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Growing A Maple Bonsai Tree
Maples Trees are vibrant and beautiful being very leafy and having a full appearance. In the autumn, as the leaves are turning, they will turn from vibrant green to rich shades of yellow and red. Maples form beautifully as Bonsai trees and they usually thrive really well. They do need partial sun and shade to grow. In the winter, you need to pay particular attention to the roots of your tree. If the temperature falls to low they may die. They will also need less water during the colder months. A Maple Bonsai trees will prefer to be kept in a moister soil, so ensure that they have an adequate amount of water every day but make sure there is adequate drainage so that it does not get waterlogged. Maple Bonsai trees do very well as informal uprights due to their leafy nature. It is possible to train them as a cascading bonsai tree but you would need to be very careful as it is possible to split the main trunk if you do not handle the roots with great care. Some bonsai gardeners prefer to wire the tree into a bend. However, this looks unnatural. It is recommended that you prune it and work towards a gentle curve, if you would like to cascade it. However, be cautious because the tree could be scarred from any trauma it suffers. Feed the tree about every 4 weeks. A fertilizer will be needed to help the growth process, however, do not over use any fertilizer products. These trees are hardy and will need to be pruned back quite regularly. You may also trim the roots if you think the tree is getting too large. It is always better that you prune the branches in late Fall or during Winter as most of the leaves will have dropped from the tree. It is often suggested that you should apply a paste to the wound to lubricate it, once a branch has been cut off to help reduce any residual scarring and aid healing. It is sometimes hard to work out how much growth is needed and what needs to be pruned away. The target is to try to create an exact miniature replica of a fully grown maple tree. It should never look like an ordinary household pot plant, nor should it be left to over grow.
Bonsai Trees can be a very challenging, but also very rewarding to maintain. You should get hold of as much information as you can in advance so you that you will know what to expect and will know what pitfalls to look out for.
There is always a fantastic range of bonzai containers on eBay, here is a selection: Bonsai Gardening Secrets
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