Totally agree! For me it's much more important to have a variety of species than just "the best bonsai material". My goal is to have all common species growing here in Norway, including Norway maple of course (or just maple as we say here ;) )
Dear Nigel, You got me hooked on your videos which I enjoy tremendously. Thank you. I started my first bonsai after watching some -- a ficus benjamina straight from the nursery.
You can absolutely get uniform leaves the size of a thumbnail from norway, sugar, and red maples. Each maple has a different tolerance though. Red maples get small leaves easily, norway maples require a defoliation, but the new growth can be tiny. Also theres one more technique for american maples, you watch the buds grow and everytime a leaf bigger then the size you want grows cut it off and wait for the next shoot to come out. Eventually you will tire its specific root and give you tiny leaves. The same technique works on sugar maples.
Thank you Bonto, I try to make my trees look like it's full size counter part in nature. I don't like to change the natural growth pattern and style too much, I think clip and grow techniques are good and respect the natural style. I do use wire to position and create the feeling of weight to the branches.
Thanks to you, I took the plunge & joined the Pittsburgh Bonsai Society. One of the members has a farm with 500 bonsai trees. Thanks for passing on your wisdom and experience.
Hey Nigel. I brought back some Norway seeds from Washington state and out of all of them I was managed to get to. They are both about 3 inches tall and it’s been rather hot down here in Georgia 95 100. One of the maples have started to turn gray on the leaves and I was wondering if you know what Mike calls it or any help you might have. Thank you
I want to try an Ulmus americana one day. The only thing holding me back is the possibility of Dutch Elm disease. Maybe one day. Thanks for sharing. It's coming along nicely
Hi Stephanie, Dutch Elm disease is rare with small trees, but it is a possibility. Any of your trees can get a disease, there are so many out there. I have had trees die of rust, boring insects... and some just die, cause unknown! I have found it best to keep at least 10 trees, also some in training. If one of your trees dies, you always have a younger one to replace it. You hope your trees live a long life and most do, but you will always lose a tree now and then. Good luck!
Chinese elm trees are not susceptible to Dutch Elm and are great for bonsai. There are cultivars of American Elm (if you are dead set on American Elms) that are considered more resistant to Dutch Elm disease. We have a boat load of elms growing near me.
I like the gnarly trunk :) I'm about to try and bonsai a few catalpa trees, as well. You're right, the leaves stay pretty small I've noticed. Also, I enjoyed your comment about working with whatever trees you want. Keeps bonsai fun.
Bishop Lewis Good luck with your trees, I like a large variety of trees. It keeps the hobby very challenging, learning the best care and techniques for each tree. Trial and error is the best way sometimes!
Growing Things I've started some silver maples from seed this year, they are just starting to sprout now. There is no shortage of Maple keys around my area!
Hi Nigel, I purchased a small Norway Maple not because I wanted it, but because the pot was hand crafted ( one of a kind ) so the small Norway came with it. I stay away from large leafed trees asIi think they look awkward. This small Norway Maple has a very interesting raised root system and snarled as well so after watching your video I have decided to keep it and see what I can do with it. I ALWAYS value your opinion even though I may disagree from time to time. This video was very informative; as your usual standard of quality. So the Norway Maple will have a new lease on life only a different pot. All the best for the spring although it is already here on the West Coast. Curtis.
+Curtis Lee Hi Curtis, I hope your maple turns out well, I know they will never be a typical bonsai tree, but they do have their charm and interesting features.
+Curtis Lee I would try cutting the taproot in half, re potting it deeply in a pot and it should grow a new root system this year. The next year you can begin refining the roots, they are like trident maples, they grow roots like crazy.
I just found one in my yard that I pulled up. It's only a year or two old but has nice small leaves and is short, only ~5 inches tall. Would it make a good bonsai candidate or is too young?
Can Norway maple be grown from woody cuttings? I have two large ones on my property that need pruning anyway but I don't know if the cuttings would root as I'm not very experienced.
It would be best to air layer a branch or find a small seedling that is growing in the area. You could take hardwood cuttings, but these would have to be small and they don't always root.
hi nigel, i live in toronto and i have a little maple tree that i am trying to bonsai, but the buds havent swelled yet and its almost the end of april. the tree is still alive and i repotted it because i thought maybe thats why it hasnt budded yet. it has been 2 weeks now and there are still no signs of budding. what should i do?
Hello, I would keep watering it and if it shows no signs of life by the end of May, then you will have to start another tree. If it is a native maple, you should be able to find small seedlings in your yard or garden.
Hello there! I have a norway maple seedling growing in my garden. I thought of training it as a bonsai later on, but leaf size makes me wonder if it is suitable at all. What do you think? Can you reduce leaf size more than it is shown on this video? Maybe a bigger bonsai would be more appropriate?
Hello! Please tell me, what substrate are you using for planting Japanese maple in a pot? You add the vermicompost to the substrate? After winter died acer palmatum beni-maiko, sadly. For transplants purchased from the Netherlands seedlings Japanese maple, what substrate do you recommend? What better recommend, to transplant along with the soil from the transport pot or remove the ground, washed the roots and then replant a maple in landless substrate?
Hello! Thanks for the video link. There is a problem. I do not speak English, I'm from Russia (I can't understand what you're talking about in the video), I can only do text translation using Google translator. If You please in a nutshell describe the preparation of a substrate (ingredients in %). I have a natural zeolite, lava, pumice, expanded clay, perlite, vermiculite, vermicompost. These components are suitable for the soil? If suitable, then in what proportion to use?
+Аманулла Ахметзянов Turface is a fired clay particle, pumice would be a good equivalent. I would wash the soil off your maples and plant it in bonsai soil. You will get better root growth and it will allow you to see the roots and begin corrective root pruning.
I did try a partial defoliation with the larger leaves, but I didn't get much more growth from the tree that year. They tend to put out the spring growth and then grow very little for the rest of summer. Maybe as I get a better root system, the tree will have more energy to put out more growth mid summer. I'll keep experimenting with it!
Here is a thread about grafting Norway maples, I'm not sure if the answer is in there somewhere? forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/grafting-platanoides.49169/
Any suggestions how to germinate a tree from seeds? My family have loved this tree for year. We brought back a tree from seeds from my in-laws that lived in ME. We have a beautiful 20+ year old tree and never had a seedling germinate. Our oldest son is farming and lives on his wife's family farm . He would love a tree of his own. Would it be possible for you to mail a small tree to NC? Peace out! Lisa
The keys fall in spring and you need to get maple keys that are developed and are ready to fall off the tree. If you collect the keys in mid air, you will have the best chance to germinate them. I plant the keys with the wing sticking out of the soil and the seed buried. Keep the soil moist and in the sun. They should grow fine. I cannot ship trees across the border without a special and difficult to get permit. Sorry, but I hope you can get some started.
I dug up a seedling today when I went for a walk in a field, it must of been a seed from a neighbouring tree. We have a lot of Norway Maple trees here in Ireland.
Essas árvores também tem aqui no estado do Paraná Brasil, mas são um pouco difíceis de se achar. Gosto muito das suas características, plantei umas sementes algumas deixei em um pequeno vaso e outras deixei na geladeira pra ver qual iria germinar , o Acer palmatum também é uma excelente árvore. These trees are also present in Brazil, but are a little difficult to find. I like a lot of its characteristics, planted some misery seeds and other products in the refrigerator to see which would germinate, Acer palmatum is also an excellent.
cypress1337 You can prune the bramches and growing tips anytime you see them extend past the outline of the tree. Your tree will slowly get larger over the summer. In spring, the branch structure must be pruned back short again to allow room for the new summer growth for that year.This relies on using inner and back buds to shorten the branch structure to. If this is not done, your trees will continue to get a little larger every year. In a forest you will run out of space!
Nigel Saunders Sorry, I thought this question was for the Larch forest. Pruning for the Maples, depends on where your tree is at. I will be growing all my branches (trunks) all year without pruning. Next year, I may prune twice a year, and the next year even more. This years growth will be long and will get cut back in spring if the point where you want to cut is woody. Any growth you don't want can be removed at any time. Old leaves that are shading out a branch you want to grow, can also be removed at any time.
Hey nigel. Iv started some sugar maple and red maple . Also some Kentucky coffee bean trees. And idk it's like I'm experiencing survival of the fittest. I had 22 lol trees growing now I'm down to 7 and I'm sure what's happening
That is about normal for me, I usually loose many of the seedlings, If I plant 20, I usually end up with one or two over many years. Once the trees get stronger, the better the chances of survival are.
I left all but three trees outside all winter this year. The only trees I brought in were a Japanese Maple, a Catalpa and a tiny Mountain Ash. I usually bring the trees into the unheated basement by December, but this year the temperature never got below -18 C (0 F) It looks like all the trees survived the cold and many have the buds starting to swell already. I just left them on the benches with no protection. They did have a layer of snow on them during the coldest part of winter. The greenhouse would get too warm on sunny days in the winter. I would have to cover it with a silver foil to keep the heat away.
Oh that's great. I have collected a few pine and spruce trees over the past week while the ground was soft. After putting them into bonsai training pots and leaving them outside, how long till I should see signs of the tree recovering? huge fan. always watch your videos. loving the art of bonsai and your videos are very informative. keep'em coming.
+José Antonio Montoya Plane trees are one of my favorite. I planted a seed this fall, I'm hoping it sprouts in spring. I really like the camouflage coloured bark and the way it peels away. Good luck, it will make an interesting bonsai.
I would have never thought Norway maples to be a bonsai candidate either but hey Nigel your right gotta try and have variety with trees ...people don't realize there are a lot of species used as bonsai IE potaoes, Mums, Carrots, Asparagus ferns, etc..
Hmmm... Carrots are bienniels, so I'm not sure how that would work. Not to mention that these plants are not trees, nor even shrubs... and 'bonsai' means a tree in a pot or tray, right? That said, whatever one enjoys growing, go for it! Thought not every plant we grow in a pot and manipulate is a bonsai. ;)
The leaves on a Norway maple are large to begin with. As the tree develops more and more branch tips, the leaf size will reduce, but it probably will never get really small. If I got the leaf size 1/2 of what it is now and the tree twice as big, I think all will look good!
Nihey Nigel, nice vid on your Norway Maple. A friend of mine gave me three volunteer Norway Maple seedlings that popped up in her flower bed about two years ago. I only have one left and it’s just a small stick in a solo cup and was thinking of growing it as a bonsai. Have youever tried Sugar Maple? I’ve read they’re common in canada and they are pretty trees in the fall. Thanks.
Hey there nigal ive been watching your videos for a few years now! Id like to show you a silver maple ive been working on for just over 2 years from a seedling how would i go about getting photos to you
I'm not a fan of that look. It is often overdone with the melted plate of roots over twice the size of the trunk. The smooth plate of roots doesn't give the tree the ridges or flutes that extend up the trunk from the roots. You tend to loose character in the trunk. I have seen this effect in real life, but the plate of roots is never exposed like you see on some bonsai trees. I like my trees to look like small versions of full size trees.
FAYE MARTIN Hi Faye, the trunk will thicken the more the tree grows. The trees must be allowed to grow freely each year and then cur back each year. It takes many years to just get your trunk to the desired thickness, and the taper comes from cutting back each year, always leaving some of last years growth. After the trunk is developed, then you start to grow your branches and begin to refine your tree and the design.
hi nigel i love your videos, they are a great source of knowledge. i am trying to grow maple tree from seeds, but none of them got germinated. i don't know the reason, but i hv tried almost every thing. i live in india near delhi. please suggest something and i will be highly grateful if u can provide me some seeds...thanks :)
Maple keys need a cold period of 6 weeks in your refrigerator, before sowing the seeds. The trees will also need a cold period every winter for the tree to loose it's leaves and go dormant. This dormant period is required for the tree to stay healthy and grow with vigor in spring. It might be possible to grow maples in a warm climate, but it will be very, very difficult, if not impossible. I would recommend you grow some of the native ficus trees in your area for the best success!
jfrinns I'm using a pair of Felco bypass pruners, they were on sale at Canadian Tire for 14.99. Someday I hope to get some nice bonsai tools, I just can't afford them now.
As my first bonsai, i thought about this tree since our neighbour's tree planted seeds all over his hedge. Now that i know it's invasive here in Quebec and the rest of Canada, and even taking the place of the sugar maple in some areas, i'm not sure i want to "encourage" that species in North America. To be honest though, i'd much prefer to have a sugar maple bonsai anyway. I'm gonna look into that.
I know this is an older video but great stuff. My parents have a Norway Maple in their flower bed well for a while now. Recently was over at their house and said they were thinking of killing it. I asked them to wait and I will dig it up next spring 2018. Not sure what I will do with it. It's at least 5 or more years old but dad has hacked on it all lot. I hate to see it get trashed though.
Iv hundreds every year of sycamore maples that take root in my gravel in the landscape iv got a cat litter try full of old soil and there must be a good 100 in that n got another 3 tope boxes full haha! No getting away from them the trees in the garden and the keys drop every year but always root! That's the problem now getting rid of th but to hard to throw away so I throw them in all the old boxes n tubs etc to grow the oldest is 4 years dredding next year all the keys are falling now but not ready yet
Scottish Bonsai Me too, I've got hundreds growing in my eavestrough on the house. They love to root in bonsai soil, I'm always picking out sprouted seedlings from my pots. Maybe a good way to get a natural bonsai forest?
Yes, they will reduce to a reasonable size as the tree develops, but they will always be larger than most bonsai. I like some of the big leaf trees, often they have other features that counteract the large leaf size for interest.
Totally agree! For me it's much more important to have a variety of species than just "the best bonsai material". My goal is to have all common species growing here in Norway, including Norway maple of course (or just maple as we say here ;) )
I enjoy growing the "less suitable" materials, as much as the traditional trees used for bonsai. Each tree has it's own beauty!
Dear Nigel, You got me hooked on your videos which I enjoy tremendously. Thank you. I started my first bonsai after watching some -- a ficus benjamina straight from the nursery.
Nazha Merabi Glad to hear, good luck with your ficus, give it lots of light.
Thank you Nigel. Will do. Love your garden and will be waiting for more videos... And a hello to the chickens :)
Good job Nigel! :)
Any type of tree can be Bonsai. I think, it's about caring :)
You can absolutely get uniform leaves the size of a thumbnail from norway, sugar, and red maples. Each maple has a different tolerance though. Red maples get small leaves easily, norway maples require a defoliation, but the new growth can be tiny. Also theres one more technique for american maples, you watch the buds grow and everytime a leaf bigger then the size you want grows cut it off and wait for the next shoot to come out. Eventually you will tire its specific root and give you tiny leaves. The same technique works on sugar maples.
What a beautiful tree. I love how you keep your trees natural, fresh and non-fussy.
Thank you Bonto, I try to make my trees look like it's full size counter part in nature. I don't like to change the natural growth pattern and style too much, I think clip and grow techniques are good and respect the natural style. I do use wire to position and create the feeling of weight to the branches.
I totaly agree: it's so much better to see native trees in shows.
Nice job.
Greets
Kennet
Thanks to you, I took the plunge & joined the Pittsburgh Bonsai Society. One of the members has a farm with 500 bonsai trees. Thanks for passing on your wisdom and experience.
Domenick Barone Good stuff, I hope you enjoy growing your trees!
Nigel Saunders Your still my favorite bonsai guy. Keep those videos coming.
Are u still a member and do u guys have shows? I'm from Crawford county 2 hours up 79. I would love to meet some people from my area to learn from.
Nice. Large leaved trees can be a challenge but that's part of the fun. If we wanted quick and easy bonsai probably wouldn't be the answer
Cheers
Sid
I'm happy to see a large leaf bonsai, I got a Sapling from my fathers Maple outside his house, hopefully I can get it to look like this someday.
Yes, they are great trees to practice your skills on too!!
Hey Nigel. I brought back some Norway seeds from Washington state and out of all of them I was managed to get to. They are both about 3 inches tall and it’s been rather hot down here in Georgia 95 100. One of the maples have started to turn gray on the leaves and I was wondering if you know what Mike calls it or any help you might have. Thank you
Wow! I've been wondering about a Norway maple bonsai for like 3 years.
Norway maples are considered an invasive species in many states. At work there are some growing and they are difficult to control.
Yes, they are taking hold in Canada too, but the city here keeps planting them as street trees. Crazy world!
Can you defoliate the Norway maple in spring to get it to flush smaller leaves?
Hey! Love the video, can we get an update on this tree if you have one?
An update will be coming this fall!
I want to try an Ulmus americana one day. The only thing holding me back is the possibility of Dutch Elm disease. Maybe one day. Thanks for sharing. It's coming along nicely
Hi Stephanie, Dutch Elm disease is rare with small trees, but it is a possibility. Any of your trees can get a disease, there are so many out there. I have had trees die of rust, boring insects... and some just die, cause unknown!
I have found it best to keep at least 10 trees, also some in training. If one of your trees dies, you always have a younger one to replace it. You hope your trees live a long life and most do, but you will always lose a tree now and then. Good luck!
Chinese elm trees are not susceptible to Dutch Elm and are great for bonsai. There are cultivars of American Elm (if you are dead set on American Elms) that are considered more resistant to Dutch Elm disease. We have a boat load of elms growing near me.
I like the gnarly trunk :) I'm about to try and bonsai a few catalpa trees, as well. You're right, the leaves stay pretty small I've noticed. Also, I enjoyed your comment about working with whatever trees you want. Keeps bonsai fun.
Bishop Lewis Good luck with your trees, I like a large variety of trees. It keeps the hobby very challenging, learning the best care and techniques for each tree. Trial and error is the best way sometimes!
I have one in my front yard and I have a lot of volunteers that rain down and root themselves lol
Growing Things I've started some silver maples from seed this year, they are just starting to sprout now. There is no shortage of Maple keys around my area!
Hi Nigel,
I purchased a small Norway Maple not because I wanted it, but because the pot was hand crafted ( one of a kind ) so the small Norway came with it. I stay away from large leafed trees asIi think they look awkward. This small Norway Maple has a very interesting raised root system and snarled as well so after watching your video I have decided to keep it and see what I can do with it.
I ALWAYS value your opinion even though I may disagree from time to time. This video was very informative; as your usual standard of quality. So the Norway Maple will have a new lease on life only a different pot.
All the best for the spring although it is already here on the West Coast.
Curtis.
+Curtis Lee Hi Curtis, I hope your maple turns out well, I know they will never be a typical bonsai tree, but they do have their charm and interesting features.
+Nigel Saunders I was just examining it and it has a huge tap root and then some smaller nebari. I guess I am sunk if I cut it?
+Curtis Lee I would try cutting the taproot in half, re potting it deeply in a pot and it should grow a new root system this year. The next year you can begin refining the roots, they are like trident maples, they grow roots like crazy.
I just found one in my yard that I pulled up. It's only a year or two old but has nice small leaves and is short, only ~5 inches tall. Would it make a good bonsai candidate or is too young?
Thanks for the info. Would these Maples need bringing indoors during harsh winter months as they are in small pots?
Can Norway maple be grown from woody cuttings? I have two large ones on my property that need pruning anyway but I don't know if the cuttings would root as I'm not very experienced.
It would be best to air layer a branch or find a small seedling that is growing in the area. You could take hardwood cuttings, but these would have to be small and they don't always root.
There's a road near my house that is lined by dozens of these trees on each side. Really huge ones too. Really cool seeing them as bonsai :D
The tree is doing well this year after a close call with a boring insect!
I# there any way you could get the leaves to shrink?
hi nigel,
i live in toronto and i have a little maple tree that i am trying to bonsai, but the buds havent swelled yet and its almost the end of april. the tree is still alive and i repotted it because i thought maybe thats why it hasnt budded yet. it has been 2 weeks now and there are still no signs of budding. what should i do?
Hello, I would keep watering it and if it shows no signs of life by the end of May, then you will have to start another tree. If it is a native maple, you should be able to find small seedlings in your yard or garden.
Hello there! I have a norway maple seedling growing in my garden. I thought of training it as a bonsai later on, but leaf size makes me wonder if it is suitable at all. What do you think? Can you reduce leaf size more than it is shown on this video? Maybe a bigger bonsai would be more appropriate?
The leaf size can be reduced smaller than those in the video, the tree is suited to a larger bonsai, I'll be doing an update to the tree this spring.
Hello! Please tell me, what substrate are you using for planting Japanese maple in a pot? You add the vermicompost to the substrate? After winter died acer palmatum beni-maiko, sadly. For transplants purchased from the Netherlands seedlings Japanese maple, what substrate do you recommend? What better recommend, to transplant along with the soil from the transport pot or remove the ground, washed the roots and then replant a maple in landless substrate?
+Аманулла Ахметзянов You can check out the following video on making soil.
th-cam.com/video/p522AYawgOI/w-d-xo.html
Hello! Thanks for the video link. There is a problem. I do not speak English, I'm from Russia (I can't understand what you're talking about in the video), I can only do text translation using Google translator. If You please in a nutshell describe the preparation of a substrate (ingredients in %). I have a natural zeolite, lava, pumice, expanded clay, perlite, vermiculite, vermicompost. These components are suitable for the soil? If suitable, then in what proportion to use?
+Аманулла Ахметзянов 40% turface, 30% perlite, 20% compost, 10% pine bark
Thanks for the info, but I could not translate single word (40% turface)? Everything else I understand.
+Аманулла Ахметзянов Turface is a fired clay particle, pumice would be a good equivalent. I would wash the soil off your maples and plant it in bonsai soil. You will get better root growth and it will allow you to see the roots and begin corrective root pruning.
I like the chalange :-)
do you defoliate it will help reduce leaf size or is it not safe for this maple? give us an update maybe at some point tree is awesome
I did try a partial defoliation with the larger leaves, but I didn't get much more growth from the tree that year. They tend to put out the spring growth and then grow very little for the rest of summer. Maybe as I get a better root system, the tree will have more energy to put out more growth mid summer. I'll keep experimenting with it!
How old is your tree ?
Thanks!
Aw, thanks so much Ellen!! You made my night!!
Hello nigel, What kind of maple is compatible to graft in Norway maple?
Here is a thread about grafting Norway maples, I'm not sure if the answer is in there somewhere?
forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/grafting-platanoides.49169/
Any suggestions how to germinate a tree from seeds? My family have loved this tree for year. We brought back a tree from seeds from my in-laws that lived in ME. We have a beautiful 20+ year old tree and never had a seedling germinate. Our oldest son is farming and lives on his wife's family farm . He would love a tree of his own. Would it be possible for you to mail a small tree to NC? Peace out! Lisa
Correction inlaws from Maryland
The keys fall in spring and you need to get maple keys that are developed and are ready to fall off the tree. If you collect the keys in mid air, you will have the best chance to germinate them. I plant the keys with the wing sticking out of the soil and the seed buried. Keep the soil moist and in the sun. They should grow fine. I cannot ship trees across the border without a special and difficult to get permit. Sorry, but I hope you can get some started.
Hi Nigel, how are you? Have you ever made a video about how to get smaller leaves?
I haven't, but it would be a great topic to cover. Thank you!
That would be great;) thank you!
Hi! I hope this hasn't been answered before, but what are the large brownish things in the pot to the left? I've been wondering the whole video. ;)
They are silver maple keys. The seedlings are two years old now and will be getting their first work done to them this spring.
Oh wow, they are huge! Thanks for the answer!
I dug up a seedling today when I went for a walk in a field, it must of been a seed from a neighbouring tree. We have a lot of Norway Maple trees here in Ireland.
They are becoming a problem tree in many countries, replacing native species. An ideal tree to dig up and make into a bonsai!
Nigel Saunders they grow up to 50 feet in maturity which is beating our old sessile oaks that are ten times their age!
Essas árvores também tem aqui no estado do Paraná Brasil, mas são um pouco difíceis de se achar. Gosto muito das suas características, plantei umas sementes algumas deixei em um pequeno vaso e outras deixei na geladeira pra ver qual iria germinar , o Acer palmatum também é uma excelente árvore.
These trees are also present in Brazil, but are a little difficult to find. I like a lot of its characteristics, planted some misery seeds and other products in the refrigerator to see which would germinate, Acer palmatum is also an excellent.
Where are you located Nigel? The weather looks nice.
I'm in Ontario Canada, cold in winter, warm in summer!
@@TheBonsaiZone that's great! We were in Banff last spring and we loved it up there!
How much / do you prune between now and next spring when u see some 'missed' non-needed brances / leaves?
cypress1337 You can prune the bramches and growing tips anytime you see them extend past the outline of the tree. Your tree will slowly get larger over the summer. In spring, the branch structure must be pruned back short again to allow room for the new summer growth for that year.This relies on using inner and back buds to shorten the branch structure to. If this is not done, your trees will continue to get a little larger every year. In a forest you will run out of space!
Nigel Saunders Sorry, I thought this question was for the Larch forest. Pruning for the Maples, depends on where your tree is at. I will be growing all my branches (trunks) all year without pruning. Next year, I may prune twice a year, and the next year even more. This years growth will be long and will get cut back in spring if the point where you want to cut is woody. Any growth you don't want can be removed at any time. Old leaves that are shading out a branch you want to grow, can also be removed at any time.
Hey nigel. Iv started some sugar maple and red maple . Also some Kentucky coffee bean trees. And idk it's like I'm experiencing survival of the fittest. I had 22 lol trees growing now I'm down to 7 and I'm sure what's happening
That is about normal for me, I usually loose many of the seedlings, If I plant 20, I usually end up with one or two over many years. Once the trees get stronger, the better the chances of survival are.
For the trees that are native to southern ontario, when winter comes, do you leave them outside? or do you put them all into your greenhouse?
I left all but three trees outside all winter this year. The only trees I brought in were a Japanese Maple, a Catalpa and a tiny Mountain Ash. I usually bring the trees into the unheated basement by December, but this year the temperature never got below -18 C (0 F) It looks like all the trees survived the cold and many have the buds starting to swell already. I just left them on the benches with no protection. They did have a layer of snow on them during the coldest part of winter. The greenhouse would get too warm on sunny days in the winter. I would have to cover it with a silver foil to keep the heat away.
Oh that's great. I have collected a few pine and spruce trees over the past week while the ground was soft. After putting them into bonsai training pots and leaving them outside, how long till I should see signs of the tree recovering?
huge fan. always watch your videos. loving the art of bonsai and your videos are very informative. keep'em coming.
Is there a 7 year later update?
Yes, check the playlist for this tree, it is still under development after a few setbacks!
This video has inspired me to try with a London plane tree.
+José Antonio Montoya Plane trees are one of my favorite. I planted a seed this fall, I'm hoping it sprouts in spring. I really like the camouflage coloured bark and the way it peels away. Good luck, it will make an interesting bonsai.
Just curious if you have ever done Japanese maples from seed im interested in start one
I haven't, but several of our club members have. They have had good luck with several varieties. The seeds came from a mail order company.
I would have never thought Norway maples to be a bonsai candidate either but hey Nigel your right gotta try and have variety with trees ...people don't realize there are a lot of species used as bonsai IE potaoes, Mums, Carrots, Asparagus ferns, etc..
Hmmm... Carrots are bienniels, so I'm not sure how that would work. Not to mention that these plants are not trees, nor even shrubs... and 'bonsai' means a tree in a pot or tray, right? That said, whatever one enjoys growing, go for it! Thought not every plant we grow in a pot and manipulate is a bonsai. ;)
but why are the leaves so big? how can you make them smaller
The leaves on a Norway maple are large to begin with. As the tree develops more and more branch tips, the leaf size will reduce, but it probably will never get really small. If I got the leaf size 1/2 of what it is now and the tree twice as big, I think all will look good!
High Nigel I really enjoy your Bonsai Videos. Have you ever tried to Bonsai Horse Chestnut tree with its big leaves ?
In case anyone would like to know, the structures that contain the maple seeds are 'samaras'
Thanks!
You have so generously shared much info with your viewers, it only seemed fair to share a bit in return. Happy bonsai-ing!
Nihey Nigel, nice vid on your Norway Maple. A friend of mine gave me three volunteer Norway Maple seedlings that popped up in her flower bed about two years ago. I only have one left and it’s just a small stick in a solo cup and was thinking of growing it as a bonsai. Have youever tried Sugar Maple? I’ve read they’re common in canada and they are pretty trees in the fall. Thanks.
I don't have a sugar Maple, but I do want to grow one. I have seen some really nice ones as bonsai! Good luck with your maple!
Any update on this?
It is growing really well and will need pruning soon!
Hey there nigal ive been watching your videos for a few years now! Id like to show you a silver maple ive been working on for just over 2 years from a seedling how would i go about getting photos to you
You can send me pics to....
thekwbonsaisociety@gmail.com
So this guy grew from a seed in just three years?
It has been growing in the front garden in the ground for about ten years, with regular pruning. It has been in a pot for the last three years.
What do you think of the Japanese maple root bases of the 50-100 year old bonsai that look like melted was around the base
I'm not a fan of that look. It is often overdone with the melted plate of roots over twice the size of the trunk. The smooth plate of roots doesn't give the tree the ridges or flutes that extend up the trunk from the roots. You tend to loose character in the trunk. I have seen this effect in real life, but the plate of roots is never exposed like you see on some bonsai trees. I like my trees to look like small versions of full size trees.
i can admire the style but i agree. by the way your instagram account has 185 followers
how do u get the trunk thick
FAYE MARTIN Hi Faye, the trunk will thicken the more the tree grows. The trees must be allowed to grow freely each year and then cur back each year. It takes many years to just get your trunk to the desired thickness, and the taper comes from cutting back each year, always leaving some of last years growth. After the trunk is developed, then you start to grow your branches and begin to refine your tree and the design.
thankyou very much
hi nigel
i love your videos, they are a great source of knowledge. i am trying to grow maple tree from seeds, but none of them got germinated. i don't know the reason, but i hv tried almost every thing. i live in india near delhi. please suggest something and i will be highly grateful if u can provide me some seeds...thanks :)
Maple keys need a cold period of 6 weeks in your refrigerator, before sowing the seeds. The trees will also need a cold period every winter for the tree to loose it's leaves and go dormant. This dormant period is required for the tree to stay healthy and grow with vigor in spring. It might be possible to grow maples in a warm climate, but it will be very, very difficult, if not impossible. I would recommend you grow some of the native ficus trees in your area for the best success!
What brand of pruners do you use?
jfrinns I'm using a pair of Felco bypass pruners, they were on sale at Canadian Tire for 14.99. Someday I hope to get some nice bonsai tools, I just can't afford them now.
You seem to be doing just fine with them, if I have to say
As my first bonsai, i thought about this tree since our neighbour's tree planted seeds all over his hedge. Now that i know it's invasive here in Quebec and the rest of Canada, and even taking the place of the sugar maple in some areas, i'm not sure i want to "encourage" that species in North America.
To be honest though, i'd much prefer to have a sugar maple bonsai anyway. I'm gonna look into that.
I want to start a sugar maple also, they have smaller leaves and would give great fall colours! I'll have to keep my eyes open for one.
The Norway maple has sure taken hold here in Nova Scotia. Can't stop the damage now, they're everywhere.
I know this is an older video but great stuff. My parents have a Norway Maple in their flower bed well for a while now. Recently was over at their house and said they were thinking of killing it. I asked them to wait and I will dig it up next spring 2018. Not sure what I will do with it. It's at least 5 or more years old but dad has hacked on it all lot. I hate to see it get trashed though.
Sounds like a good tree to rescue and grow as a bonsai. I'm looking forward to seeing mine in the future!
Iv hundreds every year of sycamore maples that take root in my gravel in the landscape iv got a cat litter try full of old soil and there must be a good 100 in that n got another 3 tope boxes full haha! No getting away from them the trees in the garden and the keys drop every year but always root! That's the problem now getting rid of th but to hard to throw away so I throw them in all the old boxes n tubs etc to grow the oldest is 4 years dredding next year all the keys are falling now but not ready yet
Scottish Bonsai Me too, I've got hundreds growing in my eavestrough on the house. They love to root in bonsai soil, I'm always picking out sprouted seedlings from my pots. Maybe a good way to get a natural bonsai forest?
Yeh they're really getting fat and there not even as big as my four arm there only 2 year old I'm quite amazed how fat there getting
So large leafes.
Yes, they will reduce to a reasonable size as the tree develops, but they will always be larger than most bonsai. I like some of the big leaf trees, often they have other features that counteract the large leaf size for interest.
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone Thank you. I have one 35 years in training with quite small leafes. But thank you for your videos.
And one more thing, the key to norway maples is abuse. Abuse them and they look amazing. Treat them good and they look like that.