Hey all, Im in the Midwest US, zone 6b. I’m planning on browsing some local nurseries this fall for Japanese maple material for bonsai. I want to avoid trees with grafted rootstock, so before i start looking earnestly, I’d like to have a more focused idea of specific cultivars that are often grown on own-rootstock. I understand cultivars popular to bonsai, such as shishigashira, deshojo, are sometimes cultivated on own-rootstock, but i dont expect to find these in my local nurseries. I’d like some suggestions of cultivars that can be reliably found in nurseries with original rootstock.
If there is a variety you do like and has a graft, airlayering is a good option too. I find it very difficult finding JPMs without a graft at most nursery’s I have near me
In my experience the only cultivars that would not be grafted on pure strain rootstock would be rough bark like arakawa and super cork. Since the rough bark does not carry down the graft stock.
I have not personally seen a retail nursery carrying any specialty cultivars on their own roots; only time I ever see that is at bonsai-focused retailers.
If you are committed to shopping locally instead of purchasing pre-bonsai material from online vendors I would probably consider air layering/ground layering off the root stock and not worry as much about the graft/roots. Otherwise you will be very limited in selection at least in my experience in California.
Thanks guys. This is what I expected based on what I’ve been looking into. Im not opposed to an air-layer project, but im not sure I’m ready to commit to that yet. I know there’s great online resources for JMs grown specifically for bonsai, and I will probably end up ordering a couple 1 gallon plants from Evergreen Gardenworks. There’s something special about finding good material at local nurseries, so im still determined to go out there and see what I can find. Graft or no graft!
Buy several cultivars. Do several large trays of cutting starts in late spring. Of each. Use rooting hormone. Get cuttngs from your buddys..
Repot after 2 years. 3-5 years, put the best ones into lager pots, paying attention to spreading the roots out. Sell the rest… The ones that survive… Fertilizer, wire, wire, wire; trim, trim, trim…6 years, trim all roots and into shallow bonsai pots. Trim, wire, defoliate in mid summer. 10 years, show the best; sell the rest… I will be second in line…
I recently saw someone who propagates lots of Japanese Maples state that some will not take from cuttings, but airlayering works. I can’t remember which cultivar they were discussing. However, a cool thing they did was to separate in the fall with lots of roots and then place the airlayers with their pots into a larger container filled with pumice or similar for the winter and plan to repot in the spring.
Marty, if you can remember where you heard this, I think that would be something I’d be interested in exploring. I guess what I would really love to find is a list of cultivars that produce healthy roots through cutting or air layering. However, I think what Kurt is getting at is that experimenting is really going to be the best way to get the information I’m looking for. Oh well, I guess that means I have to play with a bunch of different trees.
If you’re seeking specific maples growing on their own root stock there are several bonsai growers such as myself that have stock. Reach out to them for material if you want to save time and get reliable genetic stock tha works well on its own roots.
As for which varieties do well on their own and start easily - as a very general rule the disectum leaf varieties are challenging to start from cuttings and air layer ( they will air layer with good technique). Most of the popular varieties used in bonsai will start from cuttings and air layers.
As for sources, there’s a propagator in the west David Gray, he has lots of variety, Mr maple sells several varieties for bonsai on their own roots, and I have a few varieties as well if your looking to start somewhere.
Unfortunately website is under construction, but not quit-ready currently, have not posted photos of material yet.
I can forward you some pics if you give me an idea of the material you’re looking for? Honeyhillbonsaigrowers.com , you can link to my FB or instagram send my want your looking for thru these and I’ll get you pics of some sample material.
