Maple Bonsai
A Quick Guide to the Maple Bonsai
The Maple bonsai is one of the most popular of the bonsai trees due to its interesting shape and coloring. Bonsai trees can either be kept indoors, as a way of bringing a breath of fresh air to a living room or office, but these miniature trees can also be kept in an outdoor garden to give it a more exotic look.
Growing bonsai trees is a very soothing and productive hobby, especially for those who like gardening and being creative at the same time. A primary reason that the Maple Bonsai is one of the most popular of the bonsai trees is that it truly resembles a little Maple Tree when it is trimmed and cared for properly.
There are two types of Maple Bonsai trees, one is known as the Trident Maple, the other is the Japanese Maple. With the Trident Maple you get a tree that originates in Japan; it is tolerant to pollutants more than other types of trees, which is the reason why you find it more frequently in cities. Although the Trident is considered to be one of the more hardy bonsai trees, it does require care. One of the main concerns you’ll have with this tree is that it must be protected from frost at all times.
With the Trident Maple Bonsai the roots hold a lot of moisture and this can spell disaster if it gets too cold. To help protect this tree it is important that you take steps to keep frost from settling on it. You can keep it indoors or in a greenhouse, but if it is outdoors you will need to protect the roots with some type of covering, such as straw. Another tip for keeping this bonsai outdoors is to ensure that it gets a lot of sunlight during the morning, but should be in a shady location in the afternoon. Keep these requirements in mind when finding a location to place your tree.
The Japanese Maple Bonsai is a tree that offers a lot of variation. There are several different species of Japanese Maple trees to choose from. Some of the species of Japanese Maples available include Ara Kawa, Nishiki Gawa, and the Nishiki Issai, plus more. These are miniature varieties of Maple trees, though some of the Japanese Maple Bonsai trees tend to grow more like bushes than trees.
The Japanese Maple comes in over three hundred hybrid species; they range from having light green leaves, to a dark burgundy color. With the Japanese Maple Bonsai you get a durable tree that is much like the Trident. This tree is very resistant to disease and insects. With this tree you can concentrate more on keeping it beautiful instead of keeping it from succumbing to disease or pests.
With the Maple Bonsai you will need to ensure that it is planted in fertile soil as it needs plenty of nutrients. You will also need to water the Maple on a regular basis so that the roots do not become too dry. In addition to these growing requirements, the Maple should not be kept in direct sunlight, and it also needs plenty of shade in very hot climates.
To keep your Maple Bonsai beautiful you do have to spend some time pruning it properly; there are plenty of books that can give you all the information you need to trim this bonsai correctly.
Because of how easy the Maple Bonsai is to care for it is the perfect bonsai for someone who is just starting out in this hobby. Find out everything you need to know to grow a healthy bonsai, before you purchase you first bonsai Maple tree.