How To Create A Maple Bonsai

Maple bonsai is a very nice miniature tree. It has a wide range of species but only a few of these species are good candidates for creating a maple bonsai. Japanese maple tree (Acer palmatum) and Trident maple tree (Acer buergerianum) are some of maple tree species that can be converted into a miniature tree.

Maple bonsai can be propagated in various ways, and some the most common ways are to propagate it from seeds and grafting. You can successfully grow them as long as you institute proper ways on how to propagate it and supplication of adequate amounts of nutrients is very necessary to enhance its growth and development. Here are some ways on how can you start maple bonsai propagation:

1) Growing maple bonsai from seeds. Before you can start with the germination process, you need to make sure that your seeds are fresh. You can keep the seeds fresh by placing it inside the refrigerator for about 5 degree Celsius. First thing you need to do is to germinate the seeds of the maple tree. You can germinate it by natural germination or by forced germination. After the seeds have germinated, they can be sowed in an appropriate type of soil which should be suitable for your maple tree species.

2) Maple bonsai propagation from grafting. Grafting is another technique on how you can start creating a little maple tree. You can graft through side grafting or top grafting. It is not that difficult, but you have to observe the proper method in a way that you will not cause harm or damage to the tree. Side grafting involves adding of a branch or root to the tree, while top grafting involves creating a new tree by means of stump and graft combination.

3) Creating a maple bonsai through air-layering. You can propagate it through air-layering. You should follow the appropriate way in air-layering, and then you should provide sufficient water and good environment that can promote growth of your little maple tree. Rooting hormones are good because they can help in the growing of roots.

4) Using cutting to grow a maple bonsai. Cutting is oftenly used in propagating a maple bonsai because maples can grow well from cuttings. If you are planning to propagate maple bonsai from softwood cuttings, the cutting should be taken on spring or early summer. For hardwood cuttings, it should be taken after the leaves have fallen, during autumn until winter.

Taking good care of maple bonsai is very necessary so that it can grow and develop well. Here are some tips in caring your maple bonsai:

1) Supplication of sufficient water. Do not put too much water because it can rot the roots of the maple bonsai, and do not as well put too less water because it can lead to dehydration.

2) Expose to proper lighting. But you should consider the species of your maple tree because some can live in a shady place while others need to be exposed in a direct sunlight.

3) Use a soil that can hold enough moisture and has good drainage.

4) Nourish your maple bonsai with a high quality fertilizer.