AusBonsai

Hi Guys

Im in Brisbane and am just wondering wether if the climate in Brisbane is ok for bonsai Japanese Maple.

I know they sell them in nurseries here and do ok/well in the ground. Im just worried its too warm all year and therefore dose not give them enough dormancy time?

I have read that if certain deciduous trees don't get enough dormancy (cooler temperatures) they become exhausted and eventually die (how long is this process). Also are they fast growing trees?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks everyone

Tridents are a better choice, however Japanese Maples do grow ok but some people have problems with fungal issues with them. Tridents are more suited, in your area.
Peter

Im in gladstone, which is a bit hotter than brissy. I have a taiwanese maple brought from brisbane as a seedling on ebay). Last year about august the leaves were looking quite sick and hadnt gone very red, I remembered reading somewhere about defoliating deciduous trees during winter in warmer climes. snip snip and within two weeks I had new shoots alll over the place.This year Im not going to wait so long, probably will cut in the middle of july.

From what Ive seen Japanese maples need light shade in our summer, shadehouse etc. Allthough mine is under a shade tree.
Ron

Thanks for the advice guys!!

Are they fast growers? as trees go I mean.

Phil

Hey Fill,
As I said I dont have a japanese maple, I have an Acer serrulatum, also known as Acer oliverianum var. formosana. Thats what the seller on ebay stated it is, and I have no way of telling the difference so Ill stick with it for now. Mine has thicker straighter leaflets than a Japanese Maple Mallsai I was given for my birthday in November. I bought it as seedling in August 07 at 40cm high. It is in a terracotta pot in the back yard in Full sun, and is currently two metres high. Seems to love the sun, & with the prevailing winds is developing a real nice trunk movement. The roots have gone into the ground through the pot, I discovered this whan all the other tall potted trees I have blew over.
Im keeping the Japanese maple under my poinsiana?? for the summer & will figure out what to do with it later.
Good Luck,
Ron

Tridents are a better choice

Fill, if you are serious about growing a maple then Peters comment above is on the money. Japanese Maples do not do well in Brisbane at all while Tridents are acceptable.

Jon

Thanks guys. Ill stick to the Tridents. Though Ive seen a few nurseries sell Acers palmatums up here but i guess there for specimen trees in big pots not bonsia. I found the below link about Japanese Maples in Brisbane so this is what confused me.

http://www.brindabella-gardens.com.au/Maples.html

Fill, a picture of my maple enjoying the full summer conditions.
This photo was take @ 12pm today.
Ron

Fill

I have bought a few maples from brindabella in Toowoomba....Sango,Spring fire,emporer all are doing well but he is expensive up to $50 per plant. Cherry lane nursery in stanthorpe is good reasonably priced for decent sizes and they stock alot of the Flemings range. Japanese maples (palmate varieties) do well in Brisbane as Japan has a similar summer climate to us. Morning sun or under a nice shady tree Protect from hot winds and don't water to much. I have a lot of deciduous tree's ginko's,pistachia,tallow wood,pear's and october glory's all do well.

All the best!!

There's an Acer palmatum growing on the footpath in my street. I'm just north of Brisbane.

Tim

I have found Japanese maples to just survive in Brissy but never thrive. I think it is a combination of the humidity and westerly winds. As already mentioned Tridents do much better.