Extremely early maple development

[Ev3]

So I recently purchased three Red Maples (Acer Rubrum) from a local nursery here in Florida. They are very young. The trunks are 1/4inch thick in diameter. I just wired them up to get some trunk movement and was wondering how to pot them to get healthy and vigorous growth quickly. Putting them in the ground is not an option for me because I cannot have them in full sun and there are no spots in the shade in my location. So in short what potting medium should I use and what pot? Should I use a “pot in pot” system with net pots (pictures attached) like we do with pines?

 

[Newish in Oregon]

I have most of my maples in single pond baskets in volcanic pumice: Napa 8822: medium red fir 1:1:1. I feed them once a week, alternating Miracle-gro and Alaska Liquid Fish Emulsion

 

[Shibui]

I understand that Red maple root prunes well so there's no real need to worry about what pot. Any pot that's big enough to give good growth will do the job and just do a hard root prune next spring to start the nebari.
For larger and deeper pots any good potting soil will be OK. Only really need specialized 'Bonsai' mix when using shallow and small pots where drainage and aeration becomes an issue.
I've found net pots and pond baskets counterproductive in hot climates as the soil dries far too quick. Unless you can water several times a day I would stick to solid side pots.

 

[Ev3]

I understand that Red maple root prunes well so there's no real need to worry about what pot. Any pot that's big enough to give good growth will do the job and just do a hard root prune next spring to start the nebari.
For larger and deeper pots any good potting soil will be OK. Only really need specialized 'Bonsai' mix when using shallow and small pots where drainage and aeration becomes an issue.
I've found net pots and pond baskets counterproductive in hot climates as the soil dries far too quick. Unless you can water several times a day I would stick to solid side pots.

So I do have the ability to water multiple times a day and that’s why I considered it. Also doing the “pot in pot” with the basket net pots will also help incase I am not able to water multiple times on a specific day. Since the outer pot will hold humidity. Also it will help keep my root mass smaller for the future of the plant to put it in a smaller bonsai pot….

 

[RoadManDenDron]

I would just slip pot into larger pot or leave in the current pot until spring when you can carry out proper root work, and then plant in a flat container to encourage lateral root spread.

Without seeing the current trees or pots it is hard to advise whether a slip pot is needed, but if they are healthy and growing i would sway towards keeping the current pot, maybe putting it on gravel/soil or on top of another pot to allow for escape if needed,

ideally we try to avoid too much vigorous growth as this will be with long internodes which are permanent and maples will only produce buds at nodes

 

[penumbra]

Need pictures of maple (s).

 

[Shibui]

So I do have the ability to water multiple times a day and that’s why I considered it. Also doing the “pot in pot” with the basket net pots will also help incase I am not able to water multiple times on a specific day. Since the outer pot will hold humidity. Also it will help keep my root mass smaller for the future of the plant to put it in a smaller bonsai pot….

Pot in pot will definitely help with root growth and maintaining moisture.
As far as keeping the root mass smaller we will just have to disagree but don't let that stop you. I get far better results with simple root pruning on species that respond well which includes most maples.

 

[Ev3]

Well the “pot in pot” system comes with very regular root pruning as well.