Jap Maple from Garden Nursery?

AboveBeyond · Aug 20, 2012

I'm thinking about getting a Kiyohime or Kotohime from a garden nusery near me. It'll be either in a 3 gallon or 5 gallon pot. Knowing that the roots are probably a tangled mess, simplitistically talking, is this a bad or good idea?

I haven't found any decent maple stock from the bonsai nurseries in my area so I'm branching out to gardens that specialize in Japanese maples.

Thanks!

Update: First pic - Added pic of Kotohime in 15g pot, 3 1/2 ft. - didn't buy, still at nursery
Update 2: Pics 2-4 of Kiyohime that I bought, 1.5 inch trunk, 12 inches tall, in 5 gall container

davetree · Aug 20, 2012

Those varieties are more difficult to grow as bonsai than standard Japanese maple. If you don't have experience growing maple bonsai I would think twice.

AboveBeyond · Aug 20, 2012

davetree said:
Those varieties are more difficult to grow as bonsai than standard Japanese maple. If you don't have experience growing maple bonsai I would think twice.

What is the standard Japanese Maple called? I see dozens of cultivar names but I don't see one that would be standard. Thanks!

Kevster · Aug 20, 2012

Also most if not all Japanese maples in garden nurseries are grafted onto another stronger growing trunk. Something else that can't be fixed unless you air layer above the graft.

Kevster · Aug 20, 2012

Try this link. It is loaded (this whole site is loaded) with helpful information. http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/AcerPalmatum.html

davetree · Aug 20, 2012

Standard is named Acer Palmatum. The exotic varieties will have a name like 'Kiyohime' after that. Your nurseryman should know the difference.

AboveBeyond · Aug 20, 2012

I added a pic in the OP, what do you guys think?

Dav4 · Aug 20, 2012

Nice tree...there may be possiblities there, but I'd need to see the trunk up close from the soil to where the branches split off, along with pics from other angles.

MACH5 · Aug 20, 2012

Judging form the photo provided, I'd be almost tempted to air layer right where all the branches converge to create a clump style design. The remaining stump can also be used afterwards.

rockm · Aug 21, 2012

This cultivar is difficult as bonsai because of the congested foliage. It can look odd.

"Plain old" Japanese maple is the way to go mostly if you're not after an exotic look. The trunk on this tree is pretty nice, but I'd look a bit further down below the surface. It's probably a graft as specialty JMs usually are. They are grafted because the cultivars don't throw "true" offspring. The seeds of a specialized cultivar can be pretty much plain JM. Grafting them produces "true" characteristics without the guesswork.

tmmason10 · Aug 21, 2012

I'm surprised that you couldn't find something at NE Bonsai, if you had gone there. I haven't been there in a few months though so I guess I'm not up to date on their maple stock. That one you posted does look pretty nice however. I too would commend just a plain Acer palmatum at first but the decision is yours.

AboveBeyond · Aug 21, 2012

tmmason10 said:
I'm surprised that you couldn't find something at NE Bonsai, if you had gone there. I haven't been there in a few months though so I guess I'm not up to date on their maple stock. That one you posted does look pretty nice however. I too would commend just a plain Acer palmatum at first but the decision is yours.

I've been there way too frequently (almost every other week but that's a good thing

) and I couldn't find any decent maple stock other than small seedlings. I'll probably visit a few Japanese Maple garden nurseries this weekend since there's actually a few in MA and take a look around.

Dav4 · Aug 21, 2012

tmmason10 said:
I'm surprised that you couldn't find something at NE Bonsai, if you had gone there. I haven't been there in a few months though so I guess I'm not up to date on their maple stock.

Tom, are you ok...hit by a bus, maybe, in a body cast and unable to make the 20 mile drive?? You're in my thoughts, buddy...get well soon..

tmmason10 · Aug 21, 2012

Dav4 said:
Tom, are you ok...hit by a bus, maybe, in a body cast and unable to make the 20 mile drive?? You're in my thoughts, buddy...get well soon..

Don't worry Dave, I'll be there Saturday for class!

AboveBeyond · Aug 21, 2012

tmmason10 said:
Don't worry Dave, I'll be there Saturday for class!

I'm going to meetup with John this Saturday as well to go over styling for a few trees!

tmmason10 · Aug 21, 2012

AboveBeyond said:
I'm going to meetup with John this Saturday as well to go over styling for a few trees!

That's great! Johns going to be busy on Saturday. Dave, you coming up too? (kidding)

tmmason10 · Aug 21, 2012

Oh, and for what it's worth, I fully recommend the Kaikou school in your future. Johns got a lot of knowledge and experience to give, and he's a great teacher.

AboveBeyond · Aug 21, 2012

tmmason10 said:
Oh, and for what it's worth, I fully recommend the Kaikou school in your future. Johns got a lot of knowledge and experience to give, and he's a great teacher.

Yeah, John has me on the list for next year and I'm more than likely going to enroll.

Speaking of which, what is your assesment of it so far? What was your bonsai experience going into it? I'm a newbie so I stand to learn a lot!

Dav4 · Aug 21, 2012

tmmason10 said:
That's great! Johns going to be busy on Saturday. Dave, you coming up too? (kidding)

Wish I was...but...I will be the weekend of 9/15 when I plan to find out how large a pot can one shove into a carry-on case

.

tmmason10 · Aug 21, 2012

AboveBeyond said:
Yeah, John has me on the list for next year and I'm more than likely going to enroll.

Speaking of which, what is your assesment of it so far? What was your bonsai experience going into it? I'm a newbie so I stand to learn a lot!

It's perfect for a serious beginner. I've had bonsai before, but have rededicated myself last spring. I've read a lot of books, Internet sites, and forum posts and I think this is a good enough basis for the class. Reading is great, but the real learning is hands on with a teacher. The class has been great so far. My trees are healthier than ever, I'm more patient, and I am starting to have better vision on the end result. I'd say if you got the time and money it's totally worth it.

The other piece that is really important is buying the right stock, and it looks to me like you're headed in the right direction looking at the maple you've posted here.

Jap Maple from Garden Nursery?

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