Overgrown Maple?

[w0nderland]

Hello! I'm new to the forums, and somewhat new to bonsai.

I was growing a red maple from seed but me being me overwatered and killed it, now someone from work who new gave me what I think (clarification would be great!) is a red maple, however to me it looks fairly overgrown and not really the way I would like my bonsai to be.

Any ideas on age? and where/how should I start fixing this.

I am also planning to repot, as the pot its in does not do it justice.

Thanks!

 

[YukiShiro]

it is a young Japanese maple, probably 3-5 years old.
dunno what variety it is except that it is a red variety

don't prune anything until you get the trunk thickness you want. might pay off if you can plant it over a tile in a growing bed

welcome to the nut house
Best regards
Herman

 

[w0nderland]

Unfortunately I don't have a garden, just concrete outside, would it be okay to maybe cut down some leaves, the size of them just throws it off to me, or should that also wait?
Sorry for all the questions! I'm just excited.

 

[YukiShiro]

red Japanese maples aren't very vigorous, don't cut anything off. You will just delay a better result in the end. Are you keeping the maple indoors? It won't last very long

 

[w0nderland]

When it warms up a little or the wind dies down somewhat I will put it outside. Our concrete doesn't have much wind protection and I have playful cats. I just have visions of it toppling straight over, especially in this pot.

 

[whfarro]

It is best to repot maples and other deciduous trees in spring when buds are just beginning to swell and before they leaf out. Your tree is already in full leaf. Suggest you hold off until next spring on repotting or any other root work.

Now might be a good time to read up on general bonsai care and techniques as well as specific information regarding maples.

A couple of good books would be:
"The Bonsai Workshop" ~ Herb Gustafson

"Bonsai - with Japanese Maples" ~ Peter Adams

And view the Maples forum here as well as the Resources and search features on this site.

Good luck.

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Good thing it ain't a red maple!
Though it is a red maple.

Sorce

 

[w0nderland]

Definitely going to leave it, I don't know much about this but I know that. I've done some reading before, and have been exploring this site. I am jealous of all the amazing maples out there!

 

[M. Frary]

Good thing it ain't a red maple!

Amen.

 

[Eric Group]

This is a little seedling, looks like a Bloodgood Japanese Napke probably 3 years old or so.

Not a Bonsai really, but it could be one day!

Move it to a larger pot or plant it in the ground and let it grow.

Maple Bonsai should not be "trained" a whole bunch until the trunk is to the width you want. Get some wiggle in the lower part of the trunk by wiring or chopping low, then let it grow until the trunk is a couple inches thick! Check back in about 5 years for the next step!

In the mean time find some other stuff to work with to keep your hands busy- Junipers or something easy to find like Crepe Myrtle... Or find some bigger/ better Maples... Good luck!!

 

[rockm]

You don't have a red maple, you have a Japanese maple (acer palmatum). Japanese maples come in different colors and varieties, but it doesn't make them much different from one another. Just like a sheepdog and a bulldog are both dogs--canis familiaris. They are not separate species.

You get the tree outside. It's quite capable of handling your weather (now and through the year). It is NOT an indoor tree. You will kill it if you keep it inside. It requires sun, air circulation and humidity. Indoors it won't get any of that in adequate amounts.

 

[Moonster]

When it warms up a little or the wind dies down somewhat I will put it outside. Our concrete doesn't have much wind protection and I have playful cats. I just have visions of it toppling straight over, especially in this pot.

as others are saying, put it outside. Leaving it inside is a death sentence and WILL kill the tree.

It should be able to handle the weather and cats

EDIT: just realized this is from may, hope its still alive!

 

[w0nderland]

Thank you for all the replies it's doing well! it's been outside for the past month (Well since I posted this) regular watering, shaded for most of the day then getting evening sunlight (for some reason when it's sunny its boiling and when its not its a storm) shaded from the wind and growing hopefully!

Been reading up on tons of topics!

 

[Moonster]

Thank you for all the replies it's doing well! it's been outside for the past month (Well since I posted this) regular watering, shaded for most of the day then getting evening sunlight (for some reason when it's sunny its boiling and when its not its a storm) shaded from the wind and growing hopefully!

Been reading up on tons of topics!

awesome glad to hear it!

 

[w0nderland]

awesome glad to hear it!

Me too! As for the cats I have lost 1 or 2 little branches, they are still young and curious bless them, but i think the novelty has worn off as they leave it alone now!
Thanks for the advice!

 

[M. Frary]

Me too! As for the cats I have lost 1 or 2 little branches, they are still young and curious bless them, but i think the novelty has worn off as they leave it alone now!
Thanks for the advice!

One of these will cure the cat problem.

 

[Tiki]

One of these will cure the cat problem.View attachment 109953

What a cute Lil puppy!

 

[Smoke]

Don't worry its a rubber dog.

 

[w0nderland]

One of these will cure the cat problem.

One of these would lead to mum going mental because I managed to lose the cats.. I would love it!