Facts about the Maple Bonsai

One of the best hobbies that is widely practiced around the world is the art of growing bonsai trees. Due to their small size and relatively low upkeep expenses, bonsai trees are a favorite among many people. The tree is often used as a welcoming or house warming present by most people. Bonsai trees offer a great new look to your office or home and can be placed anywhere in the house due to their small size.

The maple bonsai is by all means one of the most appreciated of bonsai trees. When talking about the maple bonsai, two come in mind namely; the Trident Maple and the Japanese maple. Of the two, the Trident maple, is more tolerant to hostile environments. It is particularly resistant to most forms of pollution and for this reason; most city and townspeople prefer to have this variety of maple bonsai. Moreover, it features a hardier bark than the Japanese maple but is still vulnerable especially to sever frosty weather.

Care for the Trident Maple involves placing the tree in a greenhouse or other suitable location and covering its roots with straw so as to lock in moisture. It is well known that the roots of most bonsai trees have great moisture content and locking in the moisture helps prevent the plant from drying out. This should be carried out especially during winter and very hot seasons. Shade is also essential to the plants growth and this should be provided during those particularly warm afternoons.

The Japanese maple is also a very popular variety of the maple bonsai. Famed for its rough hardy bark, the tree is more suited to mountain climate. The actually growth of the tree actually resembles a bush because of the harsh conditions. Unlike the Trident Maple, the Japanese variety features several different hybrids. As such, the leaf color varies from a lush green all through to deep burgundy. As to its hardiness, the Japanese variety shares the same characteristics as the Trident variety when it comes to resistance to pollution and insects. As with all bonsai trees, the Japanese maple is not suited to high amounts of exposure to sunlight and occasional shade has to be provided.

Caring for the maple bonsai tree is much easier once you have acclimatized it to your environment. With just the right amount of water and sunlight, the tree will grow quite well. Pruning is essential to its growth. Regarding the shaping process, one can shape the tree into virtual anything. However, basic shaping techniques work rather well and have lower chances of harming your tree.

The maple bonsai is truly a wonderful tree and caring for it is even a greater experience. The tree makes a great addition to any office and gives a Zen-like, serene feeling to your home. It takes time, patience and great deal of commitment but the result is a lifetime worth of beauty from your maple bonsai.