Maple bonsai

Discussion in 'Maples' started by AlainK, Jun 7, 2021.

Tags:
  1. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,614
    Likes Received:
    5,176
    Location:
    nr Orléans, France (E.U.)
    I trimmed a bit the branch on the right on this one :

    acerp_ishigami_220414a.jpg
     
    JT1, Xi-feng, ChrisUk and 4 others like this.
  2. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,614
    Likes Received:
    5,176
    Location:
    nr Orléans, France (E.U.)
    When looking at the "thumbnail", I think I'll do even more drastic pruning on the right...
     
  3. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,614
    Likes Received:
    5,176
    Location:
    nr Orléans, France (E.U.)
    There's one that I didn't grow, it's from a friend who sold his trees because his health didn't allow him to look after them. So it's sort of making his tree live at least as long as he does, and keeping it beautiful.

    I already posted about this 'Beni komachi'. This year, I repotted it and maybe I added too much fertlizer, there are many "reverted" leaves. So I tried to keep it like when it was passed to me. I put a photo of leaves that accidently fell on my Guinness ;0)

    acerp-z-foret.francis_220425a.jpg acerp-z-foret.francis_220425b.jpg acerp-z-foret.francis_220425c.jpg
     
    emery, ChrisUk, Xi-feng and 2 others like this.
  4. LoverOfMaples

    LoverOfMaples Generous Contributor Maple Society

    Messages:
    1,534
    Likes Received:
    2,076
    Location:
    Rhode Island
    Revisions suck!


    Quick pic from last week of the forest. Better pics coming soon.

    20220414_190839.jpg
     
    Xi-feng likes this.
  5. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,614
    Likes Received:
    5,176
    Location:
    nr Orléans, France (E.U.)
    I hope you won't mind, my 2 €cents:

    LofM.jpg

    1 : much too long. can be kept for a couple of weeks, or even months so the base gets strongrer, but will have to be pruned lower.
    2: the overall silhouette of the grove - as I can see it ;°)
     
  6. LoverOfMaples

    LoverOfMaples Generous Contributor Maple Society

    Messages:
    1,534
    Likes Received:
    2,076
    Location:
    Rhode Island
    I don't mind at all Alain. That's exactly what I have in mind.
     
    AlainK likes this.
  7. Cattwooduk

    Cattwooduk Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    223
    Likes Received:
    359
    Location:
    Bristol, UK
    Oooh bonsai thread!
    Not much to offer at the moment but I'll be seeking advice for something I've got on the go at some point soon Alain!
    I know you're also over on the bonsainut forum, but I haven't really checked in over there for a year or two now. Just really haven't had time to keep up with all my projects besides keeping them alive! Almost everything needs work unfortunately.
     
  8. Lisa Harry

    Lisa Harry Contributor

    Messages:
    511
    Likes Received:
    950
    Location:
    New Westminster, BC, Canada
    Omg Bonsai thread I so hope to add here soon. I have three trees I’m saving to do bonsai for my grandkids!!!
     
  9. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

    Messages:
    15,570
    Likes Received:
    12,996
    Location:
    Hampshire England Zone 8b UK
    Thought I would add my first go at a forest. 13 trees in a shallow pot. Three years in the making. To all those bonsai experts on here. Please don't laugh !!
    Forest April 27th 2022.JPG
     
  10. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,614
    Likes Received:
    5,176
    Location:
    nr Orléans, France (E.U.)
    Looking good ! The bigger trees are at the front and the smaller ones at the back, thus giving more perpective. Just one small detail though : the one on the left if oriented to the center, it would be better if the trunk leant to the outside of the pot.
     
    Acerholic likes this.
  11. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

    Messages:
    15,570
    Likes Received:
    12,996
    Location:
    Hampshire England Zone 8b UK
    Thanks Alain. I will try that. I'll post another photo in a few weeks after I defoliate to let some light in.
     
    AlainK likes this.
  12. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

    Messages:
    15,570
    Likes Received:
    12,996
    Location:
    Hampshire England Zone 8b UK
    Here it is after some wiring and thining as per Alains suggestion.
    Forest April 28th 2022.JPG
     
    JT1, Xi-feng, AlainK and 2 others like this.
  13. LoverOfMaples

    LoverOfMaples Generous Contributor Maple Society

    Messages:
    1,534
    Likes Received:
    2,076
    Location:
    Rhode Island
    Ok ok D. Nice!
     
    Acerholic likes this.
  14. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,614
    Likes Received:
    5,176
    Location:
    nr Orléans, France (E.U.)
    Very nice !
     
    Acerholic likes this.
  15. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,614
    Likes Received:
    5,176
    Location:
    nr Orléans, France (E.U.)
    'Orange Dream' :

    acerp_orangedream01_220429a.jpg

    ... and the plain Acer palmatum that is my oldest "bonsai" :

    acerp_ishigami_220429a.jpg

    Others, "work in progress"... ;-)

    IMG_0419-bs_220429a.jpg IMG_0420-bs_220429a.jpg
     
    JT1, Xi-feng, maf and 2 others like this.
  16. Lisa Harry

    Lisa Harry Contributor

    Messages:
    511
    Likes Received:
    950
    Location:
    New Westminster, BC, Canada
    Omg too cool. I gotta start trying that
     
    AlainK likes this.
  17. LoverOfMaples

    LoverOfMaples Generous Contributor Maple Society

    Messages:
    1,534
    Likes Received:
    2,076
    Location:
    Rhode Island
    This is a clump I put together in 2020. It have fused already. I haven't pruned it yet.
     

    Attached Files:

    JT1, AlainK, maf and 3 others like this.
  18. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

    Messages:
    15,570
    Likes Received:
    12,996
    Location:
    Hampshire England Zone 8b UK
    Haven't tried this yet D, but now I will. Great photos.
     
  19. LoverOfMaples

    LoverOfMaples Generous Contributor Maple Society

    Messages:
    1,534
    Likes Received:
    2,076
    Location:
    Rhode Island
    young seedlings fuse quick D
     
  20. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

    Messages:
    15,570
    Likes Received:
    12,996
    Location:
    Hampshire England Zone 8b UK
    Thanks for the tip D.
     
  21. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,614
    Likes Received:
    5,176
    Location:
    nr Orléans, France (E.U.)
    This 'Orange Dream' I kept ina shaded place. The leaves are yellow with some red on the outer side on a few of them. Here are pictures with a plain Acer palmatum seedling, and a Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) to show how pale the leaves are :

    acerp_orangedream01_220510a.jpg acerp_orangedream01_220510b.jpg acerp_orangedream01_220510c.jpg
     
    JT1, LoverOfMaples and Lisa Harry like this.
  22. Lisa Harry

    Lisa Harry Contributor

    Messages:
    511
    Likes Received:
    950
    Location:
    New Westminster, BC, Canada
    That’s a great choice for a bonsai… Im really enjoying my full size Orange Dream never considered what it could be in Bonsai - that’s a whole new level of awesome
     
    AlainK likes this.
  23. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,614
    Likes Received:
    5,176
    Location:
    nr Orléans, France (E.U.)
    A couple of days ago, I wired this Acer campestre, a strain that has very rounded leaflets.
    It's of course a very "unrealistic" bonsai, based on the design of some Chinese bonsai : apparent roots, as if the tree had been on a slope where there was a landslide, and a very long cascading first branch :

    acerc2016b_220717a.jpg acerc2016b_220717b.jpg

    The long branch should probably be cut shorter, but so far, it helps to thicken this branch.
     
    0soyoung, JT1 and LoverOfMaples like this.
  24. JT1

    JT1 Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,395
    Likes Received:
    425
    Location:
    Euclid, OH USA
    Glad to see some maple bonsai on the forum! I've been playing around with bonsai for about 12 years. Clearly I don't follow the rules and I'm self taught. Never joined a club or anything formal... it's mostly just fun therapy for me. A few paired with rocks.

    Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum'
    (originally a 3 gallon nursery cont. Growing as bonsai for about 10 years)
    20220720_145212~2.jpg

    Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira'
    (originally a 7 gallon nursery cont. Growing as bonsai for about 7 years)
    20220720_145029.jpg

    Acer palmatum 'Mikazuki'
    (originally a 3 gallon nursery cont. Growing as bonsai for about 10 years)
    20220721_150756~3.jpg
     
    dicky5ash, maf, AlainK and 3 others like this.

Share This Page