‘Arakawa’ Japanese Maple- Acer Palmatum

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

A few weeks ago I purchased 3 baby Arakawa maples. They came in one planting so I separated them and put them each in their own little pots with some Akadama and Pumice then left them in a shaded but bright area. They’ve started putting out some new growth at the tops so I think they’re getting along well. I’m glad I got them so young so I could wire the trunks while still able to do so and give them some nice movement. I’ve also purchased some much larger Japanese Maples from online nurseries and they are mostly tall sticks where the branching doesn’t start until 3-4 feet off the ground. So I foresee some trunk chops and air layers in my future next spring. I wanted to start this thread to show the progression of these 3 Arakawa though, so here they are. As always feedback and suggestions are welcome. Thx

 

[Srt8madness]

Messing with JM roots during Texas summer makes you a braver person than I, though they look to be recovering nicely. I thought I was being bold separating a trident seedling in late May!

Do you have any larger JM in pots? I have had several JM here in Houston, but only have a few left alive, all in ground. Tells me I couldn't keep the roots cool enough to effectively move water.

I see some perlite in the soil, what is the other component?

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

My only feedback is to fertilize heavily, water and...

 

[Maiden69]

take good care of them for the next 3 months, sometimes they push new growth, then die when you mess with them at the wrong time. I just received 2 JMs from MrMaple and they are in dappled shade for the next 2-3 months, coming from NC to central Texas is a shock in itself. If they survive and throw a lot of new growth next spring go ahead with the airlayer, if they don't grow strong leave them alone for another year.

My Hubble's Cork finally pushed strong growth this year, 2 years after receiving it from MrMaple, next year I will set a few airlayers, or ground layer the trunk out of the momiji.

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

Messing with JM roots during Texas summer makes you a braver person than I, though they look to be recovering nicely. I thought I was being bold separating a trident seedling in late May!

Do you have any larger JM in pots? I have had several JM here in Houston, but only have a few left alive, all in ground. Tells me I couldn't keep the roots cool enough to effectively move water.

I see some perlite in the soil, what is the other component?

Yep that’s what I’ve heard, not to repot during summer. But this year I went a little crazy and purchased a sango kaku, trident, regular green Acer, little princess dwarf, Katsura, krazy krinkle, Autumn moon, Shantung, have a Mikawa Yatsubusa on the way, a bunch of green Acer seedlings and now these Arakawa since May and I’ve repotted all of them. They all seem to be fine. I tried not to do any drastic root pruning though. The Katsura, Sango Kaku, Trident, and Krazy Krinkle are all larger 1-3 gallon pots. The soil is perlite, akadama, and pumice. Seems to work pretty well for me. I put sphagnum moss over the top of the larger pots so I’m able to only water once a day. It’s been hot AF here too.

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

take good care of them for the next 3 months, sometimes they push new growth, then die when you mess with them at the wrong time. I just received 2 JMs from MrMaple and they are in dappled shade for the next 2-3 months, coming from NC to central Texas is a shock in itself. If they survive and throw a lot of new growth next spring go ahead with the airlayer, if they don't grow strong leave them alone for another year.

My Hubble's Cork finally pushed strong growth this year, 2 years after receiving it from MrMaple, next year I will set a few airlayers, or ground layer the trunk out of the momiji.

Oh I won’t be air layering these. I have some other varieties I bought that are 5-6 ft tall from Mr maple, maplestone, and couple other places. Those I’ll be air layering. These I just want to grow as individuals from seedling.

Ya imagine it’s a lot hotter here in Tx than NC. Welcome to Texas! Oh cool those Hubble Corks sound awesome, post pictures when you can I’d love to check it out.

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

My only feedback is to fertilize heavily, water and...
View attachment 561380

Will do!

 

[SeanS]

These look like seedlings, are they seedlings or cuttings of Arakawa?
If they’re seedlings then they should be referred to as “seedlings of Arakawa”, not “Arakawa”

 

[Maiden69]

Oh cool those Hubble Corks sound awesome, post pictures when you can I’d love to check it out.

Thread 'Cork bark Japanese Maple (Hubble's)'

Jun 23, 2021

This one was on sale at MrMaple.com, and I decided to give it a go. It is grafted and the graft looks to have some bark as well (I was expecting it to be grafted into some green maple). I received it 12 June and the last picture is as of yesterday 22 June, so far I see no burn on the leaves, and we have been on the 90's for the entire time. This weekend I moved it into a 1 gal Rootpouch with all inorganic soil (pumice, with bonsai block and monto clay from Bonsai Jack). This came in a 1 gal container that was not full, so I just teased the roots in the bottom and sides and moved into the...

• Maiden69
• Replies: 24
• Forum: Maples

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[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

These look like seedlings, are they seedlings or cuttings of Arakawa?
If they’re seedlings then they should be referred to as “seedlings of Arakawa”, not “Arakawa”

These were grown from seeds, from an Arakawa. So Arakawa Seedlings. Sorry if I got the nomenclature incorrect. I’m not sure how to change the title of the thread. If it matters that much.

 

[SeanS]

These were grown from seeds, from an Arakawa. So Arakawa Seedlings. Sorry if I got the nomenclature incorrect. I’m not sure how to change the title of the thread. If it matters that much.

I’m sorry to say but it matters because these are not Arakawa then. They may look like Arakawa, walk like Arakawa, and talk like Arakawa, but they are not the same identical genetics as Arakawa.
Enjoy them as Arakawa-esque Japanese maples

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

These were grown from seeds, from an Arakawa. So Arakawa Seedlings. Sorry if I got the nomenclature incorrect. I’m not sure how to change the title of the thread. If it matters that much.

The good news is that you have a fun new hybrid, just like my Acer buergerianum 'Red-Headed Stepchild.'

Post in thread 'Red-headed Stepchild Trident'

Apr 27, 2024

More "red-headed" traits


Standard A.B.


Red-Headed Stepchild

• Tidal Bonsai

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[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

I’m sorry to say but it matters because these are not Arakawa then. They may look like Arakawa, walk like Arakawa, and talk like Arakawa, but they are not the same identical genetics as Arakawa.
Enjoy them as Arakawa-esque Japanese maples

I certainly will!