Arakawa Japanese Maple

[Canada Bonsai]

@MACH5 beautiful!

It is amazing how red your leaves are consistently year after year. Have you played around with how much sun exposure it gets in one year compared to another? I think I remember you saying that it gets almost direct sun all day?

It might be genetic too, but apparently there are a number of factors that can affect spring coloration (sun, nutrients, etc.).

In other words, I'm very jealous and want to reproduce this if possible!! LOL

 

[MACH5]

I just spent an hour or more reading this thread from #1... regardless what you grow this should be first thread that you should read. The amount of patience and persistence you have Mach is simply unbelievable... plus several different techniques you're using to make your tree perfect. Almost 10 year long thread... extremely inspirational. So much appreciated to keep this thread going...

Regarding the tree members already said it all... simply amazing!

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words and glad this content is helpful to others.

I have said this before. There are a few folks here that truly inspired me with their patience and perseverance. One of them is my friend Brian VanFleet. I saw his detailed posts through many years of hard work. Threads like his really motivated me to follow suit.

And of course nowhere will one find more inspiration that in Bill Valavanis. His now iconic trees literally started as sticks in pots!!

 

[MACH5]

@MACH5 beautiful!

It is amazing how red your leaves are consistently year after year. Have you played around with how much sun exposure it gets in one year compared to another? I think I remember you saying that it gets almost direct sun all day?

It might be genetic too, but apparently there are a number of factors that can affect spring coloration (sun, nutrients, etc.).

In other words, I'm very jealous and want to reproduce this if possible!! LOL

Thanks Derek. I believe in this case it's purely genetic. I have other much smaller arakawas in development that are much greener regardless of light exposure. I have one small air layer that I am growing as a larger stock tree so that I can propagate it. It does not have deshojo-like red leaves but its quite red for an arakawa.

This tree does get full sun throughout most of the growing season. Very tough against leaf scorch!

 

[MACH5]

Love how naturally shaped this tree is. The outline is like a real tree.

Thank you! Make your bonsai look like a tree not your tree look like a bonsai. Now where have I heard that before!

 

[Adamski77]

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words and glad this content is helpful to others.

I have said this before. There are a few folks here that truly inspired me with their patience and perseverance. One of them is my friend Brian VanFleet. I saw his detailed posts through many years of hard work. Threads like his really motivated me to follow suit.

And of course nowhere will one find more inspiration that in Bill Valavanis. His now iconic trees literally started as sticks in pots!!

One more question... how do you balance patience with achieving progress? I mean every season you want the tree to move forward. Quite often I saw statements around “pushing as much as possible this season” etc. ... just wondering what’s your approach?

 

[MACH5]

One more question... how do you balance patience with achieving progress? I mean every season you want the tree to move forward. Quite often I saw statements around “pushing as much as possible this season” etc. ... just wondering what’s your approach?

For me patience comes from trees that inspire me to do something worth while with them. These may well include sticks in pots. It doesn't have to be specimens or masterpieces. They just simply need to capture my imagination. Those types of trees teach me patience, because I know it will be a worth while effort in the end. Trees that are difficult or unreasonably non-responsive to bonsai culture, I usually get rid of. Creating great trees is difficult enough. I do not want to complicate matters by working with trees that are too difficult or overly finicky.

Progress is simply achieved by applying good technique on a timely basis on healthy trees. Health is at the very top of the priority list.

 

[TN_Jim]

Seriously, thank you! The lords work among you and your constituents. This thread is just ridiculous

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Incredible transformation in the past nine years! Cant wait to air layer a bunch of trees off of my big arakawa nursery tree to make masterpieces of my own! Thanks for the inspiration!!!

 

[MACH5]

Photographed today in full autumn glory.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Amazing, Serg.

 

[Kanorin]

One of my top three favorite trees on this site. Inspired every time you post a picture of it!

 

[jimib]

That’s just a fantastic tree

 

[Carol 83]

Just stunning.

 

[luvinthemountains]

It's a really special tree! I wish my (much smaller) arakawa would get on with it already! Still green and not a sign of changing yet.

 

[Hartinez]

This is not just one of the best trees on this site but easily one of the best trees out there. Deciduous or not. Serg, I can’t remember if you’ve said or not, but have you entered this tree in a show yet?

 

[MACH5]

Amazing, Serg.

Thanks Bri!

 

[MACH5]

It's a really special tree! I wish my (much smaller) arakawa would get on with it already! Still green and not a sign of changing yet.

LOL well I got another one that is still very green as well!

 

[MACH5]

This is not just one of the best trees on this site but easily one of the best trees out there. Deciduous or not. Serg, I can’t remember if you’ve said or not, but have you entered this tree in a show yet?

Thanks Danny! I have not yet exhibited this tree. I don't think it's ready yet. This tree has only been in serious development for barely 10 years. Not good enough!

 

[Topdec]

Spring goodness.

That pot looks amazing against that foliage

 

[Ruddigger]

Sergio, you’re so good it makes me angry.