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Acer Palmatum opinions please!
http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17009		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  TinyTreeHugger [ 09 Oct 2017, 15:23 ]
Post subject:  Acer Palmatum opinions please!
Apologies for sideways pictures - they are refusing to cooperate and rotate!


Thanks very much for the welcome messages - I am a newbie :-)

Here is an Acer Palmatum sapling that I 'rescued' from a florist's window (maybe bad news for the tree!). Was it worth the £15 paid or could I get better/bigger for the same amount?

Attachment:
acer4a.JPG


Having read up on the internet a bit, I know that I will have to let it go and live outside (even though I don't really want to :1crybaby: ) so at the moment it is in the unheated conservatory before transitioning to the patio. Should I leave it in the existing pot?

I was originally thinking of pruning it down to something like this:

Attachment:
acer3a.JPG


but now suspect that it may be best to let it grow a year or two to thicken the trunk; would that be sensible?

Any advice/opinions gratefully received! Thanks, Allison
Author:  Keith Hansell [ 12 Oct 2017, 08:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: Acer Palmatum opinions please!
I am surprised that you haven't had any replies to this thread, apart from mine. To be honest this is the first time I have seen this post and I am the first to view, so maybe it has taken its time uploading???

£15 is about right although they tend to come down in price now as retailers want to clear them out for winter. Firstly you are correct that it does need to go outside. If you have the space to grow it on in the ground, that is a good move to beef it up. This is the link to Bonsai4me website and the care of Acer's.

http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/AcerPalmatum.html
Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 12 Oct 2017, 09:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Acer Palmatum opinions please!
The price was good but now the bad things for creating a bonsai.

They are grafted [lump at the base] so they have used a strong root stock and then the variety above that. In order to create a bonsai you need much more growth lower down, if you air layer off the top you won't have the strong root source.

At some point you will need to cut most of the tree off to try and encourage it to put out more growth lower, depending on how high you see the finished tree. Ideally you also need something of interest in the lower trunk, a lot of maples grown for the garden market are just straight.

Beginners take on maples cause they like the colour and thing that they are easy to grow and shape, they aren't.

Please don't let my comments put you off, as a beginner it may be better to start with other small leafed species, like cotoneaster, lonicera etc
Author:  NickB [ 12 Oct 2017, 11:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Acer Palmatum opinions please!
It is probably the going rate as far as price goes. It would be better if you knew the variety, as they are quite varied. The leaf size and petiole lengths can vary a bit also.

I would agree with Swindon Paul that they aren't easy for a beginner. They only seem to back bud around existing nodes, so often get a lumpy, knuckle - like appearance, with inverse taper and long internodes.

However, they are a mainstay species for Bonsai and there is plenty of information available. Stick with it. It wont become a Bonsai overnight, but should get there eventually.
Author:  Brendan [ 12 Oct 2017, 12:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Acer Palmatum opinions please!
Can you take a pic of the first 4 -5 inches of the trunk a bit closer in?

I would probably advise cutting the whole top off about 2cm above the very lowest branch. I'd do that in about 4 weeks after the leaves fall off.

In the new year you should get quite a few new shoots from the node where the current branch is growing. That will give you options for the further development of the tree.
Author:  TinyTreeHugger [ 15 Oct 2017, 12:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Acer Palmatum opinions please!
Thanks for the advice - I am trying to post photo, but am experiencing technical difficulties! I will get on to it...
Author:  TinyTreeHugger [ 15 Oct 2017, 12:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Acer Palmatum opinions please!
Attachment:
acerclose.jpg
Author:  TinyTreeHugger [ 15 Oct 2017, 12:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Acer Palmatum opinions please!
(Sorry - had to submit photo as a separate post in the end.)

Thanks for your interest - I'm taking the advice! The tree is outside now - hope the photo is useful Brendan...)

So would you wait for leaf drop, cut the trunk down (would stump paste be needed?) and leave in a pot or plant in ground? Would the trunk still thicken if the height was reduced?

Apparently we have a cotoneaster in the garden, so I may look into taking a cutting or buy a small one from the garden centre.

Many thanks, Allison :)
Author:  Gary Jones [ 15 Oct 2017, 22:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Acer Palmatum opinions please!
When leaves drop they are effectively being stripped by the tree of their nutrients to store in the woody tissue, so waiting a few weeks after fall gives you the most stored foods for the tree when it wakes up in spring.

The jury is out on cut paste. I personally use it especially if the tree bleeds. If the trunk is chopped it will slow down thickening (which is based on foliage mass) but gives you the chance to add movement and interest low down early on. If you don't do that you can end up with a big straight trunk which is harder to make good bonsai from. On that basis it's a good idea to make an interesting trunk and then thicken it up. If and when you want thickening, the ground is best by far, other than that the largest pot you can use.

Cotonoeaster, lonicera, chinese elm, privet, pyracantha - all good trees to work with and learn on.

Best of luck and keep us posted!
Author:  Bill [ 16 Oct 2017, 17:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Acer Palmatum opinions please!
since its still quite skinny, another way to develop this is to do some rootwork next spring in order to create a good nebari spreading out from the base, then let it grow another year or 2 or whatever to increase the girth. you can start to train the low branch too but make sure its not shaded and keeps growing well. if not, you may want to prune the rest of the tree a little to encourage more from it.
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