Hi I just bought a Japanese maple to use as a bonsai later on. My question is should it be in a bigger pot and should i trim the top of to promote growth at the lower parts or just let it keep growing? If I do chop off part of the top how far up 3ft?



How long do you think until I should start trimming the bigger leaves and some of the branches to start styling it? Do you think 3-5 years should be good? I will probably get a bigger pot for it next year as well. I don't have access to plant it in the ground.

As for the Cypress does the trunk look thick enough to start styling or should I wait and years for this one as well or should it be okay to start shaping and trimming?

Hard to tell. Plants grow differently for different people. Everything, from climate to care, pot or full soil, sunny, dry, fertilized etc affect plant growth. The only thing to say is that you are looking at a lot of time.

First decide how tall a tree you would like. That will tell you the trunk you ned (6-12 times the trunk thickness is the height of the tree).
Then decide which style
Then keep into account that for most styles you want some bends in the trunk: It is VERY straight now.
Cutting leaves is only something to do in the later stages. Think a decade from now.

I am not sure your cypress is a cypress. I think it is chameacyparis. Again: You habve to decide it is thick anough. See above.

leatherback...Is it good that maple tree is in air layering for now?
Because I see great potential if in the air layering to get some new maple material.
Rather than having to cut and throw it away. thank you...

konlabos wrote: leatherback...Is it good that maple tree is in air layering for now?
Because I see great potential if in the air layering to get some new maple material.
Rather than having to cut and throw it away. thank you...

On this forum it is considered impoilte to start your own topic in someone elses thread.Please start your own.

I think he means the op's maple

leatherback wrote:

konlabos wrote: leatherback...Is it good that maple tree is in air layering for now?
Because I see great potential if in the air layering to get some new maple material.
Rather than having to cut and throw it away. thank you...

On this forum it is considered impoilte to start your own topic in someone elses thread.Please start your own.

I mean maple tree in this forum.

Should I wait till the branch is thicker before doing air layering on the maple?

OK, that was completely unclear to me. The sapling in this post is too thin and unintereting to create new plants from, in my opinion.

Layering can be done in early to mid spring. Later might get you into trouble when you want to separate.

Thanks for all the input guys!