Arakawa Japanese Maple

[MACH5]

Beautiful work! May we see a photo of the pot you're thinking of using?

Here it is. It's a Koyo that was made specifically for Mr. Takeyama of Fuyo-en. Aiba Koyo made pots for Mr. Takeyama that were specially marked with the Fuyo-en logo of Mt. Fuji usually appearing at the top of the chop. This pot was purchased from Matt Ouwinga.

 

[cmeg1]

Sweet!

 

[MACH5]

Arakawa repotted into its new rectangular Koyo container. This year the small third trunk will be developed to start ramifying. There is an additional root graft at the back while another is almost complete right at the base of the larger trunk. It will be cut off leaving a short stump for safety in early summer. The tree was also planted lower into the pot and rotated slightly counterclockwise to tweak its front angle.
















Not bad since it's last repotting one year ago.

 

[cmeg1]

Glad this is growing well for you ,Mach.
That third trunk is going to be sweeet! It already looks cool.

 

[Les]

Awesome tree that keeps getting better and better. ?

 

[MACH5]

Glad this is growing well for you ,Mach.
That third trunk is going to be sweeet! It already looks cool.

Thanks cmeg! I asked Bjorn when he was here what he thought? He also liked it and felt it added an extra unique touch. The challenge I have is to keep it healthy and going. That means it cannot get too heavily shaded by the canopy above it but should be doable.

 

[MACH5]

Awesome tree that keeps getting better and better. ?

Thanks Les. I'd say another five years or so and this tree should be "completed".

 

[Vindeezy]

Arakawa repotted into its new rectangular Koyo container. This year the small third trunk will be developed to start ramifying. There is an additional root graft at the back while another is almost complete right at the base of the larger trunk. It will be cut off leaving a short stump for safety in early summer. The tree was also planted lower into the pot and rotated slightly counterclockwise to tweak its front angle.
















Not bad since it's last repotting one year ago.

Coming along nicely, I sure do love the arakawa cultivar

 

[bonsaichile]

Arakawa repotted into its new rectangular Koyo container. This year the small third trunk will be developed to start ramifying. There is an additional root graft at the back while another is almost complete right at the base of the larger trunk. It will be cut off leaving a short stump for safety in early summer. The tree was also planted lower into the pot and rotated slightly counterclockwise to tweak its front angle.
















Not bad since it's last repotting one year ago.

Such a beautiful tree! I love how it looks in its new pot

 

[Drew]

.

 

[Drew]

Have you use a standard acer for this root graft?

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Have you use a standard acer for this root graft?

That would result in an odd root that won't develop rough bark.

 

[MACH5]

Have you use a standard acer for this root graft?

No, I used an arakawa cutting for the most recent graft. The other grafts came from air layers from the same tree.

 

[MACH5]

Coming along nicely, I sure do love the arakawa cultivar

I absolutely love them! I am growing several now in a raised bed.

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

Old and wrinkled Cinderella fits the new shoe perfectly.

 

[yenling83]

Great work all around, love seeing the progression!!!

 

[MACH5]

Old and wrinkled Cinderella fits the new shoe perfectly.

Thanks Dirk, I think so too

 

[MACH5]

Great work all around, love seeing the progression!!!

Thanks Jeremiah! When looking back, the main trunk has definitely thickened as evident in the uro towards the top closing up completely. I guess not bad for less than five years worth of development.

 

[Paulpash]

Did you propagate the cuttings yourself? Are they easy? Mine was 10ft tall but succumbed to (I'm guessing) pseudomonas and I had to dig it out last week sad times

 

[MACH5]

Did you propagate the cuttings yourself? Are they easy? Mine was 10ft tall but succumbed to (I'm guessing) pseudomonas and I had to dig it out last week sad times

I did not. I obtained the cutting from Adam (stickroot). Perhaps he can chime in here and share his experience. I can at least say that they air layer very easily!

One thing I recently did find out from Bjorn is that sometimes on older arakawas, the apex just dies back completely. Apparently this is one of the major drawbacks of this cultivar. In order to help mitigate this propensity, the apex must not be pruned too hard. Bjorn suggested to leaf prune the entire canopy with the exception of the two apexes in order to maintain their strength. So, while the apex will need to be pruned eventually, it must be done much more carefully than on other cultivars.