Hello All,
I have a red leaf Japanese Maple that I wish to convert into a bonsai. When I purchased the tree 3 years ago, I had always intended it as such. I have yet to get there with cutting. The tree has been living in a pot all this time. The pot is large and the soil is miracle grow, with a little bit of thinner (bark, granite, etc, compost). The tree, I think, is nearly 18 inches tall or so. It's situation hasn't been changed for 3 years.
Now it is time to cut. I am pretty comfortable with cutting the branches back hard. I am a little unsure about the root pruning, but I am still researching more data on that.
What I am really curious about, is how to approach what I see as two separate steps. Repotting the plant, and cutting it hard to encourage the smaller growth. I am not sure which to accomplish first, or even if both procedures can be completed in the same year.
My first thought was to cut the canopy back significantly with the first buds appearing in spring next year. Then, completing the repotting and root pruning the following spring. I hoped that I could get some advice on how to approach starting this bonsai. It is a beautiful tree, and I am terrified to kill the poor thing.
I have a red leaf Japanese Maple that I wish to convert into a bonsai. When I purchased the tree 3 years ago, I had always intended it as such. I have yet to get there with cutting. The tree has been living in a pot all this time. The pot is large and the soil is miracle grow, with a little bit of thinner (bark, granite, etc, compost). The tree, I think, is nearly 18 inches tall or so. It's situation hasn't been changed for 3 years.
Now it is time to cut. I am pretty comfortable with cutting the branches back hard. I am a little unsure about the root pruning, but I am still researching more data on that.
What I am really curious about, is how to approach what I see as two separate steps. Repotting the plant, and cutting it hard to encourage the smaller growth. I am not sure which to accomplish first, or even if both procedures can be completed in the same year.
My first thought was to cut the canopy back significantly with the first buds appearing in spring next year. Then, completing the repotting and root pruning the following spring. I hoped that I could get some advice on how to approach starting this bonsai. It is a beautiful tree, and I am terrified to kill the poor thing.