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#1
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Acer rubrum
I have been working on my red maple bonsai. First, a few observations.
I collected it in 1991. Up until this year it spent most of the time in the ground, not looking very promising. I pruned it occasionally. This year I suddenly discovered that i has an interesting trunk, crooked and tapering, so I potted it up. Although one of the articles I read, I think by Jim Lewis, recommends against cutting off branches, I cut off all the branches because they were too thick. The tree did oblige me by growing a new set. I notice that if you make a major pruning cut on this species, you need to gouge it out as deep as possible with your knob cutter. A flat cut will produce a big ugly bump. Some of the articles recommend against wiring. Jim Lewis says that the species in Florida has upright branches. However, in Central New York, red maples tend to grow in a more classic style, with the lower branches horizontal & the upper ones more upward. The lower branches have a sort of S curve. This may be due to snow or other climatic effects. I decided to wire it this way. I wired the branches green, because once they lignify they are as rigid as steel. So far it has very few branches. It doesn't sprout exploding shoots like a Japanese maple. My biggest question right now is where can I find pictures of good red maple bonsai. Do any exist? I would also like to know how successful people have been in reducing the leaf size. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming train." Robert Lowell (1917-1977) |
#2
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Acer rubrum
Hi Iris
Iris Cohen wrote: -snip - gouge it out as deep as possible with your knob cutter. A flat cut will produce a big ugly bump. I read somewhere also to stay low with fertilizer during one year,in order to avoid that the cut parts cicatrize with a proeminent lump even if chiselled deep .. snip- Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming train." Robert Lowell (1917-1977) -- Think like an Alien and visit your own Planet Theo http://www.byjoke.com/ |
#3
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Acer rubrum
Iris Cohen wrote: My biggest question right now is where can I find pictures of good red maple bonsai. Do any exist? I don't know about 'good', but a red maple it is at http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ag...rnetbonsaiclub I would also like to know how successful people have been in reducing the leaf size. Leaf size does come down quite a bit, although maybe not enough on a small tree like mine, but I see the extremely long petioles as the bigger problem. Reiner Goebel Toronto, Canada http://www.rgbonsai.com |
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