Acer buergerianum proves to be an ideal species for beginners who want to get closer to the art of bonsai. The wood grows strongly and forms harmonious shapes. It tolerates cutting measures without any problems and forgives the layman occasional mistakes when cutting.
How to care for a tricorn maple bonsai?
Tricorn Maple Bonsai can be shaped by regular cutting during the growing season and the leafless phase. It is important to pinch the young leaves, partially cut the leaves to adjust the thickness and carefully select the buds for growth control and design.
Shape by cutting
Balanced branches with dense and he althy foliage reflect the art of bonsai design. Since the three-tip maple grows quickly and has a high annual growth rate, it must be pruned throughout the entire growing season.
Cutting
The ideal time for cutting extends over the leafless phases between autumn and winter or after winter until the beginning of spring. Then you have a good overview of annoying branches. After cutting the leaves, you can turn to the branches.
You should remove this:
- Branches at sharp angles
- vertically emerging branches
- unwanted thick shoots
With three-tip maple, a soft and gentle shape with lots of curves is desired. The branches ideally grow in an alternate arrangement. Since the tree develops opposite buds, remove the unsightly branch and leave the opposite one (€26.00 on Amazon).
Pincing
From spring onwards, the three-peak maple sprouts vigorously, so continuous growth control is necessary. With this measure you prevent excessive distances from developing between the internodes. You keep the shoots in balance by cutting off the young leaves. There are usually three buds next to each other at the ends of the shoots, with the middle one sprouting first. As soon as all the leaves are clearly visible, take out the center of the leaf. A little later, you also snap off the other two maple leaves.
Leaf cutting
With this method you bring the crown growth of the bonsai into balance. To do this, remove the outer leaves in vigorously growing areas. The weaker shoots are spared and not stripped of their leaves so that the trees put more energy into their growth. This partial intervention has the advantage that the thickness growth of the defoliated branches stagnates. This gives you the opportunity to coordinate the branch thicknesses.
Bud selection
Throughout the season you can influence the growth and shape of the bonsai by leaving suitable buds and cutting off unfavorably placed specimens. The faster you act, the better the tree can put its energy into developing the desired shoots.
Design with wire
The branches can be shaped from the end of May. Caution is required when wiring. The wood is comparatively hard, so the branches break quickly when bent. Therefore, the young one- to two-year-old shoots of Acer buergerianum are usually shaped with spirally arranged wires. These have a thin bark that can be easily injured. Check the growth progress weekly, as the species grows rapidly in thickness in late summer. There is a risk that the aluminum wires will grow into the wood and leave scars.
