Acer Serrulatum - despreately need advice

[MoGanic]

Hey everyone,

I have an Acer Serrulatum which I received nearly a year ago.

It is seemingly quite healthy and has plenty of growth, but mostly in the wrong places.

Judging from the current shape and form the only option is a bunjin style, however the trunk is bloody firm considering it's age. It stands approximately 60cm tall from top of pot.

Questions are a. can the trunk be bent without snapping? Has anyone had experience with this particular species? and b. the only other shoots that are forming START two thirds the way up the trunk - I wouldn't mind an air-layer, but I'd hate to lose all that height - first option definitely bunjin style.

Any advice is greatly appreciated peoples! Thanks

-Mo

[Luke308]

Hey Mo,

I too have one of these, and it looks almost identical.

My advice is to put it in a bigger pot or even the ground and let it grow. Feed the shite out of it too.

I'm guessing it is only 1-2 years old, and it has a few more years before it should be considered anywhere near ready for a bonsai pot.

Being an acer it will bud back when pruned hard so when it has the desired girth the the trunk you can prune it back and adventitious buds will shoot.

I admire you enthusiasm but you should transplant it now it to as big a container as possible (with out root pruning) and sit back and patiently watch it grow, trust me you will appreciate it in the end.

Good luck mate

[MoGanic]

Good strong advice, will do.


**edit** - have now done.

Cheers mate,

-Mo

[bodhidharma]

I would be loose wiring it now also to establish some movement in the trunk. Unless, of course, you are planning to grow and cut back.

[Hackimoto]

I'm surprised that it has leaves yet, seeing that you live in Melb, as even here in the sub-tropics Japanese Maples have not yet started to bud. Re you sure it is serrulatum? Being from Taiwan, being a bit closer to the equator it might be earlier. Where do you keep it? Indoors maybe? Drastic, but if were mine, I would cut it off about a quarter of the way up from the soil to get some ramification or dividing of the trunk happening and over pot it or ground grow it for a couple of years. I can see the dormant buds on it so it will re shoot.

[Damian Bee]

Hi Mo,

Depending on which club you are in (if in one?) go to the club library and have a look for the Peter Adams Book with the softcover about growing maples. It is a great and simple method which gives great results

[Barry1]

I'm surprised that it has leaves yet, seeing that you live in Melb, as even here in the sub-tropics Japanese Maples have not yet started to bud. Re you sure it is serrulatum? Being from Taiwan, being a bit closer to the equator it might be earlier. Where do you keep it? Indoors maybe? Drastic, but if were mine, I would cut it off about a quarter of the way up from the soil to get some ramification or dividing of the trunk happening and over pot it or ground grow it for a couple of years. I can see the dormant buds on it so it will re shoot.

Must be an early season Hack as all my Tridents ,Japanese Maples and American Hornbeams are all in full leaf ...or Bundy has magical growing conditions

Cheers
Barry

[Hackimoto]

Bundaberg being on the central Qld coast is going to be a bit earlier that Melbourne. As I posted on another thread about an azalea, It all has to do with day length combined with temperature. I has more to do with day length as temps can fluctuate but day length is fixed regardless of the weather. When I used to order deciduous tree from Melb they would arrive bare of any foliage but within a week would start to shoot even though their counterparts still in Melb were bare for a few more weeks.

[MoGanic]

Indeed it is quite early! None of my Japanese maples have popped any leaves as yet. The Serrulatum is indoors under a plant light with a good temperature, which is why it has leaves already . I have overpotted it, as the ground soil in my house is ridiculously low quality and seems to actually slow the growth of many other plants - not willing to risk my only Serrulatum haha

I think a drastic chop would be great to thicken the trunk and to create a stunning tree in the future, and it is the way I shall go . Still very early so those dormant buds better pop!

[Luke308]

My Acer Serrulatum also has full sized leaves only at the top just like yours.

If I were you I would put it outside though as it will not only survive better, but it will most likely thrive compared to growing indoors.

[MoGanic]

Moved the tree outside, and cut it down to the second set of buds. Hoping for some popcorn acer buds.

Shall wait and see

[Hackimoto]

Not so sure putting it back outside is a good idea, seeing it has already broken dormancy. I think it's better to keep it indoors, where it gets some sun, for another 6 weeks or so until it re shoots and the weather warms up, otherwise it wont know what's going on.

[MoGanic]

Not so sure putting it back outside is a good idea, seeing it has already broken dormancy. I think it's better to keep it indoors, where it gets some sun, for another 6 weeks or so until it re shoots and the weather warms up, otherwise it wont know what's going on.

I lost one of the branches at the top because my cat seems to enjoy the taste... but the buds are doing fine and the tree is still healthy despite being moved outside . Mind you it's against a north facing wall (north-ish) and is in a tight area, no wind.

In regards to the bloody cats, HOW DO I STOP THEM EATING MY TREEEEEEEEEES!?!?!?!?!? They killed my Apple Blossom Quince and my youngest chinese elm!

-Mo