AusBonsai

Bought this advanced Japanese Maple a week or so ago, still has leaves, but they fall off easily now. I've trimmed a lot of the multiple branch junctions so that there shouldn't be too much thickening, and clipped back most of the longer growth to two divisions. Now I am going to sit and look at it for awhile, to see if I can work out what comes off next.

I noticed that where it was cut back last season it's died back a way, so I'm guessing when I do the big cuts I'll have to do the same to allow for the branch to die back to the collar? Then I can remove the dead piece?

Any suggestions as to what direction to take the style? I'm looking forward to learning about ramification and development of branches with this tree.

I'll share what little I have discovered attempting to grow a JM in Brisbane.
The leaves will brown if placed in the sun, so I keep mine almost in full shade to keep them green. A shadehouse is probably better.
The leaves will brown if exposed to the drying wind.
High nitrogen fertilizer will elongate the nodes to about 6 inches apart.
They will die back to the next ring/node when cut as you pointed out.
And finally, all your relatives will look at the leaves & accuse you of growing plants that you shouldn't be growing. "It's a maple, I swear!"

hahaha....thanks Muddy!

I know the nursery it came from kept all their mature maples in the shade, and that's what I've been doing with this one too. However, one or two of mine seem to be growing very nicely in full Winter sun, and colouring up amazingly! I have enough small ones to test out the various conditions around the yard...
High nitrogen fertiliser, check...
Dieback check
Rellies don't look at my trees.

Cheers!

Mel, You should try to track down Acer serrulatum. It has slightly larger leaves but will tolerate heat better than JM.
It is rare so you might have to do some detective work. It should make very nice larger bonsai.

https://www.google.com/search?q=acer+se ... 20&bih=933

Cheers Mike.

It looks like the guy that is selling the Japanese Apricot also has plants listed as Acer serrulatum...amongst other names!

He grows them here in Brisbane, planted in his yard in full sun, so they must do ok.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/greenba ... 1129301702

I bought this one above because I don't have 25 years left in me to get a seedling to this stage... If I get one of these I can always plant it in the ground for a decade, I guess...

Edit:

If it's known as Taiwanese Maple I think the same nursery has a couple of mature trees as well, in fact they were covered in seed pods, and I asked what the tree was... hmmmm