Red acers: How suitable for bonsai?

A couple of years ago I planted a red-leaved Acer palmatum in the garden at my parent's house, with the intention of digging or layering it in the future once it it had put on some weight.

Now, being a coniferite I know very little about maples in general. Are the red leaved palmatum varieties suitable for use as bonsai? I can't remember which cultivar it is, either 'bloodgood' or 'purpureum'. I had heard that the red varieties were prone to long internodes, but otherwise ok UK climate wise.

I'm actually stationed in Sunny Oz at the moment (haha fellow countrymen!) so can't provide photos.

Cheers

Hello Rich. You must be having a miserable time in Oz. Were currently basking in temps of close to to -20 c and several feet of snow. Atropurpureum and bloodgood are very difficult subjects for bonsai for the reasons you mentioned. Perhaps the larger internodes and leaves would suit larger sized bonsai.

Well, I'm up the tropical region and the wet season is just beginning, the crazy humidity gets to you after a while! Don't laugh but every now and again I miss the crisp frosty air and the crunch of the leaves underfoot....

Cheers Will, it is as I'd expected. Do green-leaved varieties of A. palmatum have this problem as well?

Rich

ps did they remember to grit the roads this year?

Hello Rich. The green varieties generally have smaller leaves and nodes, as do a lot of the coloured ones. You just picked a difficult one thats all.