All about Maple Bonsai

In this video Peter talks about why Maples change their colour, leaf scorch and what mould on the leaves could mean.

[@BreakingTaps]

Love this channel, learned a ton about Bonsai! But a small correction for anyone who would like to know the biology: deciduous leaves change colors due to loss of chlorophyll, not "sugar ripening". Chlorophyll A absorbs blue and red light (430nm & 660nm), but reflect green light. Because the main photosythnetic molecule in a leaf is chloropyhl, we see leaves as green. When the chlorophyll begins to degrade at the end of the season, other accessory pigments become visible such as carotenes, xanthophyll, chlorophyl B, anthocyanin, etc. These pigments specialize in absorbing wavelengths that chlorophyll absorbs poorly and help the leaf collect more useful light. This is why they look orange/yellow/red/purple/etc. But we only see them once the bulk of the green chlorophyll dies off. This also means that plants which are alternate colors all year round (purple leaves, etc) are actually lacking in chlorophyll. Anyhow, just a small science tidbit for anyone curious. Thanks again for all the great Bonsai content!

[@cremdilly7176]

WRONG Carotenoids create orange and yellow pigments, and anthocyanins create shades of red and purple. The carotenoids are present in the leaf all summer long, but they’re masked by the green of the chlorophyll. The second chemical, anthocyanin, forms as a result of the glucose formed by the remaining, faded chlorophyll. The glucose then becomes trapped in the leaf by the abscission layer, resulting in the formation of anthocyanin.

[@BreakingTaps]

@@cremdilly7176 I don't think we disagree? I said "When the chlorophyll begins to degrade at the end of the season, other accessory pigments become visible", which is what you said as well ("masked by the green of chlorophyll"). I did not know that about anthocyanin though, so thank you for the extra context :)

[@cremdilly7176]

​@@BreakingTaps I'm being cheeky, of course, but the whole point of your comment was to try and correct Peter's statement "sugar ripening", which is perfectly appropriate when referring to shades of red, which is what he is talking about.

[@SteveSBSSams]

@@BreakingTaps hmmmm well lots of deciduous species lose their chlorophyl as the season turns but the leaves dont go red. So its not as simple as just losing the chlorophyl, that just explains why the leaves are no longer green. So something else in maples biochemistry is responsible for the red colour.

[@mr.winsor3724]

Low-key, Peter's voice is incredibly pleasant on the ear

[@OGRE_HATES_NERDS]

i feel the same way, but with a regular key

[@ashlyvelting132]

So soothing to listen to his voice and gaze at these beautiful trees! 💗🤗

[@VITALBONSAI]

a video full of colors. fantastic periods for maples. thank you for this video une vidéo pleine de couleurs. fantastique périodes pour les érables. merci pour cette vidéo

[@Jesus-eg3yb]

Those are stunning colors on those trees.

[@mrsillywalk]

I treated two of my maples that had leaf scorch last year, with Epsom salts and moved them close to and in the shade of other lush healthy and moist plants. I thought i had lost them, but they rebounded in a few weeks.

[@sonicboom1970]

Thank you for sharing. I acquires 4 Maple trees this summer. All different spices. One is green now in October. 3 are red but one has lost all its leaves. And one is losing its leaves right now. This video has taught me so much. Watching it again I have learned more. Such a beautiful video to watch too. I would love to see more of all that amazing collection of Maple Trees.

[@TheNatrjack965]

Thank you Peter for your beautiful display of magnificent trees ..

[@rotaruciprian]

Good and usefull video. Thnak you. I have a red maples too, but with scorced leafs. I changed the soil, and now has new leafs.

[@patsfreund9164]

Enjoyed very much seeing your maples and hearing your commentaries. They're beautiful! Thank you for sharing your expertise.

[@MacYoung42]

Many reasons you mention for enjoying maples are why I believe larches to be such a beautiful choice for bonsai. Thanks for sharing the beautiful trees. Cheers

[@rmorris4598]

Mr. Chan your videos are very insightful. Thank you so much!

[@jduce818]

Great video sir ! Much love

[@Potatisco]

My two first maple bonsai's leaves became scorched last summer and I decided to cut the leaves off pretty late (somewhere around the end of February). I was worried since there are still no leaves growing, but it is nice to hear that cutting leaves is not abnormal.

[@tiffanytomasino335]

Thank you for sharing ❤

[@Baron-Bagaten]

Fantastic, such beautifully Maples.

[@hoikychientranh2118]

Great video! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@elementalbonsai]

Very beautiful Maples 👍

[@siddiaz1623]

looks really beautiful

[@craighunter3273]

Nice collection. Thanks for the review.

[@Milim_N]

I'd really wish I could find more information on dissectum, I have a young one in a pot currently, water it every couple days generously and have noticed some leaf scorch, would like to move it to a larger pot to grow out a bit and maybe develop a trunk, though I can't ground plant it where I live...but am really curious as to where I can find more information on growing them. Currently my tree is in a nice shaded area which can get a few hours of morning sun. Anyone who has grown one successfully, if possible could you share some tips on care?

[@ckraja2005]

Please provide care tips for japanese maple tree bonsai. I m from India and I love your channel.

[@bonsaiguy413]

Fantastic video

[@dennisbeers]

Always great videos! Thank you.

[@bonsaibob8253]

Another great video. Thank you Peter. The sphagnum moss you use is live moss I believe you said. Where can I purchase this in the United States?

[@jaystill26]

You can find it outside

[@Crash64100]

I get mine at Lowe’s. But any garden center or nursery should have it

[@alvaroaam1000]

Hi can someone tell me what kind of maple is the one with that bright red leaves 🇨🇦, thank you! 0:54

[@satsukiazalealovers4854]

Thanks Peter for sharing with us, I love Japanese maples, can I repotting a maple in July? Or is better to wait to the end of winter ? Thanks again 😊

[@ranjithweerawansa7733]

Hi I like all your bomsai.. Specially mepales... But here in sri lanka we cant grow maples... Can you please help me with your experience... Whether we can grow maple seeds here...

[@rowdyvanos9710]

thanks for the great advice !! now I know what I can do next time

[@aarondlancaster]

Do you do any grafting? Would love to see videos on that aspect.

[@mardel3]

Hello sir I found some maple seedling and I want to turn them into bonsai trees. Once potted up in nursery pots what is their sun and watering care? Can I keep them indoors? Thanks

[@antoniosamarzija7085]

I was caring for my maple, but this summer was 41c in Croatia with extreme draught and i saw leaves are getting wrinkled... Now in november it seems like it's getting healthier, but anyways it's still hot for this time of the year, 19c on 11th of november

[@tahweesee8260]

Are there any methods to keep the leaves for maple bonsai to stay red? I just got a maple bonsai recently in Singapore.

[@harrietb2141]

Thank you very much🥰

[@jorgeluna7865]

What soil mixture do you use for Japanese maple bonsai?

[@robertbrandner]

Beautiful. What happens to the maples in winter? Can they be left out in the open or will the cold freeze the roots?

[@arcturus8218]

there fine in winter depending where u are ,we only get minus 5 no probs.

[@robertbrandner]

@@arcturus8218 Thank you.

[@peterchan3100]

Maples are hardy and some of mine, especially the big ones can stand Minus 10C. But if in doubt, keep them from frost in Winter. I will be doing a video about winter protection soon.

[@Sven_Hein]

Will it work with red maple too? I happen to have about 6 saplings of them.

[@evlulm3630]

Awesome video. Could you do some on azaleas red oak bonsais

[@georgfogel576]

How winter hardy is this maples? For example Acer `Artropurpureum` with red leaves?

[@jizzypimp123]

How do you get such a thick base and roots?

[@peterchan3100]

This takes time but growing in the ground for a period of time will speed up the thickening process

[@nuongloi6971]

Thanks for your share.

[@johnboettjer4531]

where can i get some good shaping wire, and tools ,,,posibly even a book to help out with ideas and tips.. not much here in germany.. also would be better in english for me...found some good yamadori possibles also.

[@andrewbetrosian2784]

CAN YOU HELP ME ? How to grow a African Wisteria from seed? Little white seeds, right? they look just like the big brown and black ones but small and white.

[@sacramentallyill]

At 6:32, is that the same maple tree from the video "Creating a maple bonsai tree in 20 mins easy" from 2016?

[@peterchan3100]

No - this is a different one. We have thousands of maples on our nursery

[@monkey4424]

Ok so how much should I water my 18” tall maple bonsai because I always o wrestler plants

[@monkey4424]

So I need to know how much watet

[@Puro_Peru]

If you take a maple from the wild, let's say 1 meter tall. Can you prune the roots and repot it, if yes how much?

[@peterchan3100]

You can prune about one third of the roots but dig it up in early spring - we do this in February in the UK

[@anilkumarn6091]

Hello sir. Can we grow in south Indian part. Regards Anilkumar.N

[@peterchan3100]

NO - Too hot where you live

[@nomadnadeep]

hi sir big fan of your’s from India ! i am trying to find few red maple seeds for my bonsai collection.. but its very rare for us living in india !! it would be greatfull if you could pursel me some and i am ready to pay !! Thanks

[@monkey4424]

Where should I keep my outdoor maple bonsai?? Should I bring it in side in the winter when it snows?? Also our side in my backyard the only place I can put the bonsai is in a table

[@monkey4424]

When it rains should I not water for a couple days

[@za7954]

Gran Master Peter Chan!!!!!

[@empiricwisdom7902]

My maple got leaf scorched :( Its been incredibly hot here in Portugal... It is having new shoots of red leaves now, but only a few.

[@peterchan3100]

Very difficult to grow Maples successfully in Portugal and Spain because you have a very warm and dry Summer climate

[@empiricwisdom7902]

@@peterchan3100 True, however, the tree hasn't died in 3 years. It goes through the natural cycles, just like any deciduous tree. The only problem is the leaf scorch.

[@tvshowsnmovies1234]

Our japanese maples in virginia will get leaf scorch in summer 100% even in shade. its 100 degrees so yeah.

[@24kMrGold]

Thank you Master

[@Jesus-eg3yb]

Do you know reputable bonsai dealers in California?

[@cosme2982]

I love maples, japanese maples is a passion, despite the climate here doesn't help, I'd tried to keep some of them, but, did not go well, some attemptes and i'd lost, so I'd given up. But i have here, one buerguerianum (trident) and three negundo (boxelder), better than nothing. when i go to somewhere where the climate helps, i intend to cultivate some of them, it wil be great open the windows and admire that beautiful trees all morning to all the day. Unfortunatelly, we cannot have or do everything we want, this is the world! I hope you understand my funny english, some people say that my english is funny, i try to do my best.

[@ДанилГалатюк]

Herons bonsai, you from is Japan?

[@peterchan3100]

No - I am of Chinese ethnicity, but grew up in India and living in UK since 1963

[@dismian7]

I've heard and experienced and also now firmly believe that the dieing of the tips always comes down to difficulties in transpiration. If there is good transpiration, there is no dieing of the tips. This direct reasons for this can be numerous: - the soil/air is to wet/dry for a few days; - the soil/air changes suddenly/to quickly between a dry and wet state; - the leaves themselves are to wet/dry; - there is too much wind, causing the leaves to move to much around to the point the sapflows get disturbed. The sun of course causes the leaves to be to dry. However, I wouldn't call it sunburn or scorch as the reasons can be numerous and rather have to do with transpiration. Just leave the tree in a partially shaded location with as little wind as possible. Also use soil which drains rather quickly, cannot get soaked and simply water the tree every single day if necessary. It is very important that the roots don't die back also. I don't recommand you rootprune the tree anytime after winter or early spring (before leaves emerge). If the roots can't do their job, transpiration will be bad and the tips of the leaves die off. Also don't mist the tree when it's in the sun and you think it's to dry. Then you will have real scorching of the leaves.

[@arcturus8218]

maple roots best done as buds start to open,i think thats what u were gettin at,most trees do well like that

[@TokinWhiteKid]

Root pruning on deciduous trees is always best done before leaves emerge.

[@santhoshissac8812]

sir...

[@TheArabama]

wow i ilke it

[@abelorozco960]

Uh 🤔 I wonder if that's what happens to my beautiful purple ghost !? It look sad and and saggy 😐

[@peterchan3100]

Probably so

[@pablocunha6561]

si si uyes

[@mattfavaloro350]

The Heading said all about Maples maybe it's because I live in Canada I live in Ontario as a matter of fact I live in London Ontario known as The Forest City all you did was talk about colours of leaves I have seen every shade of leave every kind of maple tree I thought I was going to learn something. I could see if you are from a different parts of the world and you don't have so many maple trees I guess I'm ignorant to the fact that I'm very spoiled I live in the middle of all five of the Great Lakes my Cottage north of where I live was right on the water at Lake Huron so I guess when it comes to trees I am spoiled I live in a forest City my grandparents had a cottage on a great lake in a forest my bad

[@yulawless6159]

Too much food and not enough water 👍

[@tomzifer927]

I had no sound on this video.