Red maple winter care.

[Lagavulin30]

I live in Alberta Canada. I recently purchased a small red maple that I plan on turning into a bonsai. It’s not uncommon for it get below -40 degrees Celsius. My question is what temperature should I keep it at in order to keep it dormant ? I will obviously be bringing it indoors I just don’t know how cool it needs to be

thanks
Charles

 

[rockm]

I live in Alberta Canada. I recently purchased a small red maple that I plan on turning into a bonsai. It’s not uncommon for it get below -40 degrees Celsius. My question is what temperature should I keep it at in order to keep it dormant ? I will obviously be bringing it indoors I just don’t know how cool it needs to be

thanks
Charles

Below 40 and above 20 F. Inside the house is going to be too warm, unless you want to care for a maple indoors until the danger of freezing and frost has passed--which is a major pain.

 

[rockm]

Below 40 and above 20 F. Inside the house is going to be too warm, unless you want to care for a maple indoors until the danger of freezing and frost has passed--which is a major pain.

Additionally, the maple will have to fulfill its genetically-programmed "chilling hour" requirements to adequately complete its dormancy. Chilling hours -- a number of hours the plant is exposed to temperatures below 40 F or so. It's not enough to simply keep the plant from low temperatures. Deciduous trees require that cold to complete their dormancy. Without it, they can be very slow to begin growing again in the spring--or not break dormancy at all--until those hours are met...

Chilling Hours – Chestnut Hill Nursery

chestnuthilltreefarm.com

 

[Lagavulin30]

Additionally, the maple will have to fulfill its genetically-programmed "chilling hour" requirements to adequately complete its dormancy. Chilling hours -- a number of hours the plant is exposed to temperatures below 40 F or so. It's not enough to simply keep the plant from low temperatures. Deciduous trees require that cold to complete their dormancy. Without it, they can be very slow to begin growing again in the spring--or not break dormancy at all--until those hours are met...

Chilling Hours – Chestnut Hill Nursery

chestnuthilltreefarm.com

I do have a cold room in my house that hovers around zero. I could get it cooler if need be. I wonder if that would be adequate

 

[Shogun610]

The top hardiness zone is vastly different than the root hardiness zone , and because it is in a container the roots will be more susceptible than usually thought. For this since your area gets so cold, I’d build a insulated cold frame so it can hover between 20-40F for a minimum of days, you can get a thermometer and seedling heat pad to set the temperature so it doesn’t exceed that. It’s better to keep outside on ground in that cold frame as well because the ground can sometimes give an extra 7 Degrees F difference than air temperature.

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Divide_by_zero]

I don't know exactly where in Alberta you are and therefore don't know just how cold you are likely to get. I would definitely recommend you keep your trees in your cold room, below 0 C for the full winter, with any evergreens you may have under lights. Not only to protect them from getting too cold but also to protect them from the drying winds and freeze thaw cycles that Chinooks can bring.

Over the years I have lost many more trees to Chinook weather than to simple freezing as I have never had the luxury of a separate cold room.

 

[Potawatomi13]

I do have a cold room in my house that hovers around zero.

IN your house?! MOVE!