Japanese Maple

Japanese Maple trees are an elegant addition to any garden. They are petite trees with pretty and delicate leaves. The vast variety of colors they offer make them one of the most popular ornamental trees.

They prefer shade, especially in warmer climates, and do not do well in direct sunlight. In home design, Japanese Maples are often placed on the north side of houses for this reason.

Growing Japanese Maple from Seed

Depending on the variety, growing a Japanese Maple tree from seed can be a long process. If you have a tree in your garden, it is likely that you will get a few volunteer seedlings with no effort required. In spring time, look around mature trees for volunteers. The wing on each seed allows it to travel several feet from the adult tree. If you cannot find any seedlings, look beneath the tree for dried seeds. Collect the seeds and give a go at planting. The seeds can take anywhere for 40-120 days to germinate.

 

How to Transplant Seedlings

To transplant volunteer seedlings from your garden to pots, you will need:

• Containers: It’s good to hold on to a small collection of planting pots, that way your ready to transplant at any time. They’ll need to be washed and set in the sun to kill any microbes lingering from previous soil.
• Potting Soil: Lightly wet some potting soil in a bucket. Mix by hand or with a garden spade. The soil should be evenly and lightly moist. 
• Spade: A small shovel to dig seedlings from the ground.

     

Once all tools are gathered:

• Wet the area where the seedlings have sprouted. Give a few minutes for the water to soak into the ground. This will help some of the dirt stick to the roots when transplanting.
• Fill the container most of the way with soil and tamp down lightly with your fingers. Make a small divot in the center where the seedling will go.
• Gently dig a circle around the seedling with the spade.

• Use the spade to lift the plant and some of its surrounding soil.

• Place the seedling into its new container, and top off the container with a little more soil. 

What to do with Seedlings

Seedlings can be planted wherever you’d like a new focal point in the garden, remember that Japanese Maples grow best in areas that provide afternoon shade.

These seedlings also make excellent and unique gifts for family and friends!

Can You Grow Japanese Maple Trees Indoors?

The answer is yes, as with all plants, if you are able to provide the right conditions. Japanese Maples may only get as tall as their roots grow deep. So if you plan to grow your seedling inside, know that you will have to upsize its container as it grows. These plants also need a night time temperature drop of about 20 degrees to grow well. Most homes do not fluctuate much, so you’d have to plan to keep it by an open window at night, or otherwise meet this need.

Notes on Japanese Maples:

These elegant trees make excellent focal points in the garden. They like shady areas, and are often used in front of windows on the north side of a house in home design. Japanese Maples can be grown from seed and happily volunteer on their own in the garden. It’s easy to transplant the seedlings. They make adorable gifts!

You can purchase Japanese Maple Seeds from our Etsy shop, while supplies last:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/601158796/japanese-maple-seeds-green

 

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