New To Bonsai and Question About Trident Maples In Central Florida

Nanookadenord · May 23, 2017

I currently live in zone 9b (Central Florida between Tampa and Orlando South of I4) and am a transplant from up North. One of the things I miss are maple trees. My favorite tree of course.

I have looking at a Trident maple for a bonsai and the hardiness zone says through zone 9. I'm guessing that I would be okay with a Trident as I am in zone 9b?

erb.75 · May 23, 2017

http://redmansbonsai.com

this guy grows big tridents in Fl. I'd ask him or contact adam lavigne (google adamaskwhy blog).

markyscott · May 23, 2017

Houston climate and growing season is very similar to Orlando and I've grown the for many years here.

Scott

markyscott · May 23, 2017

I have a couple of threads documenting their development and care.

Scott

Bonsai Nut · May 23, 2017

You can grow tridents here in Southern Cal. You just have to give them protection in the hottest, driest weather, and make sure their soil doesn't become too alkaline. I'm sure Floridians have similar suggestions, though the humidity may help avoid the foliage desiccation issue.

miker · May 24, 2017

Trident maples will in general do okay in the Orlando area, but in my experience (kept trees there for 16 years) trident maples in Orlando will lack vigor compared to their up-north counterparts due to the lack of winter chill. They are by no means a no-go in Orlando though, give the species a try.

Much south of Orlando on the FL Peninsula and I assume they will fail. Conversely, Jacksonville, FL obviously gets enough chill for the species, as I have seen some healthy full-sized tridents there.

miker · May 24, 2017

markyscott said:
Houston climate and growing season is very similar to Orlando and I've grown the for many years here.

Scott

Houston and Orlando are very similar climate-wise, however, Houston gets several hundred more chill hours (number of hours between Nov 1 - Mar 31 between 32F-45F) per season than Orlando on average.

sorce · May 25, 2017

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

Nanookadenord · May 25, 2017

Thank you all for your replies.

My maple was delivered this morning to my wife's work, so will post pictures after she gets home with it.

miker · Jul 16, 2018

Any updates?

Nanookadenord · Jul 17, 2018

It didn't make it. At this point I have stopped doing bonsai altogether.

Cable · Jul 17, 2018

Nanookadenord said:
It didn't make it. At this point I have stopped doing bonsai altogether.

Aw, that sucks!

Anthony · Jul 17, 2018

You can use an old fridge to simulate winter and
grow under tall trees.
Good Day
Anthony

Silentrunning · Jul 17, 2018

It’s a shame you quit bonsai. If you want to still have a Maple tree go with Red Maple. They grow down to the Everglades and have pretty good fall color. They are relatively fast growing too.

Nanookadenord · Jul 17, 2018

Silentrunning said:
It’s a shame you quit bonsai. If you want to still have a Maple tree go with Red Maple. They grow down to the Everglades and have pretty good fall color. They are relatively fast growing too.

I had looked at those and wanted to try one, but can never find one for sale. It is always the trident or Japanese. I have been told to just go find one, but it's not as easy to find one.

augustine · Jul 17, 2018

check the ebay store for New World Bonsai. They are located in Florida and good folks, reasonable prices.

miker · Jul 17, 2018

Look for Acer rubrum seedlings around local trees, they should be everywhere in areas with moister soils.

I am surprised your trident died completely this quickly, though not surprised it struggled that far south. If/when I move back, I will be keeping mine in a refrigerator for three months during winter. I want a healthy tree, not one that just limps along.

Nanookadenord · Jul 17, 2018

miker said:
Look for Acer rubrum seedlings around local trees, they should be everywhere in areas with moister soils.

I am surprised your trident died completely this quickly, though not surprised it struggled that far south. If/when I move back, I will be keeping mine in a refrigerator for three months during winter. I want a healthy tree, not one that just limps along.

That is what I wanted as well, but apartment living with an apartment fridge which is pretty small doesn't lend to allowing bonsai trees in them for months at a time with a family of six. That space is needed for food.

Anthony · Jul 17, 2018

@miker, and @Nanookadenord ,

three months ? We use only 2 months.

Nanook of the north, it is an old fridge. Separate from the
food fridge.
Looks like we are finally going to do a cold room.
Show off when it is started.
Good Day
Anthony

Silentrunning · Jul 17, 2018

Nanookadenord said:
That is what I wanted as well, but apartment living with an apartment fridge which is pretty small doesn't lend to allowing bonsai trees in them for months at a time with a family of six. That space is needed for food.

Red Maples and Florida Maples don’t need a cold dormant period. They grow wild all the way down to the Keys.

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