Acer Palmatum 'Japanese Maple'Bonsai or Garden 10 Seeds
Japanese Maple 'Acer Palmatum' -Excellent for Bonsai or Garden! 10 Seeds
Japanese Maples are delicate looking small or large trees and they are one of the best foliage plants for the gardener. Japanese Maples are natives to Japan, northeast China and Korea. In their natural habitat they are normally shaded by larger trees and so prefer partial shade. They have been cultivated from the early 17th century and are prized in Japan not only for their leaves but also their branch structure which is seen in winter. In Japan they are called Momiji which means to change colour ("momizu").They make excellent subjects for bonsai making superb small trees. The original Japanese maple, with fresh green spring foliage, that turns stunning blood red in autumn before it falls. Although Japanese maples look as though they would be delicate, they are hardy and durable trees, seldom damaged by insect pests or by air pollutants.
Size & Shape of the Japanese Maple:The size of the Japanese maple depends on the variety chosen. It can range from a shrub to a small tree. The average size is 15-25' tall and wide. The shape is usually round or vase. It may also have a weeping shape.
Exposure:Grow Japanese maple in full sun to part shade. It is also shade tolerant if needed, especially in the warmer zones.
Foliage:The Japanese maple tree is renowned for its foliage. The leaves have 5-9 palmate lobes. They may come in green or red. In the fall, the leaves will turn to brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow or purple. There are many different textures of leaves. Some have wide lobes, while others are finely dissected and lacy in appearance.
Flowers:The flowers are small and red or purple.
Fruit:The fruit is winged - a samara. It is .5-1" long.
Growing Tips For the Japanese Maple: Japanese maple trees like moist, well drained soil. They do not do as well in hot, dry areas, and they do not like windy places. You can fertilize your Japanese maple in late winter - early fall, after it is one year old. You will only need to fertilize once a year in spring or summer. Propagation is through seeds and softwood cuttings. The different varieties are also grafted onto rootstock.
Maintenance/Pruning: You will usually not have to do much pruning. You can prune out the lower branches if desired. Sometimes branches may cross each other, so you can remove one to improve the appearance. Otherwise just remove any dead, diseased or damaged branches as necessary. You can also control the appearance of the Japanese maple by choosing whether to train a single trunk, or to allow multiple trunks to form.
Germination:
First of all we soak the seeds in lukewarm (not hot!) water for 48 hours. This softens the seed coat a little. Next we mix the seed with a little damp (not too wet) sphagnum moss or peat and put it in a plastic zipper bag. Leave the seeds in this humid atmosphere for 4-6 weeks at room temperature.
leave the zipper bag in the refrigerator for 60 to 90 days. This is to mimic the natural action of seeds going through a winter season. After the 90 days sow in trays or pots filled with a good seed compost. If you have a seed propagator use it or find a warm place to maintain a steady temperature of 65-70F (18-20C)
Cover the seeds to their own depth: ¼ Inch (6 mm) with seed compost.
Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 2-3 inch pots.
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