Two plus zero (plus one later) makes three installments
These illustrations represent tw0 pages from Bonsai Today issue 66 (out of stock, see previous post). It’s the second installment (here’s the first) of a five page series on ramification (branching) that we are running over three posts (I originally said two posts, but have decided to expand to three).
Thanks. I´ve got to print this to study it and have the reference at hand. I live in Honduras, Central America (the little country that could last year) and you cannot get Japanese Maples here. So, I was just visiting at my daughters home in Durham, N.C. a couple of weeks ago and lo n´behold, she has JMaple in front of her home, with four little babies at its feet. They now are struggling to survive in HOnduras with four more that we found at a park near her house. I live at 1,500 meters above sea level (about 50,00 feet above sea level) and the weather is cool year long but it does not freeze in the “winter” months. My first exercise at bringing in JMaples was three years ago, of 15 seedlings only five have survived, two are in the ground and three are in pots. Do you have any suggestions as to how to care for them and have them grow nicely? Thanks.
Jose Maria
Hi Jose,
Well, I’m not sure about your climate. One thing you can do is provide excellent drainage, both in pots and in the ground. Japanese maples don’t like their roots staying too wet and good drainage equals good aeration, which, at your altitude (5,000 feet) is particularly helpful.
Some people that try to grow temperate zone trees in tropical climates, put them in the refrigerator in the winter. I’ve never tried it, so can’t say how or if it works.
I imagine the sun is quite hot during the day, so you might want to protect from leaf burn by providing some shade during the hottest hours.
That’s all I can think of now. Anyone else?
Buena suerte!
-w