Maple help in Florida

Breeze46

Breeze46

Seedling
Messages
18
Reaction score
4
Location
Gulf Breeze FL
USDA Zone
9a
Just acquired a Japanese Maple from a nursery. It is labeled Seirya, but I do not think that is correct. I believe it should be Seirygu or something like that. I am not sure how and when to go about working on this tree. Here in Pensacola, FL our climate is unlike most places. Here on the beach we rarely get hard winters and do not get the extreme summers either. I am hopeful that I can take some cuttings and also do a hard chop to shape it. I am at a loss at the best time to do either. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Joe
 
Best time for chops is during the growing season when the plant is able to "heal" the wound faster. For rapid growth after chop, do so in early spring just before new growth, this is when the tree has the most energy reserves. To get slower, more controlled growth after chop, do it in mid summer when the tree has used most of its energy reserves on the spring growth flush.

Aaron
 
Breeze46 said:
Just acquired a Japanese Maple from a nursery. It is labeled Seirya, but I do not think that is correct. I believe it should be Seirygu or something like that. I am not sure how and when to go about working on this tree. Here in Pensacola, FL our climate is unlike most places. Here on the beach we rarely get hard winters and do not get the extreme summers either. I am hopeful that I can take some cuttings and also do a hard chop to shape it. I am at a loss at the best time to do either. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Joe
Click to expand...
If you know anyone in the area who has more experience then you with maple bonsai, I'd ask them. Barring that, I'd guess when landscape maples start to push and plan on chopping at least a few weeks before that...probably some time next month? @Vin would probably be a good source, too, as I believe he lives near you and grows maples.
 
It is marked correctly, Acer palmatum 'Seiryu' (although it would be nice to see a photo of a leaf). It is not a very common Japanese Maple around here. However, I do have one and it is very tolerant of our climate. I am the only one that has one in my club. It is known as the only upright growth lace-leaf cultivar. Although I've had it for three years I haven't had time to work it. I will be cutting mine back and repotting this spring and that's when you should do yours as well. When the buds begin to swell is the best time which should be sometime in February. That's when the sap begins to flow to feed the tree as it comes out of dormancy. However, mine hasn't even dropped all its leaves yet so who knows. I hope this helps. Now let's see some photos.
 
I love seiryu maples. I believe even a better variety than standard laceleaf because of their vigor. I got one at the Winter Silhouette auction. It is nice but very young. In spring, I plan on putting it in the ground and forget about it.

Joe, as mentioned, best time to work on maples is spring. In warmer climates like yours I'd say perhaps you have more leeway in that regard. Since you seem new to bonsai (or at least to maples) I would wait until spring to ensure greatest success.
 
Yes, you have a Seirya. It looks to be slightly larger than mine but suffers the same condition, a relatively straight taperless trunk (no insult intended). It's just the growth habit of the cultivar so they require human intervention to make them believable as bonsai. I may follow @MACH5 and throw mine in the ground for a few years. Nice material though.
 
That is a very nice lace leaf green maple. I didn't see any graft union so it must have been cutting grown? That should be a fun project for sure.
 
namnhi said:
That is a very nice lace leaf green maple. I didn't see any graft union so it must have been cutting grown? That should be a fun project for sure.
Click to expand...
Seirya can be struck with cuttings, unlike other dissectums. I think the tree in question may have a future using the current trunk as a larger bonsai, but I'd need to see more pics, and the rootage definitely needs work. I think you've got a very nice project on your hands, though.
 
Breeze46 said:
Just acquired a Japanese Maple from a nursery. It is labeled Seirya, but I do not think that is correct. I believe it should be Seirygu or something like that. I am not sure how and when to go about working on this tree. Here in Pensacola, FL our climate is unlike most places. Here on the beach we rarely get hard winters and do not get the extreme summers either. I am hopeful that I can take some cuttings and also do a hard chop to shape it. I am at a loss at the best time to do either. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Joe
Click to expand...
Look at D&L nursery website in flordia
 
Vin said:
True that. Most likely a typo just like one of mine.
Click to expand...
It started in the OP, but after seeing it repeated two more times I figured it was important to point out. ;)

It's a nice maple and vigorous grower.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

PloobOobl
Hardwood Florida maple air layer help
Replies
3
Views
392
penumbra
penumbra
C
Help/Advice - Florida Maple Bonsai Tree
Replies
4
Views
1K
JoeH
JoeH
CatInATree
Japanese maple species help
2
Replies
21
Views
458
dbonsaiw
dbonsaiw
August44
Maple tree limp, dead branches...help pls
Replies
12
Views
473
August44
August44
T
Need help identifying maple
Replies
18
Views
740
Tony C
T
Back
Top Bottom