Trident and Japanese Red Maple Wintering question

emorrin

I am thinking about getting a Trident Maple, actually possibly a forest planting of three, but have heard that its roots are frost sensitive. Does anyone have a Trident Maple or know of where I can find some good info about it on the internet? I heard that the Japanese Red Maple's roots are more hardy but I have been gravitating towards the Trident Maple.

I live in 5b and it can get rather cold at times during the winter peak it has gotten down to -5 to -10 Fahrenheit at night for several nights. Would it be safe to heel it in a larger pot with added mulch or should it be overwintered in a unheated garage or basement window well during winter?

I am still undecided between getting a Trident Maple or Japanese Red Maple. I see that on amazon.com that Brussel's Bonsai has a decent deal for a 5 year Japanese Red Maple for $29 with free shipping. Anyone bought anything from Brussel's Bonsai before?

In the end, I wouldn't be too surprised if I ended up with both trees Smile

Stymie

We're forcast for -5C tonight and my Tridents are just left where they are and always are including two over rock styles. I've read the fleshy roots are supposed to be susceptible when frozen but its never bothered me. Having said that, I appreciate that you get even colder so a bit of burlap draped over the roots in the worst weather will only be good. The tridents maker a more chunky silhouette whereas the other Acers are more feminine in their styles. If you fancy tridents and are still suspicious of the elements there you could consider substituting Acer ginnala or A. campestre for that group.

emorrin

Well, I was able to find some information from the bonsai bci site about Trident Maples. Based upon what Stymie said, I will treat them like I treat my Chinese Elms, that is once it gets down to 23F or -5C I will put them in my window well in my basement. I ended up not getting the forest but bought the following:

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii208/emorrin/TridentMaplePBTM-0551 .jpg

I also bought a 5 year old pre-bonsai Japanese Red Maple and for some reason a San Jose Juniper (impulse buy, it was cheap). I am back to being broke again ... Oh well a good broke feeling.

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a good maple book that covers Japanese and Trident Maples? I know there are a few out there but am not sure which is best.

freezingcold

book by a chap called Adams. its amazing.

there is another thread which give the details. I will try and find it
here it is. The price has gone up on amazon

Bonsai with Japanese Maples (Hardcover)
by Peter D. Adams (Author)

hungkuen

try this link, good price i think.

emorrin

Thanks hungkuen and freezingcold, I just ordered that book.

Stymie,

What potting medium do you use with your Trident Maple? When previewing the book I just ordered, it sounds like a gritty inorganic mix would help with the possible freezing root problem. I hopefully will have enough time to read the book I just bought before I re pot it. The way winter is going over here, I may have plenty of time.

hungkuen

well done, its a very good book, i got it for Christmas, it should cover most of what you will need to know in detail, and you will be tempted to try some of his techniques, i know i have been and intend to try some of his ideas when i come across the write material to work with. Very Happy

Stymie

emorrin

I saw someone mentioning Kyodama before but thought that maybe it was a typo (i.e. someone meant Akadama). Over here in the U.S., most bonsai places I have seen don't seem to carry this. What is the difference between akadama and kyodama? I can see the color is different but unlike Kanuma, which is also a different color and is acidic, I don't see any difference.

Stymie

The CL has similar properties to Akadama in mixes if more stable.
Kyodama is a volcanic grit as far as I know and very free-draining indeed. It is possible to use nothing else for Pines. In its absence I would recommend coarse grit or as you call it, sand.

emorrin

I have never tried cat litter, never seen the brand mentioned that is good in the U.S. Turface seems to be almost the same thing (i.e. baked clay). I really like using akadama for my indoor tropical plants. I think in the future I will use a mixture of 80% akadama, 10% Turface, and 10% screened pine bark on all my plants except for my azalea which will get Kanuma instead. I am hesitant about using this mixture outdoors though. I have heard and believe that after several freeze/thaw cycles that akadama will turn to mush outside. In this case, I will use more Turface, and grit (#2 Chicken granite grit). I also like crushed lava rock but every place I find it, it is too big to use. Crushing it with a hammer produces more fines than it is worth it. One method that works a little better is putting