Japanese Maple stock

[Nic]

Just thought I'd share some new stock I picked up today. I was looking for a nice Japanese maple.

Is it okay to defoliate it now to see the branch structure, or do I just have to be patient and wait until winter?

Cheers
Nic

[craigw60]

Hi Nic defoliate away its a good time to do that right now. Would be good to see some pics of them with out leaves so we can see more clearly what you have bought.
Craigw

[Levuccio]

From what I know you can defoliate maples at the beginning of summer.

[Nic]

Beatiful. I'll get onto that tomorrow and post some more pictures.

Thanks.

[whereswally007]

well you could take the leaves off and you will be a new set before autume

[Tintop]

Hi Nic

Were did you get this little guy from?

cheers

Pat

[Nic]

Hi Pat,

I got it from Ray Nesci's Bonsai Nursery in Dural. There's loads of great stuff there.

Nic

[kcpoole]

Nice Nic
It is usual to defoliate thru summer. Usually around Jan to ensure we get a nice crop of leaves that are not all wind burnt in Autumn.
Some years we can defoliate twice but that is pushing the tree a bit too hard

By all means, do it now on new stock so you can see what you have

ps Ray does have verry nice trees eh!

Ken

[Scott Roxburgh]

I'd just ensure that it has hardened off and take it off at the first two branches to get some low movement...

[Nic]

Nice Nic
It is usual to defoliate thru summer. Usually around Jan to ensure we get a nice crop of leaves that are not all wind burnt in Autumn.
Some years we can defoliate twice but that is pushing the tree a bit too hard

By all means, do it now on new stock so you can see what you have

ps Ray does have verry nice trees eh!

Ken

Thanks, Ken. In that case, I think I'll also defoliate a trident I've got too.

This was my first visit to a bonsai nursery, not just a bonsai section in a nursery. I was very surprised at the value for money compared to the other places; It seemed that anything that could be labeled "bonsai" was allowed to have a ridiculous price.

Definitely worth the hour long trip.

I'd just ensure that it has hardened off and take it off at the first two branches to get some low movement...

I don't really understand the second part, Scott. Take off the leaves? Only defoliate at the lower two braches? Could you please clarify?

Nic

[Scott Roxburgh]

Sorry Nic, I had made a longer post but lost it.

I would just chop it down to the first set of branches and fertilise it for the rest of the season.

Then next year you can repot and do some root grafts if needed.

I only defoliate when a tree is needing fuller foliage, it appears that this tree does not have its basic shape yet so defoliating may not be the best option. It is just another way to go about it.

[Nic]

Ah, okay.

For now I'll just take off the leaves. It's not really to make the foliage any fuller, just to see the brach structure. Then I can decide whether it needs drastic surgery .

Nic

[craigw60]

I think your right Nic lets have a look at it bare and see whats in there.
Craigw

[Nic]

Not bad.

What do you think?

[whereswally007]

Nice job

have you wired it up yet or not