An Introduction to Bonsai
Maple Trees
By Lee
Dobbins
Bonsai trees have long been
a favorite hobby of many due to their interesting shapes and
decorative appeal. Bonsai trees can be grown indoors to
decorate a living room, den or office or left in the garden
for an exotic look. This is a unique hobby that lets one
combine their love for growing plants with their creative
skill in shaping the bonsai.
The maple is one of the most popular trees used for bonsai.
Of the maple family, two are particularly popular: The
Trident Maple and the Japanese Maple. This article will
provide you with a brief introduction to these two bonsai
maple trees.
The Trident Maple (Acer
buergerianum) is an oriental deciduous tree. It is very
tolerant to pollution, which is why it can be grown in
cities and towns. The trident maple is quite hardy as far as
bonsai trees go, but it will still need special care,
particularly with regards to protecting it from frost. The
trident maple's roots have high moisture content; and during
winter this can become a disadvantage. In order to protect
this maple from frost, you can try keeping it in a
greenhouse or covering it with straw during winter. The
trident maple should be placed in a sunny spot that has
shade in the afternoons.
The Japanese Maple (Acer
palmatum) is also known as the Japanese Mountain Maple.
There are many varieties of Japanese maple to choose from;
it is a very popular bonsai maple tree. Just to give you an
idea, there is the Nishiki Issai, Ara Kawa, Nishiki Sho,
Nishiki Gawa - these are varieties with rough barks that age
quickly. There are also varieties with unusual barks - this
includes the Sanku and the Aoyji. The Kiyo-hime Tama-hime
are examples of the dwarf varieties. These grow more like
bushes rather than trees.
The Japanese maple has a
diverse variety of hybrids, by some counts more than three
hundred. The leaves of Japanese maples range from light
green to deep burgundy. Like the trident maple, Japanese
maples are quite durable trees. Air pollutants and insects
are usually not a problem for them. The Japanese maple grows
best in moist, fertile soil, and do not perform as well in
places when exposed to too much sun.
Caring for your bonsai tree
is not that difficult. It needs the appropriate amount of
sun and water. The maples prefer a bit of shade with not
excessive direct sunlight. If you have yours in a pot, you
can place it where you want but be sure to move it out of
the direct sun during the hottest part of the day. You
should not let your bonsai dry out but also, do not drown it
in too much water. Careful pruning and shaping of the bonsai
will give you a lovely tree that will last for years.
Bonsai maple trees are
quite beautiful and are ideal for bonsai beginners. Their
innate durability makes them easy to take care of. And let's
not forget that they are also some of the most
incredible-looking bonsai around!
About the
author:
Lee Dobbins writes for
http://www.bonsai.garden-corner.com where
you can learn more about bonsai trees and starting your
bonsai hobby.
If you're interested in
more bonsai articles, click here -
Bonsai Articles.
Enjoy!
I wish you all the best on your
bonsai adventure!
Best wishes,
Thomas T :)
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