Maple Bonsai Creation
The website discusses topics related to the creation of maple bonsai for everyone. The following is an introduction to maple bonsai creation by the site's editor for netizens.
For maple bonsai creation, in addition to the processing methods, it is more important to choose the shape of the tree and create a natural bonsai based on its original form. It also requires a certain amount of time to shape each maple bonsai, which should have its own characteristics. This article mainly discusses the shaping of the tree form, planting and maintenance, and the use of pots involved in the process of creating maple bonsai.
1. Tree Form Creation
There are many wild maples, and creating bonsai often involves digging old stakes or young trees from the mountains. Maple new branches are long and soft, which can be twisted into various styles of bonsai, including straight-trunk, oblique-trunk, curved-trunk, double-trunk, near-water, and forest styles. Maple shaping is mainly pruning, with twisting as an auxiliary. Maple leaves are large and not suitable for shaping into cloud shapes. Instead, branches and leaves are pruned to achieve a natural style with coordinated heights and appropriate density. After frost, maple leaves turn red, becoming bright and eye-catching, captivating people.
2. Planting and Pot Use
Maple trees should be planted in February or March, before spring germination. Before planting, branches and roots should be pruned once, half of the old soil removed, replaced with new soil, and rotten soybean cake fertilizer applied at the bottom of the pot. Maples prefer loose, fertile, and moist soil and grow poorly in barren areas. For planting maples, a mixture of 2/3 humus soil and 1/3 sandy soil can be used. Most maple leaves turn from green to red after frost in deep autumn, so avoid using red or green glazed pots or ceramic pots. For forest-style maple bonsai, white marble or marble shallow pots can be used to shape the pot soil into a natural mountainous form. Placing a few pieces of turtle pattern stone or Yingde stone and some small figurines of people or animals on the appropriate spots of the pot surface will make the bonsai's atmosphere more vibrant.
3. Maintenance and Management
(1) Location. Maples prefer shady and cool environments and dislike direct strong sunlight, so the bonsai should be placed under a shelter or other trees for maintenance. Placing them under strong sunlight or on balconies often results in burned leaves. Maple bonsai should not be placed indoors for more than a week due to poor ventilation. In the north, maple bonsai should be moved into a low-temperature room in winter, while in the south, simply burying the pot in the soil facing away from the wind is enough to survive the winter.
(2) Watering. Maple leaves are large and evaporate water quickly. During the growing season, watering should be frequent, and water should be sprinkled on the ground during hot weather to maintain moisture. In winter, when maples enter dormancy, less watering is needed, and watering is unnecessary as long as the potting soil is moist.
(3) Fertilizing. Before germination and when leaves expand in spring, apply a thin organic liquid fertilizer once each time, but avoid fertilizing during rainy days. Apply a thin organic liquid fertilizer once in August and September. Do not fertilize during the winter dormancy period.
(4) Shaping. Maples have strong germination ability and often grow new buds on the trunk. Any buds or dense branches not needed for shaping should be cut off promptly, which not only saves nutrients but also benefits ventilation and light penetration. The best viewing period for maples is when new leaves just unfold. If all leaves are removed at the end of summer and a thin liquid fertilizer is applied once, new leaves can grow in about 20 days, adding another best viewing period.
(5) Disease and Pest Prevention. Maple trees are mainly affected by powdery mildew, caterpillars, and aphids, which should be promptly controlled.
ps: If you want to view more maple bonsai pictures, you can browse the related articles below.
The detailed introduction of maple bonsai creation mentioned above is provided for netizens to refer to and learn from.