How to Care for a Japanese Bonsai Maple Tree
- 1). Prune back two pairs of leaves for every five pairs of new growth. Use sharp scissors to cut the growth back, snipping the base of the stem near the branch.
- 2). Snip off unusually large leaves.
- 3). Clip away sucker branches from the trunk of your tree. Use concave clippers to get a good grip around the base of the branch, close to the bonsai trunk. Prune branches in autumn after the leaves have begun to fall.
- 4). Open up new leaves in spring to encourage dense growth. When new leaves sprout in spring, use tweezers to open the leaves slightly. Remove the central shoot with tweezers.
- 5). Water your plant by placing it in a shallow pan filled with 2 inches of water.
- 6). Place your bonsai in the water for 30 minutes, then remove the plant and let it drain.
- 7). Position the bonsai in indirect sunlight. This bonsai is susceptible to leaf burn and wind damage.
