Acer cutting - how best to progress?

Hi everyone
I've got this tiny new Acer cutting that's just rooted 2 months after being taken, & at present I still have it in water where it started out. It's just starting to produce fine roots now, so I'm wondering when will be the likely best time to consider potting it on & what into?? I've got some cuttings of house plants etc doing well in inorganic gravel but equally assuming I'll need to get them into soil maybe but at the minute I've only got Miracle Gro & heavy food compost handy.

I've another couple of Acer cuttings in water that were taken the same time but older wood so haven't yet rooted but would really like to have a chance at success with this one, hence looking for some info on how best to proceed.

Thanks
Delta

PS - if you take the size of the kitchen roll sheet it's partly sitting on it'll give you some idea of overall size but around 4-5 inches tall (not incl root).

 

I know very little about growing Acers Delta, but I'm sure @whis4ey will be willing to help you out.

 

Hi Delta

I grow a number different of Acer's in bonsai form and John Innes no3 is a good place to start. Its gritty and encourages fine root growth. I actually mix mine with further sharp sand about 3 to 1

As we are into august now I would say into a pot very soon to allow it to establish so as to store up energy and set buds for next year. Keep it moist and feed with zero nitrogen feed from september till leaf fall.

Hope this helps

Dave

 

Thanks so much Dave - exactly the type of info I wanted as my greatest concern is overwintering. I had a well rooted little Spirea cutting last year that I decided to keep indoors over the winter as it was so young & I worried it might die from the cold perhaps, but it died anyway once it had dropped its leaves in Oct. So I really don't want to risk losing this wee one, as I've only one other cutting left that might yet push out root & as you say - time is getting on for doing this. Will let you know how I get on.

 

Not a lot to add to what Dave suggests. Acers like light well draining soil and I mix mine with pine finings rather than grit which I have found to be a better mix .... some John Innis, maybe peat, leaf mould, a little bone meal, compost etc .... depending on what I have handy at the time I am fortunate to have great two year old leaf mould and my own compost and pine finings. Think .... 'what would I like to live in if I was a new little acer? '

 

@whis4ey what are pine finings please? is this pine bark or pine needles
or maybe a mixture of both please.

 

Thanks Sam - Doubt I might struggle with much past the John Innes as I'm fully dependent on a single local garden centre for supplies & they don't tend to do much other than the main things but I'll certainly ask if they have bone meal or other material suitable for the purpose. As I mentioned before, my bigger concern now is overwintering - indoors or outdoors (under cover) - I presume it will still need some cold weather at some point to get it ready to spring into action next year??

Delta

 

Pine needles ... I have loads of these at the base of my pine trees and they are super to lighten potting soils with
I overwinter my new plants in a covered cold frame, and if the winter is expected to be harder than usual, an insulated cold frame Judge the situation as it happens .....

 

Here is a Katsura maple I have, it was repotted in march. Out of the pot, root pruned, back into the same pot with fresh soil mix. It has wonderful orange leaves in early april and is always the first to show its leaves.

I have 2 others in pots and a 30 year old mature tree in the garden. Can post pics if interested.

I overwinter my Acers in the garage. they will withstand the cold, its freezing wind and frost on the buds they dont like. They are tough little things and they just want to grow. Give them the right conditions and they will. Secret to strong buds that will form in autumn is definitley zero nitrogen feed. Throughout the year I use fish emulsion. Supplies can be bought over the internet if you struggle locally.

Greetings Sam

Dave

 

Oh WOW Dave - brill Maple that - utterly envious!! I'm really only starting out with bonsai as I've become heavily disabled over recent years to the point where I can no longer manage container shrubs/trees etc in my town yard garden. As I already had 2 bonsai (C. Elm & Privet) I figured I'd see if I could downsize the larger shrubs such as the Maple from which this cutting came, which has recovered brilliantly now & put out tons of new growth, so will be ready for another good heavy prune next Spring. Also have lilac, azaleas, cotoneaster, & a honeysuckle bought as pre-bonsai which are doing well, & then still have a large Spirea and a Cercis to work on next Spring too, so quite busy. But Maples have always been my main love so I'm hopeful I can get at least one cutting along the way to take into the future. Would love to see your other pics too tho

 

I have successfully killed so many bonsai over this past years. They need constant care that I have not been able to give. So any advice I give on bonsai should be safely ignored LOL
Over wintering in a garage will certainly avoid the chance of freezing of the root system which would undoubtedly kill the plant
At the end of the day it is all a question of common sense
Lovely healthy plant Dave

 

I have killed and had a quite a few just give up on me too Sam. The Japanese say bonsai is 10% horticulture and 90% art. I say its 100% challange just to keep the things alive and well.

I will take a few more pics of the other babies and post tomorrow with some history.

Delta, I think youve done splendidly well to have propogated a cutting in water. If you have the knack I would say do half a dozen or so at once. It will up your chances of success.

Dave

 

As promised. Here are two Acer Palmatum. Rescued as 6" saplings from Woolworths about 6 years ago for £1.99 each!!!

They were identical, and now completely different. The smaller is the better bonsai. The larger is twice the size now in a bigger pot and grows like mad with long shoots escaping all the time. It must still think its a little tree trying to grow up! The smaller one must think he has grown up and doesnt need to grow anymore.

Both will be repotted next spring, the big one will be root pruned quite considerably and put into a smaller pot and the smaller one will go into a bigger pot to try and thicken the trunk.

Lastly is a 20ft mature tree at the bottom of my garden. 30 years old now and has been producing seeds for about 15 years now. We are moving soon so we will need to leave it behind. Some years there are dozens of seedlings popping up in spring around its base. The final pic is the same tree last autumn. Its like its on fire when the sun shines on it.

Hope this is of interest

Dave

 

Dave, your Acers look great, are the red hooks on the bigger one there to help
pull the branch down into shape ?

 

Yes, they are branch benders. They are used on larger limbs where wiring would have no effect. Hook them on, tighten them a little then keep tightening gently over the growing season. They are plastic coated so as not to cut into the bark. Maples are quite strong but brittle so it needs to be done in small stages.