Acer buergerianum 1-8

The maple needs a substrate that is always moist. Water regularly, but leave the root ball to dry out slightly between waterings to avoid over-watering. In spring/summer, water regularly - every day in warm weather! In winter, on the other hand, water as the soil warms up. Thanks to the rain and cold, you won't necessarily need to water regularly, as the substrate will remain moist. 

Important: Don't hesitate to water the entire root ball right down to the roots, as the water will drain out through the holes in the underside of the pot, or bathe the bonsai in water for a few minutes to make sure it is well watered. We advise against putting a dish/container under the pot as the water will stagnate and may cause the roots to rot (too much water = asphyxiation).

The trident maple likes fresh soil with a good proportion of organic matter. In the nursery, we use agricultural compost made up of black peat, blond peat, aged organic matter, topsoil, horse manure and pozzolan. At the next repotting, which takes place every 2/3 years in early spring, you can mix in a more draining substrate such as akadama, pumice, kiryu, etc. Just be careful not to disturb the roots, and don't destroy the whole root ball! 

Many bonsai react badly when repotted at the wrong time or too drastically.

Shoots and branches can be pruned all year round. Once the leaves have fallen, you can prune for structure and remove superfluous branches.

In the nursery, we use NPK 12 12 17 blue fertiliser for tomatoes and flowers. You can use it and put a handful (small or large depending on the size of the pot) on the substrate from May to October, every 2 months, alternating chemical/organic.