Acer kiyohime ak-2-12

Maple does not like dry water, so keep the soil moist so water it regularly while letting the root ball dry out slightly between two waterings to avoid excess water. Watering will be done very regularly, in hot weather, it's every day ! On the other hand, in winter, water according to the soil monitoring you do. Thanks to the rain and cold, you won't necessarily need to water regularly since the substrate will remain moist.

To do it right: Don't hesitate to water the entire root ball up to the roots, the water will drain through the holes under the pot or bathe it in water (drenching) for a few minutes, to be sure to water it well. We do not recommend putting a cup/container under your pot because the water will stagnate and can cause root rot.  (Too much water = asphyxiation).

The kiyohime maple likes cool soils with a good share of organic matter. In the nursery, we use agricultural potting soil which is composed of black peat, blond peat, eco-aged, topsoil, horse manure, pozzolana. Repotting is done in the spring, when the first leaves appear.   The ideal time is when the bonsai has started to grow. At this point, it will heal the root cuts faster and create new ones. Thus, avoid repotting in the middle of winter and autumn.

During the growing season, the first pruning is done in May, do not hesitate to prune well and cut back to the side to prevent the maple from spreading, keep its rounded shape without touching the head, the leaves of the second shoot will be more resistant to the sun. Do the second pruning in the summer

In the nursery, we use blue tomato/flower fertilizer NPK 12 12 17. After the first pruning, fertilize by putting a handful on the substrate, from May to October every 2 months.