My Acer rubrum thread

[SFDrake]

I am starting this thread to document me trying not to kill this Florida maple my wife bought me as a present a few weeks ago. It came dry rooted with some vague instructions, so I grabbed what I had (50/50 perlite, potting soil mix), gave the roots the tiniest haircut (no photo of course) and chucked it in a spare I had lying around. It's been sitting in morning sun, afternoon shade for weeks now looking like I stuck a dead stick in a pot until buds swelled and it threw out a few little red/brown fellas to say hi. Any tips or comments you Bnuts can throw my way on how not to murder this thing would be greatly appreciated. I plan on keeping this thread updated throughout the lifespan of said maple.

much thanks

 

[SFDrake]

Still alive and pushing buds all over. Wishing I had put it in better soil.....

 

[Gabler]

That looks like Acer rubrum.

 

[SFDrake]

That looks like Acer rubrum.

this is what it was sold as, it's my first maple so I'm not sure...

 

[Ininaatigoons]

Seems like good enough soil mix for now. I wish I had hundreds of gallons of high quality bonsai soil for everything I have, but until I do I use a similar mix. More or less perlite depending

 

[Gabler]

Acer floridanum:



Acer rubrum:

 

[SFDrake]

Acer floridanum:

View attachment 585427

Acer rubrum:

View attachment 585428

Ok so how do you edit a thread title on bonsai nut lol

 

[Gabler]

Ok so how do you edit a thread title on bonsai nut lol

You ask Greg to do it. It's fine. I have one or two mislabelled threads myself.

 

[SFDrake]

You ask Greg to do it. It's fine. I have one or two mislabelled threads myself.

Great, thanks

 

[SFDrake]

Update;
Growing fast, but getting crazy leggy on the left side there....chop, air layer, leave alone? It still has some old buds on it.......

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I'd just let it grow, fatten the trunk, and see if you can keep it alive in the murder hot Flordia summer/fall. I also might wire the lower trunk to keep and acenuate the bend you have. Good luck.