Trident Maple Care Guide

The trident maple Acer beurgerianum is a very recognisable tree in bonsai, it has distinctive 3 pointed leaves and wonderful autumn foliage that make it a favourite for many bonsai enthusiasts .

It is one of the easiest maples to grow and care for and it also is a very aggressive grower which is exactly what we want from a bonsai.

What Is The Natural Habitat of A Trident Maple?

Trident maples grow naturally in South East China, Taiwan and Japan. It is a small to medium size deciduous tree and can reach heights of 20m.

It has since been exported to other temperate areas of the world and can be found in many countries growing happily in parks and city areas.

What Soil Do Trident Maple Bonsai Need?

Trident maple bonsai should be put in good free draining soil. They can be very aggressive growers and they will fill your pots with roots. A free draining soil is going to help promote fine rooting, which will help you build a better root structure.

(For more info on soil read – A General Guide To Bonsai Soil)

How Do You Water A Trident Maple Bonsai?

Trident maple bonsai are fast growers so you will find they can be very thirsty and you will need to water them a lot in the summer to keep up with their new growth.

They do not like to be waterlogged, but will want to be moist at all times. This is also why using a loose soil mix is helpful, it will help you keep the balance. You should not let them completely dry out, so you will need to check to see daily if they need more water or not.

(For more info you can read – How To Water A Bonsai)

How Much Sun Light Does A Trident Maple Bonsai Need?

Trident maple bonsai can take full sun, but you should be careful in the height of summer. Their leaves can easily burn, so it can often be best to make sure they get some shade at the hottest part of the day. You will see a lot of bonsai growers using some sort of shade cloth, or moving their tree into shade at this time of year.

This is really going to be more of an issue if you have trident in a shallow pot. They drink a lot, as well the warm temperatures will evaporate the moisture from the pot …and since it is a small, shallow pot, this can then dry out quite quickly. You will need to make sure you are paying close attention to your watering in the summer. If you can keep on top of this, they are less likely to burn.

I just leave my trident in full sun all summer long and only get very minimal leaf burning. This is due to my lack of good sun light and also because my tree is in a big pot, so it does not dry out as quickly. In the future I may need to change my approach as my pot size reduces.

How Hardy Are Trident Maple Bonsai?

As a deciduous tree from a temperate climate they can take some cold. However, there is mixed information on exactly how much. For trees in the ground it is suggested they can be hardy between US zones 5-8. Which basically means anywhere between -5 and -29°C (23 to -20°F).

I would err on the side of caution and use the -5°C (23°F) as your guide. Obviously if you tree is in a bonsai pot it will it will not be able to go this low, so I would suggest if you live in a very cold area you should protect your trident wants it starts to go below zero.(32 for you °F fans)

Where I live is mild, it might reach -5°C one night a year for a few hours. Mostly it just dips below zero for a few hours at best. I do not protect my trident at all and I have not had any issues. 

(For more info you can read – Working Out How To Over Winter Bonsai Trees)

How Often Do You Feed A Trident Maple Bonsai?

I feed my trident maple bonsai on a monthly basis throughout the growing season with an all purpose fertiliser. This is all you need to keep things balanced and healthy.

(For more info you can read – Do You Need To Use “Bonsai” Fertiliser?)

How Do Trident Maple Bonsai Respond to Pruning?

Trident maple bonsai respond very well to pruning and can actually be defoliated if you are trying to produce more ramification. This is something you don’t need to worry about until your tree is quite well established, but it shows that they respond very favourably to pruning work.

Tridents will reliably back bud and send new shoots out from where you have pruned and you can very easily, and quickly start to build the structure of your tree through pruning.

(For more info you can read- How To Prune A Bonsai Tree)

Repotting A Trident Maple Bonsai

Trident maple bonsai are very fast growers so you will find they need repotted a lot sooner than other maples. You will usually find they have filled the pot very quickly, especially if you are using a good loose soil mix to help encourage fine rooting.

They can also handle aggressive root pruning so long as it is the right time of year and the tree is healthy. You should be repotting them just as the new buds are about to open.

(For more info you can read – How To Repot A Bonsai Tree)

Wiring A Trident Maple Bonsai

You can wire trident maple bonsai, it is probably best to wire your primary structure and after this use clip and grow techniques to build the rest of the structure.

Tridents are very easy to ramify through pruning so this method will work well if you are a fan of wiring, although, I would always suggest you try and wire the main structure into place to really get the shape you need.

(For more info read – Why Do We Wire Bonsai?)

What Is The Leaf Pattern Of A Trident Maple Bonsai?

Trident maple bonsai are easily identifiable by their three pronged leaves that said to look like a trident spear.

When you look at the branches, you will see that the leaves are in a pair pattern, just like other maples. You will see two leaves always growing at the same spot, and when you prune, you should get two new shoots, one at either side of the branch.

What Pests Does A Trident Maple Bonsai Suffer From?

Trident maple bonsai are strong growers are usually left alone by pests but of course can be attacked by the usual aphids and scales.

You may occasionally find spider mites and caterpillars as well. Like any tree you should just check it regularly to see if anything unwanted is living on the tree and deal with it accordingly.

They are pretty trouble free, but not totally immune to issues.

Can You Propagate A Trident Maple Bonsai?

Trident maples can be grown from seed but can also be rooted from cuttings and air layers. As it is a very vigorous grower it will usually root easier and faster than a lot of other maple varieties.  

What Is The Growth Rate Of A Trident Maple Bonsai?

Trident maple bonsai are fast aggressive growers. They are great trees to start from basic material as they can develop quickly, especially if you give them some time to grow in the ground.

If you grow other maples, you will notice the difference with tridents, they just seem to be a lot more hungry for growth both on top and in the pot.

Should You Get A Trident Maple Bonsai?

Trident maple bonsai are brilliant. They are fast growing and easy to care for. They are one of the most popular trees for a good reason and you should definitely get one.

I would highly recommend them to any one to anyone, especially beginners. If you want a maple, this is the variety to get,

You can read more about Are Trident Maples Good Trees For Bonsai?