The Japanese maple is one of the undisputed stars of gardens, green spaces and even balconies throughout the world. Its characteristic webbed leaves, which turn warm and striking red tones in autumn, are its best known and most appreciated signature, which is why it is also often chosen to give life and charm to streets and avenues. In fact, it is not difficult to have at home if you know the care of Japanese maple and its varieties.
If you want to learn more about one of the most beautiful trees for gardens, join us in this Green Ecologist article in which we will see How to care for Japanese maple or red maple.
Japanese maple characteristics
The Acer palmatum It is a deciduous tree that supports pruning very well, so it can be grown both in soil and in pots. In fact, the Acer palmatum bonsai It is one of the most popular, and it is that fans of this technique find in it a particularly beautiful plant that tolerates the demanding processes involved in obtaining a bonsai Japanese maple.
How long does a maple take to grow and how long does a Japanese maple grow? The Acer palmatum grows an average of up to 10 meters high, although there are varieties that can exceed 15. It is also true that when grown in a pot, its growth will be much lower, rarely exceeding the 3 or 4 meters. Regarding how long it takes to grow, a Japanese maple will take between 7 and 10 years reach maturity.
And when does the Japanese maple or red maple bloom? Usually its flowering occurs in spring, although it is not as striking from the ornamental point of view as its leaves are. In autumn, we can see that this maple is filled with Red sheets, which can range from a light red to a dark tone, similar to purple.
Location and climate of Japanese maple
The light needs and tolerances of this tree are highly dependent on the climate in which it is found. In cold climates, the Acer palmatum tolerates and welcomes exhibitions full sun, while in Mediterranean climate it is better to locate it in semi-shadow or even in the shade if it is particularly hot areas.
The tree can withstand frost and subtropical climates, keeping its temperatures tolerable between 30 ºC and -18 ºC. Above 30 ºC, even short exposures to this sun and temperature can cause problems.
Watering the Japanese maple
This species needs a fairly regular watering. In cold months, it will be enough to water it every 48-72 hours, while in warm months, the tree's need for water could require up to 4 weekly waterings. As is usual with all plants, a potted japanese maple It will require more frequent waterings, as its root system is much less extended.
Here we tell you when to water the plants and How to water a bonsai, in case you decide to have this variety in your home.
Soil or substrate for Japanese maple
This is one of the most important points when it comes to knowing How to care for Japanese maple or red maple, since you need slightly acidic substrates, with a pH between 4 and 6. For this, we can directly use prepared substrate for acidophilic plants. However, we can also prepare ours by mixing two parts of akadama for each part of kiryuzuna, which give rise to a light soil, with great drainage and good aeration.
If you plant your maple outdoors and you don't want to have to add all the substrate around where the tree will go, you can acidify the soil yourself by regularly adding pine needles or iron sulfate, both with the ability to lower the pH. This method can work especially on limestone soils, which otherwise have good properties.
Here you can learn more about acidophilic plants: what they are, examples and care.
Japanese maple pruning
This species does not need pruning in a vital way, but the tree will maintain a noticeably better appearance and health if we keep the growth of its branches organized and controlled by means of a regular pruning, especially in cases where you have limited space.
It is recommended to always prune it in fall or late winter, before it resumes its activity in the spring. It is necessary to remove the branches in poor condition, as well as those that intersect or interfere with each other as they grow.
Acer palmatum fertilizer
It is only necessary during warm months, being advisable to use a specific fertilizer for acidophilic plants, which will provide the necessary nutrients without altering the acidity balance of the soil. If fast-acting liquid fertilizers are used, it is recommended to alternate one month of supply with another without it.
Here you can learn more about How to make homemade organic compost for plants.
Play Japanese Maple
This species can reproduce by seeds, which must spend three months in the refrigerator before being planted in the seedbed, leading to between one and two months of germination.
If you want faster playback, the japanese maple cutting It is also a very good option, thanking in this case the contribution of rooting, which you can make at home organically and for very little money. Here we explain how to make natural rooting agent.
The reproduction by layering and grafting It is also very common among professionals and experts, although these techniques, despite their higher success rate, are also more complex in their application.
Japanese maple varieties
The Japanese maple has three subspecies actually. The main three types of japanese maple they are Matsumure, Palmatum and Amoenum. In addition, a huge variety of cultivars and varieties are obtained from them. These are some of the varieties of japanese maple:
- Atropurpureum
- Bloodgood
- Butterfly
- Deshojo
- Dissectum
- Katsura
- Little princess
- Osakazuki
- Sango kaku
- Seiryu
If you want to read more articles similar to Japanese maple: care and varieties, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
