AusBonsai

hi guys and girls, my name is Tyson and this is my first post, though i have been reading on here for awile. I was wondering if anyone had any advice or information on chinese maples as i just recieved a seedling as a present, should they be treated as a japanese maple ??????

Welcome Tyson, I dont know much about Chinese Maple but, maybe, just its lack of popularity as Bonsai might make it a hard ask as compared to Japanese. It looks like its autumn colour is fantastic but its leaf size might be difficult. Thanks for your post as it made me look it up because i have never seen a Chinese Maple. But, hey, dont be deterred, give it a go and keep us posted. I would love to see its progress.

Hi Mate , Chinese Flowering Maples or Abutilon . I have numerous layers of Trailing Abutilon /Megapotanicum potted up .They grow very well , love water 2-3 times a day in Summer . They tend to get very leggy if not kept trimmed .Leaf reduction is possible but the new leaves grow large. I have only had these in plastic pots for 18 months due to try them in bonsai enviroment possible a group .This particular 1 is smaller than the standard Abutilon , there is a minature variety available but i have not been able to find it .Cheers

alpineart wrote:Hi Mate , Chinese Flowering Maples or Abutilon . I have numerous layers of Trailing Abutilon /Megapotanicum potted up .

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They grow very well , love water 2-3 times a day in Summer . They tend to get very leggy if not kept trimmed .Leaf reduction is possible but the new leaves grow large. I have only had these in plastic pots for 18 months due to try them in bonsai enviroment possible a group .This particular 1 is smaller than the standard Abutilon , there is a minature variety available but i have not been able to find it .Cheers

Hells Bells Alpine, you know everything

Hi Bodhi , no mate i realize the more i learn the less i think i know .Thats why i,m here to continue to learn . Cheers

alpineart wrote:Hi Bodhi , no mate i realize the more i learn the less i think i know .Thats why i,m here to continue to learn . Cheers

Good on you Alpine. I am with you.

alpineart wrote: I realize the more i learn the less i think i know.

Now that is an awesome quote.

hi, these trees (commonly known as chinese lanterns - actually a member of the hibiscus family) are quite hard to bonsai. I have several in my yard. Two i planted in the garden and within 18 months they became huge. getting trunk size is easy however they branches are difficult to work with and become brittle and die back for no apparent cause.

they are a beautiful tree to have in a garden and benefit from regular prunnings so as not to become scraggly. but i have tried a few times to bonsai them and have found them diffucult to say the least.

the miniature vairty can be purchased at flower power. however their flowers open completely and dont keep the lantern shape

Mitchell wrote:

alpineart wrote: I realize the more i learn the less i think i know.

Now that is an awesome quote.

^^
Absolutely