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Trident Maple (Acer Buergerianum) Bonsai Tree Care Sheet Hardy/Easy to keep and train/Deciduous/ Suitable For Beginners
Introduction. Trident Maples (Acer Buergerianum) are related to other Japanese Maples and are native to Japan, China and Korea as are their relatives. Trident Maples are very popular with Bonsai enthusiasts, however they are the hardest of the Maples to locate as they are not a native species and so can not be collected from the wild and they are not stocked in garden centers or tree nursery's, they can usually only be found at specialized Bonsai outlets, this fact makes them highly sought after. The Trident maple differs from it's relatives in the fact that it has three lobed leaves whereas most other Maples have five or seven lobed leaves. The leaves of Trident Maples are just as beautiful as other Maples, turning beautiful shades of orange in autumn. Trident Maples make excellent Bonsai trees, as they are fast growers and are easy to keep and train, they are a good choice for a beginner outdoor Bonsai tree. Where To Keep Them/Watering. Trident Maples are a hardy species and are classed as an outdoor Bonsai tree subject, however their roots are prone to frost damage due to their high water content so protecting the roots in winter by placing your Bonsai tree in a greenhouse and mulching the pot is a good idea, using free draining Bonsai soil will also help as this type of soil will hold less water thus wont freeze as much as a peat based compost. Placing some winter fleece over your Bonsai tree is also a good idea, as this also helps to prevent die back of finer branches and twigs. Trident Maple Bonsai trees enjoy being kept in full sun all summer in the UK, this will result in your Trident Maple Bonsai tree having better autumn colors than if it were kept in a shady spot, however in extremely hot sun it might become necessary move your Bonsai tree to a semi shaded position for a while to make sure that the leaves don't scorch. Trident Maple Bonsai trees like plenty of water especially in summer when in active growth, make sure you check the Bonsai soil every day and water when necessary, this may mean watering your Bonsai tree once sometimes twice a day in the hottest summer months. In winter continue to check the Bonsai soil and water if it becomes necessary, however waterings in winter will be few and far between, due to the fact it is cooler and your Bonsai tree wont be in active growth and will not have any leaves to support. Repotting/Wiring/Feeding/And Pruning. You will need to re-pot your Trident Maple Bonsai tree every 1-2 years, but only if the roots become pot bound, the best time to do this is in early spring, when the new buds are beginning to sprout. If your Bonsai tree has a good root system you should be able to gently lift it out of the Bonsai pot in spring (you may need to snip the Wire underneath the Bonsai pot if the Bonsai tree is wired in) and take a look at the roots to see if they are pot bound, if so you should repot your Bonsai tree, if the roots seem ok then leave re-potting till the following year. when it does become necessary to repot your Trident Maple Bonsai, you should use a good quality free draining Bonsai soil. Akadama Bonsai soil is an excellent choice and can be used on it's own or if you require a more moisture retentive Bonsai soil you could add some fine potting bark to it, Moler Bonsai soil is another good choice, again you could use it on it's own or add some potting bark, you can also add pumice granules to your soil mix as this aids drainage but also holds moisture for your Bonsai tree. It is important not to fertilize your Bonsai tree for around four weeks after re-potting as doing so can burn the new roots that your Bonsai tree will be developing, after this period carry on fertilizing as usual. You should fertilize your Bonsai tree from spring onwards with a balanced fertilizer such as Chempak, you will usually fertilize your Bonsai tree once a week or once a fought night but feeding guidelines will differ from brand to brand so it is best to refer to the instructions on the particular brand you decide to use. It is best to carry out wiring on your Trident Maple Bonsai in spring as the leaves wont be in the way at this time though you need to be careful not to dislodge any buds that are forming, it is not recommended to wire your Trident Maple Bonsai tree in winter as doing so can cause the branches to unexpectedly snap as the branches tend to be more brittle in winter. Trident Maples are very fast growers, don't leave the wires on your Bonsai tree for more than 6 months or they will likely cut in to the bark of your Bonsai tree causing ugly scaring, keep checking on them and remove them as soon as necessary. Prune your Trident Maple Bonsai tree back to shape after the new growth has extended to 2-5 leaf pairs, then trim back to one or two leaves, continue to do this throughout the growing season to keep your Bonsai tree in shape, also remove growth with long internodes (distance between leaves) this will result in more compact growth, any hard pruning that needs to be carried out is best done in mid summer when wounds will heal better and quicker, or in autumn as soon as possible after the leaves have fallen, it is not recommended to carry out hard pruning on Maple Bonsai trees in spring as they tend to bleed a lot which will weaken your Bonsai tree. Trident Maples are particularly suitable for leaf pruning (defoliation) in mid summer to promote smaller leaves, denser foliage and better autumn color, defoliation should only be carried out on healthy Bonsai trees, you should not do this in the same year you re-pot your Bonsai tree, it is also not recommended to do this two years in a row. The best way to ensure you keep your Bonsai tree healthy is to do as much research as possible(Internet and or books) on the particular species you own and also Bonsai in general as this will give you a broader understanding of the subject and will give you a far better chance of success with your Bonsai tree.
I hope this care sheet has been of interest and helpful to you, if so you might want to read the other care sheets on this site. It is up to you to use the information given here responsibly and Bargain Bonsai holds no responsibility as to how you use it.
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