This is one of your best videos for total beginners like me with a growing collection of starter maples. Thanks so much! ❤ Why are the lace leaf and disectum leaf maples so uncommon in bonsai? I don't plan to ever show my trees, so can I make bonsai out of the grafted trees? Is bonsai soil needed when you are growing on your young trees in large nursery pots? Please do more maple videos.
The lace leaf maples tend to have larger leaves, so it is harder to make them look "convincing" as miniature trees. But of course it can be done, it is all down to scale. And if you fall in love with a grafted tree, of course you can use it. The advice against them is not just from a show point of view - the grafts are often very ugly and will never improve in the scale bonsai works with. I have recently got a grafted tree of a variety I have looked long and hard for. My plan is to air layer off some of the branches to bonsai, and keep the main trunk on it's grafted roots as a garden tree. At the end of the day, if your tree makes you happy then it is a success, regardless of what others say! Your last question about soil is one that I have struggled with, too. In the end (for me) it comes down to cost. They do grow better in bonsai soil (blended for your specific climate and garden {another complication}) but potting mix is much cheaper! Welcome to the madness!
Thank you for putting a smile on my face this morning. When you are trying to develop any young tree you can happily use standard potting soil. Most of my trees were in pretty ordinary soil for 15 years. It is only in the last 6 years that I have started to use free draining inorganic. Quite a few people grow the Lace and Disectum varities and the only reason i haven't is they are never on special wehn I tour the garden centres. All the best and my next maple video will be some repots in spring. Thanks again :)
Your reply is spot on Rebecca. Cost is a big issue with soil and fertiliser as well. I have gone years without adding fertiliser and the maples have beenn fine. So long they get sun and water they remain content. I can spend a lot of time trying to find specimens that have decent grafts - this is why I rarely purchase bigger garden centre varieties. All the best for 2024 :)
Thanks Darren - we are all waiting to see what this weeks big arctic wave is going to bring us. i think the Midlands is going to be in the mild zopne :)
It was definitely worth, working so much in the past to record all this sessions. 👍 🤩 Absolutely love the calendar. Thank you so much ❤ and hope you’re fully recovered, meanwhile. 🙏 Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
Thanks Martina - the toe has finally healed over and I am able to start wearing shoes again! I am hoping to buy a load of wood for my bench builds shortly - though the arctic weather may delay me for a couple more weeks :)
Thanks for having al this in one place. I confess I'm lazy and want it all easily to hand! We have lots of challenges with Japanese maples in Boise - anthracnose and powdery mildew are common diseases and with our brutally hot summers, leaf scorch is a challenge. These wonderful trees hate the hot dry wind. Nonetheless, we diehards continue to grow them!
Brilliant summary. I've definitely done everything wrong in the past with awful results. This guide will be an essential boost to my self-esteem next year. Still getting used to fall pruning - this is quite a new concept for me. Thanks for laying this out so clearly!
It is only in the recent 2 or 3 years that I have become confident to follow this approach. Not everyone agrees and I notice that quite a few people will do big pruning very late in the year. I do agree with Ryan neil when he suggests that doing this work too late can be detrimental to the effective development of the tree. Cheers Sue :)
This was excellent info and l will definitely be referring back to this to take notes.. l used to love bomb fire night in Melbourne but of course they banned it over 40 yrs ago . thanks Xavier
About those temps (-5C is 23F; 28C is 82.4F) Boise is going to be 4F Sunday night (and has hovered at 20 or below for a week) and last summer our stretch of hot weather was interminable with only 1 day in July below 90; the bulk above 95 and a stretch of 9 days above 100F. Maples just don't do well here without lots of attention. Many more native trees do better if not just as spectacular in the autumn.
I don't envy you those extremes - it must be really drustrating seeing so many other people being able to work easily with maples. I am fairly lucky here that I can grow most species without too much issue. Keep on smiling and staying healthy :)
Cheers Andrew. I am probably the wrong person to talk about fertiliser. I am so random in application and always have been. In spring I will be dosing all of my maples with lots of oceana pellets or biogold. I am really looking to encourage loads of growth this year and am putting all my small potted trees back into development and pond baskets. Time to rectify some of the early mistakes I made with these :)
Wind is the absolute worst for these trees - and we have a lot of wind i Denmark. I ended up keeping mine in an open greenhouse this year to protect them.
Hi m8 just a quick one , do you protect uour maples in winter ie bring indoors for a few days when frosty or use a fleece , I've just come back into the hobby as I'm now retired
Not at all - they get dropped to the ground but I know loads of enthusiasts who just leave them wwehre they are through winter. They are cold hardy for the UK BUT I do tend to put all of my little mame trees in the cold frame...regardless of species.
This is one of your best videos for total beginners like me with a growing collection of starter maples. Thanks so much! ❤ Why are the lace leaf and disectum leaf maples so uncommon in bonsai? I don't plan to ever show my trees, so can I make bonsai out of the grafted trees? Is bonsai soil needed when you are growing on your young trees in large nursery pots? Please do more maple videos.
The lace leaf maples tend to have larger leaves, so it is harder to make them look "convincing" as miniature trees. But of course it can be done, it is all down to scale. And if you fall in love with a grafted tree, of course you can use it. The advice against them is not just from a show point of view - the grafts are often very ugly and will never improve in the scale bonsai works with. I have recently got a grafted tree of a variety I have looked long and hard for. My plan is to air layer off some of the branches to bonsai, and keep the main trunk on it's grafted roots as a garden tree. At the end of the day, if your tree makes you happy then it is a success, regardless of what others say! Your last question about soil is one that I have struggled with, too. In the end (for me) it comes down to cost. They do grow better in bonsai soil (blended for your specific climate and garden {another complication}) but potting mix is much cheaper!
Welcome to the madness!
Thank you for putting a smile on my face this morning. When you are trying to develop any young tree you can happily use standard potting soil. Most of my trees were in pretty ordinary soil for 15 years. It is only in the last 6 years that I have started to use free draining inorganic. Quite a few people grow the Lace and Disectum varities and the only reason i haven't is they are never on special wehn I tour the garden centres. All the best and my next maple video will be some repots in spring. Thanks again :)
Your reply is spot on Rebecca. Cost is a big issue with soil and fertiliser as well. I have gone years without adding fertiliser and the maples have beenn fine. So long they get sun and water they remain content. I can spend a lot of time trying to find specimens that have decent grafts - this is why I rarely purchase bigger garden centre varieties. All the best for 2024 :)
Digestible and too the point, very well done, thank you
Thanks Andrew, I am glad it is consubable and doesn't stick in your gut :)
Beautiful bonsai Japanese maple.
Good job Sir.
Thank you for that and thanks for watching :)
Perfect tekkers mate, I’m loving these guides, once again great stuff🌳🌳
Thanks Darren - we are all waiting to see what this weeks big arctic wave is going to bring us. i think the Midlands is going to be in the mild zopne :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat let’s hope so, I’ve got roofs to put up aswell as doing the bonsai shuffle too 🤣🤣
Great video Xavier 👊👊👊
Thanks Andy
It was definitely worth, working so much in the past to record all this sessions. 👍 🤩 Absolutely love the calendar. Thank you so much ❤ and hope you’re fully recovered, meanwhile. 🙏 Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
Thanks Martina - the toe has finally healed over and I am able to start wearing shoes again! I am hoping to buy a load of wood for my bench builds shortly - though the arctic weather may delay me for a couple more weeks :)
Great video xavier keep up the good work mate thanks
Thanks for the support Phillip - hope all is good with your collection.
Thanks for having al this in one place. I confess I'm lazy and want it all easily to hand! We have lots of challenges with Japanese maples in Boise - anthracnose and powdery mildew are common diseases and with our brutally hot summers, leaf scorch is a challenge. These wonderful trees hate the hot dry wind. Nonetheless, we diehards continue to grow them!
Keep leading the charge Susan :)
Brilliant summary. I've definitely done everything wrong in the past with awful results. This guide will be an essential boost to my self-esteem next year. Still getting used to fall pruning - this is quite a new concept for me. Thanks for laying this out so clearly!
It is only in the recent 2 or 3 years that I have become confident to follow this approach. Not everyone agrees and I notice that quite a few people will do big pruning very late in the year. I do agree with Ryan neil when he suggests that doing this work too late can be detrimental to the effective development of the tree. Cheers Sue :)
This was excellent info and l will definitely be referring back to this to take notes.. l used to love bomb fire night in Melbourne but of course they banned it over 40 yrs ago . thanks Xavier
Not the dreaded Total Fire ban...in loads of different languages. I always remember the phrase Odgji (sp)...I am guessing that means 'today' ??
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat yeah thats it total fire ban 🙄 oggi but said how you spelt it 👍
Great maple guide, Xavier
Thanks Alex - i am sure you would have loads more info to be able to add to this basic guide. Cheers
Love Japanese Maples. Another entertaining & informative video. Thanks.
Thanks Nick - Japanese Larch for next Saturdays calander :)
Nice Video Xavier! Thx for this much Good Informations ! 👍 see you
Cheers Tom - I hope the cold isnt too bad for you right now :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat no every Things is Fine ! 👍👍👍
Great guidelines... although we don't have maples here, and believe me I wish we did...but great video and great info 🎉🎉
Thanks - a world without maples :(
Another beauty Xav, very well produced 😁😁😁
Thanks Jonas - i am definitely enjoying the break from production right now :)
A succinct and informative video, Xav. Keep 'em coming!
Thanks Martin - i have three more to roll through January. All the best
About those temps (-5C is 23F; 28C is 82.4F) Boise is going to be 4F Sunday night (and has hovered at 20 or below for a week) and last summer our stretch of hot weather was interminable with only 1 day in July below 90; the bulk above 95 and a stretch of 9 days above 100F. Maples just don't do well here without lots of attention. Many more native trees do better if not just as spectacular in the autumn.
I don't envy you those extremes - it must be really drustrating seeing so many other people being able to work easily with maples. I am fairly lucky here that I can grow most species without too much issue. Keep on smiling and staying healthy :)
Thank you sir! great video
I love the colours in autumn - thanks for taking the time to watch.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Good sir i watch all your videos :) Thank you for making them
Love the colour mate. I see you have retreated inside too. See you in the next vid
I am definitely in the rest period with sub zero temperatures all week. I just noticed your latest subs count - WOW. All deserved of course Paul :)
Fantastic video. Great timing information. You’re awesome Xav!
Not sure awesome is the right description :) But thanks
Love your informative videos Xavier. Very helpful!
Thanks for supporting me - this all works for me :)
Great informative video Xavier 👍
Thanks Jason - now all we neeed is someone to tell us all about ramification :)
Beautiful tree🎉
Thanks you - it has such incredible colours during the year too :)
Nice vid Xav!
Thanks Kennet
Love the informative video.
Thank you - so what are your favourite bonsai?
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I have a Japanese Maple.
@@carolficorilli9768 Have the leaves dropped yet?
I have wind. NO ONE likes that wind either... Great guide Xavier! These will certainly come in handy!
Thanks Marysol - you get a big shout out in next Saturdays larch video :)
Another winner. Any thoughts on fertiliser?
Cheers Andrew. I am probably the wrong person to talk about fertiliser. I am so random in application and always have been. In spring I will be dosing all of my maples with lots of oceana pellets or biogold. I am really looking to encourage loads of growth this year and am putting all my small potted trees back into development and pond baskets. Time to rectify some of the early mistakes I made with these :)
Thanks for the video. Would it be too late / early in the season to apply a winter wash?
I don't see why not. The tree is dormant. Cheers :)
Wind is the absolute worst for these trees - and we have a lot of wind i Denmark.
I ended up keeping mine in an open greenhouse this year to protect them.
We struggle with regular high winds across my garden - which definitely casues issues with leaves.
Hi m8 just a quick one , do you protect uour maples in winter ie bring indoors for a few days when frosty or use a fleece , I've just come back into the hobby as I'm now retired
Not at all - they get dropped to the ground but I know loads of enthusiasts who just leave them wwehre they are through winter. They are cold hardy for the UK BUT I do tend to put all of my little mame trees in the cold frame...regardless of species.
👍👌🙂
Thanks bruce