I wish to grow a japanese maple from seed or from cuttings. Can you tell me how. If you plant in a container how long is it safe for it to remain there and do they need to winter outside or inside? I picked some seed pods but they are still red, do I need to go back in a couple weeks and get brown ones?

Seeds may produce red, green or something in between colored foliage. Seeds are collected and refrigerated for three months before seeding. If they do not get enough cold, they will not germinate. Seeds need to be ripe so you need to get the brown ones.

In a container, the plants can be grown for years but pot size needs to get larger as the plant gets larger, Always cut or spread all circling roots when increasing pot size and only increase pot size by one size. Do not go from a one inch to a five inch to save time. To large a pot could cause watering problems just like a pot too small will cause problems. In the winter the pot needs to be sunk in the ground so soil in pot is level with soil out side pot. If wild life is a problem, protect plant from wild live by using a wire mesh 1/4 inch or smalller around and over the top of the plant.