reason is that should soil dry out, leaf burn could be a problem.
