Japanese Maple Arakawa

[thumblessprimate1]

I don't think there would be a problem with any type of grafting on this type of maple. The basic parts of the plant is the same. I've read that cork bark elms graft without complications. Minimizing bark damage is an obvious goal of course.

 

[Dav4]

Bill Valavanis discusses thread thread grafting Arakawa maples in depth in his latest book, Classical Bonsai Art. He states that because of the thick, corky bark, Arakawas are unlikely to bud back on older wood, and thread grafting is a great tool to use in their development. The process is done like any other thread graft and apparently is just as likely to be successful.

 

[tmmason10]

This one woke up quite happy as well.

 

[AboveBeyond]

Nice Tom! I'm really eager for our New England weather to swing back to normal temperatures so my bonsais will start pushing out leaves. Looks like you got a head start!

 

[tmmason10]

This one again woke up with a vengeance! I need to give it a haircut and figure out where I'm going with it.

 

[MACH5]

Wonderful Tom! Beautiful and healthy. I see it's even in a nice Tokoname training pot.


Have fun with it and thanks for sharing!

 

[Dav4]

Happy maple! If you're still considering grafts, leave a few of those long runners to play with.

 

[AboveBeyond]

Tom, you already have that much growth on the tree? My trees haven't leafed out yet!

 

[tmmason10]

Tom, you already have that much growth on the tree? My trees haven't leafed out yet!

This was in a greenhouse at NE bonsai until Saturday, which means they usually leaf out early. Interestingly my Korean hornbeam doesn't leaf out in the greenhouses unlike the Japanese maples. The maple seedling I kept outside did not leaf out yet either.

 

[JudyB]

That's nice growth to see Tom, post it again when you start work I want to see whats under there! My KH is a bit slower to leaf in than the maples, but it has a full head of hair now as well. Getting an early start with slower growing varieties, or warmer weather lovers is a great advantage with the greenhouse.

 

[tmmason10]

That's nice growth to see Tom, post it again when you start work I want to see whats under there! My KH is a bit slower to leaf in than the maples, but it has a full head of hair now as well. Getting an early start with slower growing varieties, or warmer weather lovers is a great advantage with the greenhouse.

I'm curious too! I had the thought of growing a new trunk/apex from a runner where the old apex that died back before I bought it.

 

[DaveV]

Do the tops on Arakawa JM tend to die back. Is it common for them to do so?

 

[MACH5]

Do the tops on Arakawa JM tend to die back. Is it common for them to do so?

Yes as they age, it is apparently in their genetic make up to get weaker. Not a good idea to be too aggressive with the tops on older trees unlike most other maples. For example, while we may partially defoliate maples to let air and light in by cutting one leaf out of each pair, one should avoid or minimize cutting any off from the apex to keep it as vigorous as possible and help mitigate this propensity.

I say this based on personal observation, research and what I also have gathered from professionals and hobbyists alike.