First aid session for Japanese maples

I had an opportunity to buy two acer palmatums which were imported by a garden center from Japan. The trees were standing there for three years until today. They've already lost a good deal of their trees due to a basic neglect and also a lack of special knowledge what to do with this plants.
So I went there and do a little bargain...it ended with a two trees for the price of one.
But, urgent repotting and revitalising was of prime concern.
See full story with more photos here:
http://sandevbonsai.blogspot.com/2012/03/acer-palmatum-japanese-import.html

Those are very impressive and no doubt costly specimens to be importing from Japan only to wind up sitting for three years and not be able to be maintained properly. Kinda strange.
-Jay

Two exceptionally nice trees, good luck with them.

they will be fine - the trunks are nice and the branches can be cut right back and grown again - neglected, weak and poor specimens are the best way to build a collection for the fraction of the cost. Over half my trees were bought as neglected specimens and are being rebuilt - my favorite way to buy a bonsai
cheers Marcus

drgonzo wrote:Those are very impressive and no doubt costly specimens to be importing from Japan only to wind up sitting for three years and not be able to be maintained properly. Kinda strange.
-Jay

Oh yes, kinda strange. But, those people are just strange people, if I would tell you how many beautiful japanese bonsai died in that same garden center, and they were not even considering lowering the price for people interested to take the trees away..they just left the trees to die. So, having in mind that, my todays experience could be a step forward ..
Yes, the trees were expensive, but at least, they gave me two for the price of one
It was easy to notice that they were actualy very happy to get rid of the trees...you know, that is an extra large garden center, the biggest in Croatia, they import trucks and trucks of garden plant material, and they probably import bonsai from Japan just to show off. They dont care about the cost and dont care if the "goods" are dead in a few months
Yes, kinda strange

Good find! I am glad you managed to save these than left being neglected.

YOU have found 2 very nice maples !! i am sure they will be fine in your care.. i just love the trunks on both of them.. good luck to you !! take care john

wow! Congratulations - amazing material!

Sebastijan
Very nice find and seems like a good deal. So what us your plan on the re habilitation for these maples?

Mitch

Mitch Thomas wrote:Sebastijan
Very nice find and seems like a good deal. So what us your plan on the re habilitation for these maples?

Mitch

The plan is...they are transplanted and substrate changed, root ball cleaned, they are planted in a very free draining substrate, planted in a temporary pot a bit bigger and deeper than necessary, they will be aggresivly fed with organic fertilizer, together with a liquid chemical fertilizer. I usualy do foliar feeding and I will be implementing the same on these maples of course. They will receive an amino acid foliar spray every week beside regular feeding they will not be repotted for two years, two full seasons, at least Trees won't be shaped or wired or cut in any way this year.
That is a plan

Of course, thank you all friends for nice words and wishes.