Koto Hime Maple

Would "soft sun" be sunlight through a window?

No. Get it some early sun outside. Do not bring this inside unless your talking garage with no heat. It's a tree, it needs to be outside!
i'm leaving mine out tonight, temps in the mid forties with no wind. Usually in the spring I might have to move my JM's in and out for a month or more.
Your maple is gonna look a little beat up this year, that's ok. Just let it grow and don't love it to death.
OUTSIDE OUTSIDE OUTSIDE :D
 
Ok. I won't be able to leave my maple out over night for a while, it's still below freezing at night and the daytime highs are only in the low 40's, supposed to be warming up to the 50's by the weekend.

I had requested to have the tree delivered later in April but that request was ignored and now I'm dealing with a tree that sat in a box for a week and arrived in winter conditions. The garage is heated, but only feels like it's 50 degrees or so; should I be keeping the maple in the garage at night instead of upstairs? I also don't have a shad cloth so I'll have to look into getting one of those. So for the daytime it's either going to sit inside, out of direct sun and wind, or outside on a walled patio that gets direct light and light wind.
 
It will be fine if it doesn't freeze. To the garage whenever freeze might happen. Otherwise, outside.

BTW, I'm impressed that you are trying to grow an acer palmatum in Jackson! Love the place, but it isn't maple heaven.

Best of luck!
 
Yeah, we'll see how this environment works out.
You should be scouting around for lodgepoles and other conifers in the area. There's got to be great yamadori hiding on the face of the Tetons. Rocky ridges, avalanche chutes. Also in the marshes up by Moose (reminds me of one of Walter Pall's blog posts; I think it was a spruce; Walter said, "Thank you, Moose!!"). It isn't maple heaven, but its got to be close to conifer yamadori heaven where you are. :cool:

Again, best of luck with your koto hime.
 
My Kotohime maples have always started red and turn green in a few weeks. I try to give mine morning sun and bright shade or dappled sun after they harden off.
Be careful trying to wire as the branches are very brittle.
IMG_2856.JPG IMG_2856.JPG IMG_2857.JPG IMG_2858.JPG IMG_2860.JPG IMG_2861.JPG
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2859.JPG
    IMG_2859.JPG
    152 KB · Views: 111
I've had one in the ground for a few years now. They grow very slowly.
 
I am completely over winter and beyond ready for sunshine and warmth to return.
 
Welcome to the forum! You might just be the second or third Wyomingite here... lol. I'm a bit sick of winter as well, but I think you may be one of the few that has a shorter growing season than I do. I'm in the southeast part of the state (Douglas).
 
short update that I wired a few branches of my trees, and within 3 weeks, the wire had begun to cut into the branch. They may elongate slowly, but they seem to plump up in similar fashion to Acer Palmatum.
 
My Kotohime maples have always started red and turn green in a few weeks. I try to give mine morning sun and bright shade or dappled sun after they harden off.
Be careful trying to wire as the branches are very brittle.
View attachment 99586 View attachment 99586 View attachment 99587 View attachment 99588 View attachment 99590 View attachment 99591
Interesting round tapered pot with the more formal upright tree. If you don't mind... where did you get it? Thanks
 
Interesting round tapered pot with the more formal upright tree. If you don't mind... where did you get it? Thanks
Pretty sure I got it on FB 99cent bonsai auction page, but I will have to look tomorrow for the maker's mark. Thinking Mark Goodman, just not sure.
 
Typically the bud pinching is done on established trees that you don't want rapid growth on. It's used as a way not only to balance energy across the tree, but, and more importantly, to keep the finer ramification on the tree from becoming too coarse. I love the smaller leaves. Great variety.

A book I have read that I would recommend to anyone, simply because of how enjoyable the illustrations are is Peter Adams "Bonsai With Japanese Maples." Might have the words of the title mixed up. But if you google Peter Adams Japanese Maples itll pop right up. The work was written awhile ago, so some of the fertilization methods and soil amendments might be out-dated, but the styling and pinching information is great. As well as the information on development and styling. UNdoubtedly you will enjoy it. Check in on .99 bonsai facebook each week. Usually a copy or two come up for auction at least once a month.
 
Back
Top Bottom