# Keeping a Japanese red maple tree indoors **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 20, 2021, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-japanese-red-maple-tree-indoors/940353 "2021-04-20T04:28:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-japanese-red-maple-tree-indoors/940353/1 "2021-04-20T04:28:18Z")
For sentimental reasons I will not go into, would like to have one about 5 ft tall in my apt. Now I know from reading on several websites that it would not last forever (at least not without a whole lot of care and even that is doubtful, and I am no gardener). But my idea is to get one now, and when fall comes transplant it into my parents yard. And next spring I will get another one for the apt. Feasible? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-japanese-red-maple-tree-indoors/940353/2 "2021-04-20T06:52:13Z")
[Japanese Red Maples can be used for bonsai](https://www.easternleaf.com/Japanese-Red-Maple-Bonsai-Tree-p/804960-01.htm#:~:text=The%20Japanese%20Red%20Maple%20features,due%20to%20their%20unique%20leaves.) so it oughta work. If you have the sunlight through a window it will survive, but without a lot of windows or moving it throughout the day it will be somewhat starved for sunlight. I would suggest raising one in a container outdoors until it’s the size you want after trimming, then bringing it indoors. We have plenty of American Red Maples ( \*\*Japanese Red Maples ( _ **Acer palmatum** _) around here, they grow readily in all sorts of conditions, I’m sure you could keep a small one indoors even with a half day of sunlight through a single window, ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-japanese-red-maple-tree-indoors/940353/3 "2021-04-20T12:14:43Z")
Couldn’t he just use a grow light? I bring plants indoors for the winter and run the light while I sleep (so not to annoy me while I work at home) and they appear to thrive. This from a guy that killed every indoor plant he had until about 8 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-japanese-red-maple-tree-indoors/940353/4 "2021-04-20T12:17:49Z")
I don’t know, but I was under the impression a 5 ft. tall tree would require a substantial number of grow lights. Certainly possible I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-japanese-red-maple-tree-indoors/940353/5 "2021-04-20T12:19:46Z")
I’m pretty sure a good marijuana supply shop could set him up. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-japanese-red-maple-tree-indoors/940353/6 "2021-04-20T18:16:21Z")
With enough sun/supplemental lighting, a Japanese maple that size could be kept as a house plant, sure - at least until it needs its fall/winter dormancy in a cold setting, which the OP has already planned for. The tree could also be overwintered after leaf fall in an unheated garage and returned indoors in the spring. A pain to transport, and probably expensive due to supplemental lighting needs indoors. But it should be feasible at least over the short term. Bonsais also would need a cool/cold winter rest. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-japanese-red-maple-tree-indoors/940353/7 "2021-04-20T19:13:50Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > would like to have one about 5 ft tall in my apt Be a little more specific here, I think you’ll need that planted in a fairly deep container. Do you want something like a 3 ft. tall tree in a 2 ft. high container? Or a 5 ft. tree in a 3 ft. container? ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-japanese-red-maple-tree-indoors/940353/8 "2021-04-20T19:26:41Z")
it might be more trouble than it’s worth. I would not want to get grow lights or have to move it around every day. My apt door faces directly east, but the only spot I have for it is about 10 feet away . Didn’t know the leaves had to fall before transplanting it (don’t want to be raking my apt LOL), but I coiuld put it out on my deck while that happens ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-japanese-red-maple-tree-indoors/940353/9 "2021-04-20T19:43:37Z")
Actually the question is moot, I jsut remembered that when we got one for our house in RI, it was around 5 feet and around $500. More than I want to spend for a house plant, but a bonsai could be cool. I could put it on the kitchen table, only a few feet from the door and which I almost never use ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-japanese-red-maple-tree-indoors/940353/10 "2021-04-21T01:21:13Z")
Bonsai maples also need good light, a cool winter dormant period and attentive care. The shallow dishes they grow in dry out quickly.