Help with ID (Large Embedded Pics Warning)

Mopar32985

Hello. New here to the site and also to Bonsai. I have poked around a little here and this seems like a very nice community with alot of intelligent people. But to move on. I was telling one of mu customers i wanted to get into Bonsai and she gave me this tree and said its about 3 years old. She said she thinks its a Maple but i wanted to verify that. any help would be great.

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anttal63

at this point it looks like a maple, maybe trident but you will know as soon as those leaves open up.

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Antonio . . .
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Mopar32985

Thank you very much for you quick response. Also do you know what would be a good soil to use right now im using sphagnum moss. Thanks again

Repotter

It would be better to get it out of the Sphagnum Moss as it is too hard to rewet after it has become dry on the surface and it compacts after a while.

I use a mix of Turface and aged pine bark at a ratio of 10 parts pine bark to 4-5 parts turface. This will give it the proper drainage yet will hold enough water with out drowning the roots.
I have kept all my Maples in this for over 17 years as well as all my outdoor trees.

You should be able to I.D. your tree by leaf shape after it sprouts.

Good luck, welcome to the world of bonsai.

Hector

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Sailor_Jerry

The buds, greyish brown bark and pink petioles look exactly like a Japanese Maple (a.k.a. acer palmatum) of mine which is doing the same thing right now.

Check this site out:

http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/AcerPalmatum.html

Don't worry if the leaves on your tree (assuming it is a maple) do'nt look like anything like the few leaves you see on that site, there are well over a hundred different varieties.

You definitely want it out of that moss. If there's a large garden center near you you can sometimes find small bags of bonsai soil in a pinch. Otherwise you can order some from one of the many online retailers (who can also provide a pot, accessories and a book or two).

EDIT: I just noticed you're in Maryland, if you're in central MD check out Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville (I'm not affiliated). They have enough to get you started.

Mopar32985

Thank you guys for your responses. Im heading out now to get this guy outta the moss. Hey sailor jerry are you also located in maryland. If so are their any good clubs. Im in montgomory. Thanks again i will post updated pic tonight with it in a bonsai pot with its new soil.

Sailor_Jerry

Not that I've found yet, Mopar. There's one not far from me in bowie (I'm western AA co), but they never answer email and the website seems to have fossilized about two years ago.

Looks like there's a great club up in Balmer, but it's a bit of a haul for me and I just haven't had a chance to check it out yet. I do plan to find a good club one of these days though.

Here's the club finder directory from the American Bonsai Society site:

http://www.absbonsai.org/USAClubs.html