How to grow a Canadian maple from a branch. Exquisite Japanese bonsai: maple in miniature. Description of maple seeds

This graceful tiny tree with the mysterious name bonsai, the translation of which sounds like “grown on a tray”, causes amazement and delight in the audience. Unusual view art originated in China at the end of the 8th century. Plants of miniature form served as the main decoration of the emperor's palace and garden.

The art of bonsai developed, new forms and styles appeared, people learned how to create miniatures with a different structure of the crown and trunks, from different plants: deciduous and coniferous, flowering and fruiting trees. Maple bonsai stands out among the deciduous trees, which changes the color of the leaves when the season changes.

Maple cultivars bred with such leaf colors as blue, blue, red, purple, increased the possibilities for the authors' imagination to fly when creating colorful miniature plants that can revive and give unique charm any interior.

grow bonsai blue maple at home from seeds is not easy, it takes time and hard work. But the result will pay off the costs and reward you with the contemplation of a miracle created by your own hands.

What seeds to use

The selection of quality seeds is of paramount importance. To grow blue maple bonsai, seeds from specially bred plants are used. They can be bought in specialized stores or ordered online in China.

Seed preparation

For normal seed germination, it is necessary to prepare by subjecting them to stratification. This tree in nature sheds seeds in autumn, and they undergo natural stratification. Its time for maple seeds is 120 days.

At home, people use the methods of cold, warm and combined stratification. Cold - seeds need for ripening. The seeds are placed in warm water for soaking, and then put in the refrigerator. Thus, they mimic the natural temperature difference.

Warm - used to "awaken" the seeds. Seed material is kept for several days wet tissue or other moist substrate at a temperature of 30–35°C. For maple seeds, combined stratification is used, in which the seeds are left in a cold room, and placed in warm water before sowing. Then they are disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate of a slightly pink color so that there are no fungal formations. The disinfection process takes 10-15 minutes.

Soil and capacity

To grow japanese maple from seeds, it is necessary to prepare the soil and choose the right container.

For cultivation, a nutrient substrate is used, which is called akagama (in nature, such soil is found in one of the Japanese prefectures). The substrate for bonsai should:

retain moisture well;
be loose so as not to interfere with the access of oxygen to protect against acidification of the soil and rotting of the roots;
contain enough nutrients.

It is prepared by mixing humus, alumina and sand in a ratio of 1:1:1. Second option better fit for deciduous trees, which include blue maple: soddy land and sand in a ratio of 7:3.

Sand take coarse-grained river.
The soil for cleaning is passed through a large sieve.
The prepared mixture should be disinfected by heat treatment, warming up in a frying pan or in a water bath. An alternative to this is freezing the substrate and then thawing it, which will also provide disinfection. Then the substrate must be dried and sieved again through a sieve.
For soil disinfection, purchased biologically active preparations "Fitosporin", "Barrier" are used, the treatment of the soil mixture with which will destroy insect eggs and fungal spores.
After the disinfection procedure, fertilizers are added. For planting seeds, a wide container of small depth (up to 5 cm) is used with the obligatory presence of drainage holes.
The container must be thoroughly washed with a non-aggressive agent. Scald with boiling water, destroying the possible presence of spores of the fungus and bacteria. Let dry well.

Seed planting technology

To land on the bottom of the prepared container, lay fine mesh so that dry earth does not spill out through the drainage holes. A substrate with large particles is poured onto the grid, and then a layer with finer soil, so that 3 cm remains to the top edge of the container.

Seeds are laid out on the surface, if there are a lot of them, they maintain a distance of 1 cm between them.
Then each seed is pressed down with a rounded wooden board, sprinkled with a small layer of sand or earth on top. Upper layer also compact.
The soil must be moistened, the container should be covered with glass or film until sprouts appear and placed in a dark place.
The soil must be constantly kept moist and optimum temperature not higher than 15°С.
When sprouts begin to appear, the glass is slightly shifted, access holes are cut in the film fresh air.

Location

The seedling grows poorly and gets sick:

when exposed to direct sunlight;
in drafts;
under dense shade.

Does not tolerate large temperature changes. All this should be taken into account when choosing the location of containers. As they grow, they gradually accustom the plant to sunlight, which makes it possible to get more small leaves bright coloring.

Care rules

The container with sprouts is transferred to a bright place, having removed the glass, and installed, excluding direct contact with sunlight. The best way- penumbra. The soil is periodically watered and fertilized once a month in small portions. When the seedlings get stronger and grow up to 10 cm, they are planted in individual containers- Bonsai (usually ceramic). The shape and size of the bonsai depends on the desired shape of the crown of the future tree. Suitable dish oval, rectangular, round shape, in the form of a polyhedron. It all depends on the chosen style of bonsai:

cascade view of the crown - a tall narrow pot;
sloping crown - stable wide;
dense crown - flat wide;
crown of considerable height - narrow and deep.

The main requirement for the dishes in which the tree will grow is good stability. The color of the container is chosen calm, dim, this will emphasize the sophistication and beauty of the plant. Maple has to be constantly cared for. High humidity at low temperatures and a weak influx of fresh air will lead to fungal attack. Watering should be taken very seriously. A small amount of bonsainitsa leads to a distortion of the shape of the roots, which reduces the effectiveness of watering. When growing bonsai, watering is used by irrigation (from a special kettle) or immersion (on a short time the bowl is placed in a container of water). For irrigation it is recommended to use rain water or tap water that has settled for two days.

Without proper and timely care and watering, the roots quickly die off and the whole plant dies.

Second condition successful cultivation bonsai is top dressing, especially when the crown is formed. Once every twenty days, fertilizers are applied with the presence of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Nitrogen is needed for the growth of leaves and branches. Potassium fights harmful microorganisms. Phosphorus promotes the formation of kidneys, the development of the root system, acts as a defense against infections. Maple needs iron, this should not be forgotten when cooking nutrient soil. A mandatory addition is a clay substrate for bonsai, which strengthens the root system. Indoor bonsai fertilize throughout the year.

tree formation

At the age of 2-3 months, the formation of seedlings begins, shortening the central root by two-thirds. young plant it is recommended to prune throughout the year, choosing certain branches and parts of the crown. Small branches and emerging shoots are pruned all year round, regardless of the season. Mature thicker branches are pruned in the fall, when the growth rate of the tree decreases.

Spring pruning is not done due to vigorous sap flow. Before winter, the shoot is cut to the nearest branch. All sections must be processed to avoid the occurrence of fungal infections. Only in the fourth year, branches are cut in accordance with the chosen crown shape. Every year, the maple is transplanted, replacing the container and the substrate, while cutting the roots, removing the damaged ones and forming the root system.

For blue maple, transplantation is done in the spring during the period active growth.

We hope that the information provided will help those who wish to grow Japanese maple from seeds at home, creating a wonderful miniature copy. It will greatly facilitate the task of following the rules and advice on how to plant maple bonsai, care for the plant, feed, form a crown and trunk of the intended shape.

For bonsai connoisseurs, maple, sakura and mountain pine are the true symbols of this ancient art. But if evergreen pine needles makes the appearance of the tree unchanged throughout the year, sakura is especially attractive in spring, during flowering, then maple is a bright palette of autumn on unusual openwork foliage.

Maples are distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. The culture of bonsai is traditionally dominated by Far Eastern, Chinese and Japanese varieties, however, the growing popularity of this area of crop production has made it possible to include varieties from Europe, the Caucasus and the North American continent in the list of species.

Types of maple for growing bonsai

Plants with small foliage and short internodes are especially valued, which allow you to create miniatures that are unique in shape and harmonious, natural in appearance.

Among the species suitable for growing bonsai are Japanese and holly maple, Montpellier, field and rock. Palm-shaped maple trees with intricately indented leaf plates are in particular demand. The leaves of this species remain red, contrastingly edged, light yellow or purple, not only in autumn, but throughout the year. This species should not be confused with the red maple, which is also grown as a bonsai. Its five-fingered leaves only by autumn gradually change their outfit and the appearance of the crown as a whole. From the USA and Canada, the ash-leaved maple, easily shaped, unpretentious and also having varieties with variegated or silvery foliage, fell into the sphere of interest of connoisseurs of bonsai.

It is not surprising that small trees with red, yellow or any other bright foliage are the most attractive for flower growers. Therefore, unscrupulous sellers often "play" on this, offering blue maple seeds for bonsai. Don't believe in empty promises. If shoots appear from such seeds, in best case they will turn out to be an ordinary maple with green leaves. And although it is impossible to grow a blue maple, bonsai with purple, carmine, red or orange leaves- reality.

There are quite a few examples of varieties used for red maple bonsai, however, due to the low content of chlorophyll that supports the nutrition of the tree, such plants are weaker than their green counterparts and need special attention.

Decorative forms are more likely to suffer from sunburn, frost and cold wind, and their brightness directly depends on the choice of location. In the shade, red, burgundy and raspberry shades can disappear.

Another highlight of the Japanese bonsai maple is plants with strongly dissected leaves resembling palm branches. Such views look great in cascading cascading compositions, but are not suitable for beginners due to their rather capricious disposition and soreness.

And here dwarf varieties maple trees in bonsai are unpretentious and, as it were, help a person with their formation. It does not tend to grow upwards, but forms a dense crown, covered with small foliage that preserves its natural appearance.

Conditions for growing maple bonsai

Maples feel good in middle lane Russia, but in the form of a bonsai, this tree suffers more from external influences and needs a careful choice of residence.

The most common palm and fan maples in bonsai can get sick and have difficulty growing:

under straight lines sunbeams, especially in the southern regions;
in the wind or drafts;
in deep shade.

However, when it comes to choosing between light and shade, it is better to put the pot in the sun, which in the central part of the country will not cause serious harm. In the sun, the tree forms smaller leaves, which allows you to refuse to remove the kidneys and not weaken the plant. In addition, the colors of the foliage in full sun are brighter and more attractive.

If in summer time, as in the photo, a bonsai maple is taken out into the open air, it must be protected from the wind, otherwise a plant with a cropped root system risks losing balance and falling out of a shallow pot.

Maples, both in nature and at home with low temperatures do not tolerate excessive humidity and insufficient fresh air. Under such conditions, bonsai is affected by harmful fungi that cause powdery mildew and anthracnose.

Watering is a mandatory and very important part of caring for a maple bonsai. In summer, the intensity and frequency are increased, if necessary, accurate sprinkling is used. In winter, when the leaves fall and the plant goes into hibernation, the need for moisture drops sharply.

In the spring, with the awakening, the maple is fed, and for the maple, the presence of iron in the mixture is important. This is taken into account when compiling the substrate. Soil for maple bonsai should be nutritious, aerated, with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. In addition to traditional components, a clay substrate for bonsai is added to the soil, which provides fastening of the root system and structures the earthen mixture.

Transplanting and replacing the container when growing maple bonsai coincides with root pruning, which is carried out at intervals of 2-3 years. In parallel with the formation, dead or damaged rhizomes, clods of adhering soil are removed.

Propagation of maple for bonsai

All species of this plant are easily propagated by cuttings and rooted layering. Seeds are also suitable for growing from maple bonsai, which should be stratified before sowing.

To do this, the seed is added dropwise to wet sphagnum, sand, or, after which the container with the seeds is sent to the refrigerator. For the preparation of palmate maple seeds, for example, 3-4 months in the vegetable compartment is sufficient. The field of this, when warmed, the shell will surely open, and friendly shoots will appear in the light.

Hatching maple seeds for bonsai are transferred to a sand-peat mixture or planted in well-moistened peat tablets. In a greenhouse in the light, but not under the direct rays of the sun, the plant produces a pair of true leaves in a month.

When their number reaches 4-5, it's time to transfer the young maples to their own pots and start the formation of bonsai.

Techniques for forming a bonsai crown from maple

How to grow maple bonsai without pruning and pinching the crown? It's impossible. These techniques, along with the formation of stems with wire, are an integral part of the ancient art.

Pruning of branches is carried out when up to five pairs of full leaves are revealed on the shoot. Usually they are shortened by 2–4 leaves, and large leaf plates are plucked separately, leaving their cuttings.

Over time, the stalk will fade and fall off, but too big leaves will be replaced by smaller, more appropriate bonsai. In mid-summer, healthy trees with green foliage undergo defoliation or plucking of growth buds, which will lead to:

to growth retardation;
to the gradual formation of shorter shoots;
to an increase in crown density.

On red maples for bonsai, such an operation is not carried out, since it can weaken an already sensitive plant.

All pruning procedures are best done not in spring, when sap flow is active, but in summer or autumn. The same applies artificial aging maples grown for bonsai. In the second half or at the end of the growing season, the wounds heal better, and the tree recovers better.

Maple is a chic tall tree, loved by many primarily for its amazing carved leaves and the chic crown they form.

long occupied a place of honor among ornamental plants maple is especially beautiful in autumn period when it decorates the surrounding landscape with foliage of yellow and burgundy shades.

Maple you are my curly!

In its many times sung by poets and captured by painters, it is diverse, therefore, if desired, decorate garden plot so original tree there is always a choice of the most suitable variety. Of particular pride is a copy grown with his own hands from seeds; and this process is not particularly difficult and even a beginner can do it. How to grow maple from seeds at home? One has only to take into account that several varieties can grow from seeds: holly, Ginnala, green-bark and Tatar. Other varieties are propagated by grafting or cuttings.

Description of maple seeds

Maple seeds ripen in August and fall off in autumn (but not always, they can hang on a tree for long period). Therefore, they are quite easy to find in a pile of fallen leaves under the trees. To discover the future planting material, you need to understand what maple seeds look like. Outwardly, they are a flat double lionfish with two wings. The fruit consists of 2 parts, each of which contains one seed: naked, with a large green embryo. fruiting it chic tree, characterized by wind resistance due to a powerful root system, is abundant and occurs annually.

By the way, in the maple genus there are more than 150 varieties that grow in different parts of the planet and originate mostly from North America. Some of them are found even in the Northern Hemisphere and the tropics. The most valuable maple is the sugar maple, which is found in the Great Lakes region and in Eastern Canada.

How to grow maple from seeds?

Maple seeds can be planted twice a year: in autumn and spring. If planting will be done in the spring, then the material should be subjected to stratification, the action of which is aimed at simulating the period of winter dormancy in artificial conditions. To do this, the seeds should be created conditions close to natural, and stored in a specially prepared, tightly closed container with wet sand, which is preferably placed in the refrigerator. The stratification period is approximately 100-120 days. Maple seeds, hardened in such conditions, remain valid for two years. AT open ground planting should be done in April-May. Seed germination can be accelerated by soaking them for 1-3 days in hydrogen peroxide. With the first shoots, the future tree will begin to please after 15-20 days after planting.

In open ground, maple seeds can also be planted in the fall; the most successful period is as close as possible to the time of the appearance of the snow cover. In this case, the planting material is in natural conditions and begins to germinate in the spring. When landing during this period, it may be slightly lower due to severe frosts or snowy winter. However, maple seeds are most often planted during this period.

Where to plant a tree?

When the maple seeds (the photo below shows one of them in an enlarged size) are ready for planting, you should decide on the place where this wonderful tree grows.

It is necessary to choose a sunny area, in its absence, some shading is acceptable. The soil is recommended fertile and loose. Before planting, the soil should be dug up, fertilizing in parallel with a mixture of sand, peat and humus.

Landing Features

It is required to plant maple seeds at a depth of 3-4 cm with wings up. If transplantation of young plants is not planned in the future, then the distance between the trees should be maintained at least 2 meters. Seedlings emerge 2-3 weeks after planting. It is worth knowing that maple growth occurs at a slow pace: by autumn, the height of young trees usually reaches 20-40 cm, and in the first year of growth this figure reaches 80 cm. Caring for young trees is simple and consists in timely watering, regular weeding and getting rid of weeds. On hot days, it is recommended to shade young trees from direct sunlight.

Depending on the size, young maple trees can be planted in a regular place of growth after 1-3 years. Landing should be done in pre-dug holes with a depth of about 70 cm, the width should be at least half a meter. When close to the surface of the soil ground water the bottom of the pit should be covered with a 15-centimeter layer of sand or expanded clay.

Maple seeds in folk medicine

Maple seeds, photos of which are presented in the article, are effectively used in traditional medicine.

So, with colic and kidney disease, a decoction will help, for the preparation of which you need to pour a glass of boiling water, then insist in a water bath for about 40 minutes a mixture of a teaspoon of seeds and two tablespoons of crushed leaves. Strain the composition and take 4 times a day, 50 grams.

Herpes and bronchitis are treated with an infusion of maple seeds, a teaspoon of which you need to pour a glass of boiling water and let it brew for 30-40 minutes. Take before meals 50 grams 4 times a day.

Planting maple from seed is a long-term and worthwhile investment in the future of your own garden. Under the shade of this chic tree, several generations of descendants will rest.

I ordered spruce seeds from China, planted a lot, nothing sprouted. Maple seeds and leaves are popular in medicine. Maple seeds can be planted in autumn and spring. Plant the seeds. Maple seeds ripen in August, fall off in autumn. Put in refrigerator. 5cm and grows beautifully further))) flaunts very quickly and yes, I water constantly.

If possible, try to determine the variety of maple before you start growing a tree. If you intend to sow seeds outdoors, use this method 90-120 days before the end of the winter frost. The fungicide prevents mold from spoiling the seeds. Some growers prefer to wash the seeds in a very dilute weak sodium hypochlorite solution instead.

Place 20-30 seeds in each bag. Iron the bag with the palm of your hand, starting at the base, to remove most of the air. Now it's time to "stratify" (stratify) the seeds or hold them under certain temperature which promotes germination.

Some seeds may not germinate at temperatures that are only a couple of degrees off the recommended temperature. If possible, store American or Norway maple seeds at exactly 5°C and red maple seeds at exactly 3°C. Other types of maple are less picky.

To increase the chances of the plant taking root, first plant the seedlings in a special tray indoors. Fill the tray 7.6-10 cm full with seed germination base or even peat mix, rotted compost, vermiculite, and coarse sand. Rub the base of the seeds (opposite the wing) with a nail file or sandpaper. Store in a warm place. Cold stratify seeds for 90-180 days. Transfer the seeds to plastic bag on the clasp, adding a small handful of peat moss or other germination material.

Check every couple of weeks for signs of mold, drying out, or sprouting. Don't expect every seed to germinate. You can grow seedlings indoors from seeds in a tray or plant them outside after the last frost.

In some varieties of red maples, seeds ripen before autumn or winter; they require cold stratification. Plant immediately. Such seeds will become useless if they dry out during storage. Plant the seeds shortly after the cathedral. Grow in full sun or partial shade. Do not touch the beds with sown seeds (optional).

The species listed under "warm and cold stratification" usually take years to germinate. If you don't have the patience, rub the base of the seeds (opposite the wing) and the shell. Despite their ease of planting, silver maples often become a burden in the backyard.

The answer is both yes and no. This is not at all difficult if you are, firstly, familiar with the technology, and, secondly, you buy fresh seeds. But in principle, we can say that you can grow your own at home, especially if it is Japanese maple, even mature plant which remains only a few meters high. They are not much different from the seeds of other species, except for the size.

Method 2 of 3: Warm and cold stratification

To get the seeds from the lionfish (and each of them hides two seeds), you need to break it in two, and at the base of each small wing there will be a seed. However, this recommendation does not apply to those who live in very cold climates. Perhaps you don't want to collect seeds yourself, or you just don't have the opportunity and decide to order seeds online or buy them in a flower shop.

Popular bonsai that can be grown from seeds

Germination of seeds to a greater extent depends not on conditions, but on their freshness (at least this rule is true of this tree). After the seeds start up small roots, and even sprouts, they can be planted in small containers and taken out into the street. The landing process is over!

Try it and maybe you will understand that growing from seeds is not like that. difficult task as you thought before. It is here that our participants sell or take grain, sunflower, all kinds of seeds for sowing and much more. All ads are checked, corrected if necessary, or removed altogether, in case of incorrect placement.

Summary: Seed collection October 2013. Suitable for making bonsai. Acer RUBRUM or Red Maple is a graceful deciduous tree, one of the most common in eastern North America, belonging to the Sapindaceae family. Maple Red is grown for autumn foliage unusually bright color.

Bonsai grown from plants purchased from a nursery

Decorative during the entire growing season in the form of a crown, Red Maple is especially beautiful during flowering and autumn leaf coloring. Used in single landings, decorative groups, hedges. Ideal for miniature bonsai and landscaping.

Maple red is growing fast. The stratification period is 90-120 days. Often shoots appear already in the refrigerator. Next, take out a container with seeds and germinate in a bright place with room temperature by controlling the humidity (do not remove the film). Temperature: When kept outdoors, the period can withstand temperatures as low as -30ºС, the recommended temperature for keeping at home in winter period+10-15ºС.

Transplantation: change the container and prune the roots once every 2-3 years until the first sprouts appear. In rooms with excessive humidity and poor ventilation, it is necessary to monitor the possible appearance of powdery mildew, which is easily identified by whitish spots on the leaves.

At the end of winter, lignified branches should be cut, trying to preserve the main appearance. Leaf pruning should be carried out during the spring-summer period, removing too large leaves. Bonsai can become such a position in the garden - growing exact copy tree, but only in miniature. Today we will look at how you can grow bonsai from seeds. The path is not easy and long, but it brings the desired result.

If you do not have such an opportunity, then you can always buy seeds for growing bonsai at home. Cultivation by seeds is possible only for the following varieties of maple: Ginnala, green-bark, Tatar and holly.

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