After you have successfully grown your seedlings from cutting or seeds, training Japanese maple seedlings into bonsai trees is a rewarding and satisfying experience. However, the process requires patience, dedication, and a good understanding of bonsai techniques. Continue reading about how to care for Japanese maple bonsai seedlings.
One important thing to note is that in the initially when the seedling is 1-4 years old, major focus is given to thickening of the trunk and choosing and growing secondary branches. When the seedling is 5-7 years old, only then you may see the final shape of the trunk and secondary and tertiary branches.
Also read: Grow Japanese maple from seeds & Grow Japanese maple from cuttings.
Training Japanese maple seedling into a bonsai
A 1 year old seedling trunk is pretty thin. A 2-3 year old seedling will have a trunk that slightly thicker than the the thickness of a pencil. The trunk of a 4-6 year old Japanese maple seedling will have a thickness that is suitable for making a small bonsai tree.
1-2 years old seedling
- To increase the thickness of the trunk, make sure you apply ample of fertilizer. This should be your main focus when the seedling is 1-2 years old.
- When the seedling is 1-2 years old, prune the trunk back to roughly 10-12 inches (25-30 cm). This is done to control vertical growth and apply tree energy in thickening of trunk and branches.
- Shaping the trunk by using wires: Yon can start wiring one year old seedlings to give the trunk your desired shape. The trunks of these seedlings are very flexible and can be trained in any direction.
- Wiring technique: While wiring the trunk, keep the wire a little loose. And as these seedlings will grow quickly, keep checking the trunk of the tree for any scars caused by the wires. As soon as you see that the trunk is likely to bite into the wire, unwind the wire and rewind the wire from the opposite direction. For example, if the wire was twisted clockwise, unwind it and wrap it in an anti-clockwise direction. Continue to bend soft trunk. Read how to wire a bonsai tree for more details.
- Shaping the trunk by covering the seedlings: If you have got multiple seedlings on in a seedling bed or a pot, you can even keep a mesh over the seedlings. The mesh will not block the sunlight. After some time, the trunks of all those seedlings (which are gently pressed by the mesh) will have random interesting bends. Choose and train the seedling that has your preferred trunk shape.
- If you are not satisfied with the shape of the trunk, you can cut the trunk at the appropriate place and grow a new leader branch.
2-3 years old seedling
- When the seedling is 2 or 3 years old, cut the trunk back again. Again shorten it to almost 12 inches (30 cm). This will encourage back budding. Even at this stage, do not stop fertilizing.
- As you are performing light pruning every now and then, you can choose a sacrificial branch at the bottom part of the trunk. These sacrificial branches will help in thickening of the trunk. (You can also choose multiple sacrificial branches if you need them).
- Keep applying fertilizer.
- Third year is also a good time to think about the over all shape of the tree and selection of secondary branches.
- Keep the plant in shape and well balanced by light pruning.
- Remove any stub that was left on the trunk. For example, stub of the branch that was pruned or stub of the trunk (if the trunk was pruned to grow a leader and change the movement of the trunk). Use bonsai knob cutter. You can even use bonsai branch cutter. Continue reading about bonsai tools and their use for more details.
- Removing the old trunk stub can also assist in development of new branches on the new leader branch.
4 years old seedling
- As the seedling ages and matures beyond its 4th year, keep developing secondary branches and creating the taper of a bonsai tree.
- At this time you can also prune the sacrificial branches.
5-7 years old seedling
- In 5-7 years, you will have a small bonsai tree with its secondary and tertiary branches.
- Now you can repot the bonsai tree in a small bonsai pot. Continue reading how to repot a bonsai tree.
- Continue reading about Japanese maple bonsai care for more details.
You can also use the clip and grow method to train a young seedling into a bonsai. This is will also reduce the need for wiring. However, this is a time-consuming method.
