Does it HAVE to be outside?

[Sherri]

Is there any type of maple where the leaves get really small? I love the progression photos of the hawthorn tree and the leaves are so in proportion to the tree that it looks awesome. When I look at a lot of the pictures of the maples, the leaves still look big to me.

Just to add, my husband wants to do a maple so we can have tiny propellers!

 

[0soyoung]

Is there any type of maple where the leaves get really small? I love the progression photos of the hawthorn tree and the leaves are so in proportion to the tree that it looks awesome. When I look at a lot of the pictures of the maples, the leaves still look big to me.

In the way of Japanese maples, try Shin Deshojo (choral red), Chishio (similar to Deshojo), Shaina (red), Higa Sayama (very cool variegated green-white), Shishigashira (green), Sharp's Pygmy (green), and most 'xxx hime' cultivars. The second flush of most will be smaller than the first. The size of the 'helicopters' however don't follow leaf size. Some rather large leafed maples have the cutest little helicopters and some small leafed ones are hung like a mule.

 

[Sherri]

Very enjoyable time spent with John at NE Bonsai. We learned a lot, trimmed all three trees, wired the juniper, and discussed collecting trees. My husband and I just went out and wandered around and found about couple of dozen trees very close to the house that we have identified as our bonsai victims. A bunch of maples, poplar, a small white pine, sumac, and what we call weed trees! We're going to cut them back now to force some sprouting (except for the pine) dig around them in the fall and take them up next spring. That's the plan for now!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Is there any type of maple where the leaves get really small? I love the progression photos of the hawthorn tree and the leaves are so in proportion to the tree that it looks awesome. When I look at a lot of the pictures of the maples, the leaves still look big to me.

Just to add, my husband wants to do a maple so we can have tiny propellers!

Tridents reduce better than Japanese maples do. Osoyoung has a good list, but the challenge with shishigashira and kotohime is the very slow and congested growth patterns. Kiyohime is better. My chishio simply refuses to reduce, after 10 years, I can still count on 2.5" leaves. Which is fine if I can show it as the leaves are emerging, or without them! If you can find a seigen, I believe that's a preferred cultivar; it has beautiful color and growth qualities for bonsai. I've looked (not very hard) for years and haven't found one.

 

[Dav4]

Very enjoyable time spent with John at NE Bonsai. We learned a lot, trimmed all three trees, wired the juniper, and discussed collecting trees. My husband and I just went out and wandered around and found about couple of dozen trees very close to the house that we have identified as our bonsai victims. A bunch of maples, poplar, a small white pine, sumac, and what we call weed trees! We're going to cut them back now to force some sprouting (except for the pine) dig around them in the fall and take them up next spring. That's the plan for now!

Good for you. John is just a great guy to hang out with and do bonsai, and New England Bonsai is wonderful place to visit...weekly during the summer sell down sale. I truly miss the 25 minute drive up rt 495 I could do with my eyes closed when I lived in SE MA...it takes me a bit longer now.

 

[Sherri]

Brian and Osoyoung -- I will have to keep the lists of trees with me when I'm out wandering around. I really would like to create a little maple tree. I saw a bunch of maples at NE Bonsai so am contemplating which type to go with other than the native varieties.

Dave -- Georgia is a hike for sure! It only took us a little bit over an hour but we feel like we don't need a lot over the next year as we really have to spend some time getting our stock identified and moving along. Probably next spring after we dig up our trees we will need help. Plus it will be time to transplant our current three so that would be a good time for another lesson.

We also have a huge nursery near us so our plan is to go next fall when they're trying to get rid of trees and see if there are any candidates to add to our little growing pre-bonsai batch of trees, hopefully cheaply!

Oh the other thing is that I'm experimenting with the schefflera. I have tied a bunch of cotton string near air root nubs to see if I can get some air roots going. I guess it can be done more easily in Florida but thought I would experiment. So string is tied and soaked and will get misted daily to see if we can get some air root action.

 

[Sherri]

Here's pictures:

 

[coh]

You might get better results with the aerial roots if you wrap some damp sphagnum moss around that part of the trunk...

 

[Sherri]

Hmmm -- maybe I can do both?

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I am also a newbie trying to decide where to put my junipers for winter in iowa. i believe i am going to mulch them against the back of the house. im glad you asked about using hay. that's pry what i will use. they still might get some morning sun though if they are not buried under the drifting snow. i hope they live through the winter. if they make it i will want to plant and wire next year. then i will get to worry about theft after that. yeah! this is serious stuff keeping miniature trees. it does remind me of fiishkeeping also. and thanks for the heads up on flame war topics. lol.

 

[TheDarkHorseOne]

I just want to interject a few things. The first being a hello! My sister's name is Sheri, with the obvious difference. Ryan Neil has some pretty awesome vids on the Tube, and in one, he describes a slow death for a transplanted tree. I think in his instance, he was referring to a Ponderosa Pine moving to FLA. The thinking here is that the tree might do fine in a season, possibly two, but you come to a crossroads. With a tree that needs dormancy, if it doesn't get it, it starts to use up it's own energy. Pushes out new growth, then doesn't go dormant again, so it uses the energy again to push out more, but it never gets it's rest period to build up the reserves of creation, so it essentially burns itself out.

I'm no expert, but horticulturally, I think the theory holds merit.

Just thought I'd toss that out there for you folks to chew on. I wouldn't have the first clue.