AusBonsai

So i was at Bunnings to get some treated pine to build a plant stand when i hear a voice in my head impelling me to go out to the Bonsai part and although i tried my best to resist the force was simply to strong for me

And here was a Japanese maple with no price tag... normally there about $24 for that size in a ceramic pot. I asked how much and was told $15 so anyway here we are
By the tag i gather it's 4 or so years old

I heard they don't do very good in qld climate but i gather thats why i says sheltered only moring OR afternoon sun?

Regards
Wal

Wal
I don't think the heat there is so much a issue .Usually morning sun or filtered light ie shade cloth in summer . NE Victoria gets hotter its the lack of cold winters required for proper dormancy up your way . Toomomba maybe but unless your getting extended period of cool/cold nights they seem to do ok for a year or two then go down hill any way that's what I heard but maybe someone is growing them up that way

Interesting points hmm
Well i just spoke to Tess from Bonsai Northside and she said we will be fine with the normal Acer palmatum here just needs to be kept permanently under shade cloth and if the leaves dont drop off in winter we should be mother nature and do it....

Guess its a test now

Tess said not to bother with any of the fancy ones like the purple one? As they die fast

Regards
Wal

Was told if i defoliate now it will help bring out the autumn color any thoughts?

Regards
Wal

Wal,

i admire your enthusiasm. For me the first thing I ask myself when acquiring a new tree is what is my goal with this tree. What size tree am I aiming for and what style. From there I make my training choices accordingly.

Generally defoliation is used as a tool to help ramify and control leaf size.

In my climate in Perth Japanese Maples are a challenge due to our hot summer months and hot dry winds. The Japanese maple leaf is a soft and susceptible to burning, particularly due to hot dry winds. New growth after defoliation is even more tender.

I would not consider defoliation at this time in Perth, however you need to look at your local conditions (and what it is you are trying to create with your tree).

Cheers,
Jeff

Thank you

I do see you're points and during those bad heatwaves we have i will just keep her inside
At the moment i have some Japanese maple seeds in the fridge but i simply couldn't help myself "sigh"

Regards
Wal

Was told if i defoliate now it will help bring out the autumn color any thoughts?

Maybe you misunderstood or maybe whoever told you did not understand the concept properly.
Good autumn colour depends on several things. Cold nights to start the process of withdrawing food from the leaves + sunny days to help the process + healthy plants so there are plenty of minerals in the leaves from plenty of food being collected and processed in the leaves.
Defoliating will not help with any of those factors.
Defoliation can improve autumn colour if the leaves on the tree over summer have been damaged and have brown/black patches. The burnt bits are dead and cannot change colour so the more dead bits on the leaves the less colour you will get. Defoliating at the correct time can allow the tree to replace damaged leaves with fresh, healthy ones. You need to make sure you defoliate early enough for the new leaves to grow, open and mature before the cold starts to initiate colour change and you need to protect the new leaves so they do not become damaged or you will just be back where you started

Defoliating will not give autumn colour if you don't get cold nights and sunny days.

Wal you might have to come join us all down south or get a big fridge

shibui wrote:

Was told if i defoliate now it will help bring out the autumn color any thoughts?

Maybe you misunderstood or maybe whoever told you did not understand the concept properly.
Good autumn colour depends on several things. Cold nights to start the process of withdrawing food from the leaves + sunny days to help the process + healthy plants so there are plenty of minerals in the leaves from plenty of food being collected and processed in the leaves.
Defoliating will not help with any of those factors.
Defoliation can improve autumn colour if the leaves on the tree over summer have been damaged and have brown/black patches. The burnt bits are dead and cannot change colour so the more dead bits on the leaves the less colour you will get. Defoliating at the correct time can allow the tree to replace damaged leaves with fresh, healthy ones. You need to make sure you defoliate early enough for the new leaves to grow, open and mature before the cold starts to initiate colour change and you need to protect the new leaves so they do not become damaged or you will just be back where you started

Defoliating will not give autumn colour if you don't get cold nights and sunny days.

Hmm thank you for the reply mate and it all makes perfect sense.. it does get cold at night, guess we will just have to wait and see

Regards
Wal

no idea wrote:Wal you might have to come join us all down south or get a big fridge

Pfft and leave the best State in oz? Lol hell no

Regards
Wal

it does get cold at night

in North Brisbane

shibui wrote:

it does get cold at night

in North Brisbane

Yep during our 2 weeks of winter

Regards
Wal

I've been looking into keeping J Maples here and the way some people carry on(elsewhere) you would think they don't stand a chance to grow anywhere without an extended chill period which would likely rule out most of Australia and here in Spain too.
Clearly people have them and are doing well in environments many would consider unsuitable.
It has been reading posts here that finally gave me the encouragement to at least try them out so I have 3 parent trees which I will up pot and see what happens.
I don't think we have quite the same climate as Brisbane though, it's a bit more temperate but we will see.

Starfox wrote:I've been looking into keeping J Maples here and the way some people carry on(elsewhere) you would think they don't stand a chance to grow anywhere without an extended chill period which would likely rule out most of Australia and here in Spain too.
Clearly people have them and are doing well in environments many would consider unsuitable.
It has been reading posts here that finally gave me the encouragement to at least try them out so I have 3 parent trees which I will up pot and see what happens.
I don't think we have quite the same climate as Brisbane though, it's a bit more temperate but we will see.

Starfox thank you for having the time to comment
I can 100% garrantee that i have seen Japanese maples thriving here in Brisbane. I guess during our bad heat waves they are taken inside but none the less i have seen them

I am only new but one thing i have learnt fast is what works for someone can and will work completely different for someone else who is 100,500, 1000 kilometers away

If i can't not only have them but also keep them happy then why do i see very old happy Japanese maples only 15min drive from me?

Regards
Wal

Hi wal... do they get the same autumn display as their southern counter-parts?