New Maple Bonsai Project

Hello, I'm here today to present a small project I began 2 years ago after pulling a baby maple sapling with red leaved out of the ground. I let it grow in a nursing pot for a year and just popped it into it's new home about a month ago.

My idea is to have a simple natural looking maple tree in a pot. I don't intend on using wires anytime soon, I'm just going to let it grow. Every year I'll cut back some roots and return to it's current pot. I have a few questions and concerns however..

- What species is it? (I believe sugar or red maple)
- Is the soil ok? I'm using regular plant soil with 1:4 perlite mix, I added a bit of sand and peatmoss because it was the only stuff accessible at the time.
- It's indoor with 24/7 LED grow lights, sitting near the heater at least until it's more mature.
- I just topped off the two leader branches as it was getting too tall, and to give it more shape.

I haven't seen any signs of stress as of yet other than some drooping of the leaves, however after I pruned, it seems to be doing the opposite and the leaves are perking up more.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Do you mind sharing a photo?

Well.. Maples should not be kept indoors next to a heater.
Your plant looks like it is leafless at the moment.

It seems like you kow what you want to do. Not what I would do, but I wish you fun.

Boahz wrote:

- What species is it? (I believe sugar or red maple)

It is not possible to identify species or variety on a leafless maple

Boahz wrote:

- Is the soil ok? I'm using regular plant soil with 1:4 perlite mix, I added a bit of sand and peatmoss because it was the only stuff accessible at the time.

The soil is your least problem.

Boahz wrote:

- It's indoor with 24/7 LED grow lights, sitting near the heater at least until it's more mature.

It will not become mature under this conditions.

Boahz wrote:

- I just topped off the two leader branches as it was getting too tall, and to give it more shape.

I am not sure I get this question.

Boahz wrote:

Any thoughts or opinions?

I think you are asking the wrong questions. And that is proboably due to lack of basic knowledge about growing plants. You need a lot more of that before even thinking about bonsai. Here are a two statements that will help you forward, but will not eliminate the need for self studies:

All plants needs rest in the night. Light 24/7 will stress them, weaken them and eventually kill them.

Maples is temperate decidious trees. Growing in livingroom conditions without proper winter dormancy will stress them, weaken them and eventually kill them.

Good luck with your studies, growing endavours and future bonsai projects.