Engaging in the art of Japanese bonsai is a great way of exhuming and challenging your creativity. However, with a great number and variety of plant species, selecting a subject for bonsai can be daunting and confusing. One great candidate for bonsai is the Japanese Maple.

A native to China and Japan, this tree which is officially known as the Acer palmatum is the most commonly seen maple in gardens. Resilient and easy to grow, it is a perfect choice for bonsai because of its fragile ferny foliage, dense dimensions, and brilliant autumn shade which may range from beaming gold to bright blood-red. When grown in wild, it can be a large and towering tree but with proper pruning, it can turn out to be a wonderful rock garden miniature or an interesting small tree with varying leaf shade, sizes, and shape.

When you have finally decided to go with Japanese Maple, choose one that has a trunk with at least four inches in diameter. This will give you the liberty to train your bonsai in different styles. However, if you are thinking of giving your tree an Apex or Taper style, then you need to get a Japanese Maple bonsai with 1-2 trunk chops. You can easily get this affordable bonsai and enjoy its magnificent parade of bright red and dazzling purple foliage.

Once you have chosen your Japanese Maple bonsai, you are now ready to engage in the challenge of cultivating and turning your tree to look its best. In order to do that, you need to know and provide its proper care.

First, a Japanese Maple bonsai needs adequate sunlight early in the morning but should be kept under shade the rest of the day especially on sunny days. Don't expose it to direct summer sun because its delicate foliage can wilt and turn brown and crumpled. Second, you also need to water it daily but its container must have drainage to prevent the roots from rotting. Keep moisture in the soil by frequently watering it. Third, depending on the manufacturer of your fertilizer, fertilize your bonsai every 3-4 weeks using a slow-acting organic feed. When you have just repotted the plant, wait for two months before feeding. You should stop giving feeds for 1-2 months during the summer. Fourth, regular repotting should be done every year for younger trees and two to three years for mature trees. Last, prevent your plant from pests and diseases like aphids and mildew.

A Japanese Maple is a wonderful bonsai to have. It can satisfy your creativity as it can be styled in a variety of ways. So get one and enjoy!