The filigree foliage, which is bathed in bright colors in autumn, makes the fire maple an attractive object for the art of bonsai design. This species can be shaped by pruning the leaves, shoots and roots. Wire techniques are also possible.
The fire maple makes its grand entrance in autumn
cutting techniques
Fire maples prove to be pruning-tolerant, because they sprout reliably within the next two to three weeks after more intensive interventions. Pruning is common between January and February when the tree is dry and leafless. If necessary, you can prune the wood several times a year until the beginning of August. As a result, the bonsai develops fine branches.
pruning
In the case of cutting interventions, the focus is on the position of the branch. Fresh shoots must not overlap. If thicker trunks are desired, shorten them to two to three pairs of leaves if they are at least 20 centimeters long. If you want to encourage the branch to branch, you should cut it back to one or two pairs of leaves from ten centimeters. Remove thicker specimens after the leaves have sprout.
root cutting
If you repot the bonsai in spring, as soon as the buds swell, the root ball is pruned. In doing so, reduce the root shoots by a third. Such interventions encourage fire maples to form new roots. In this way, a root can be formed.
wire
You should start with this design method as early as possible and ideally immediately after budding. The more the branches become woody, the greater the risk of breakage. If you proceed carefully, one to two-year-old specimens can also be bent. Copper wires with a diameter of one millimeter or 1.5 millimeter thick aluminum wires are suitable.
Check regularly
Over the next four to six weeks, the wood will harden, allowing you to remove the wire. All stabilizing wires should be unwound by the end of summer at the latest, because then an intensive increase in thickness will begin. Traces of indented bonsai wires can often be seen, since the fire maple has a smooth bark. These structures grow out over time.
Notes on care
The combination of high-nitrogen fertilization and excessive watering will ensure vegetative growth at an increased rate. As a result, the bonsai develops shoots with long distances between the individual nodes. This phenomenon is not a problem in the cultivation phase. As it grows older, you need to keep the tree in a compact shape with regular pruning.
tips
The nutrient supply takes place every two weeks from the time the leaves sprout until the autumn colours. Use liquid fertilizer or fertilizer cones. In spring you should water as little as possible.
location
Fire maples are adapted to outdoor conditions, so a bonsai is not suitable for indoor culture. The tree prefers a spot in the sun. On extremely hot days, it is grateful for shade during midday. Airy sites with windy conditions are optimal.