It would help to know your climate zone, what conditions the tree was kept in over the winter, what kind of soil it's in, whether it's in or outside, how much sun it gets and when do you water. Then we can try to comment.

The tree is in full morning sunlight indoors at 75 degrees in the spring summer and fall then I put it in a non heated garage with very little light in the winter, it winterized and came back fine. I have it in moisture control potting mix and only water when it gets dry. I germinated the seed in a ready pot at 80 degrees and that came up nicely. It's only the second year so maybe I'm just being impatient. I've read that most bonsai's are not grown from seed. But this one is and it's doing well but I want to make sure there's nothing I'm forgetting.

When can I expect branches to sprout on a tree?

In the winter it drops to about 20 degrees F

Is that 20 F overnight in late Jan? Maple trees will not survive indoors for any length of time - they're not tropicals and need to live outside all year to experience cold winter dormancy or they won't come back in spring, and yours should be ok there(?) if you mulch a bit in the winter. You got away with 'indoors' this time because of its age, but don't expect it to happen again. Moisture control mix is for vegetables and flowers, not maple trees. You need to plant your seedling (because that's what it is now) IN the ground - no pot - for 3-5 yrs before it even comes close to being old enough to do any bonsai work on... leaving it in a small pot now won't do it. It needs to grow into a tree first, however tall it gets, THEN you cut back and the (then) fatter trunk and smaller branches (which you'll have learned by then how to develop) will make it look older. Right now it's a stick in a pot that only wants to get tall... branches on the trunk, if any, may grow later, but not now. Don't use any kind of bought soil to plant it, just put it somewhere with decent light and fast draining soil - no M.Gro or anything 'garden', and leave it alone.

Ok I live in NJ so I have pretty cold winters and warm summers. I moved the pot outside but I can't transplant it into the ground because frankly I don't have a lawn. Hopefully I can get away with a large pot on the deck?

Wide pot (and deep too for now). Google Bonsai training pots (or boxes) for actual pix of actual specific design. You'll also need bonsai 'soil', usually a mix of very small (<1/8") bark chips, perlite (not vermiculite), and something like the quite-small size pebbles used in aquariums (you can Google Image 'Akadama' - an expensive Japanese bonsai component, to get an idea). You can substitute a little of the perlite and/or bark chips with a little (<20% of the mix) soil. And don't put crocks or pebbles on the bottom... just one complete mix throughout. And in NJ, you shouldn't need to worry about watering, though if you have a long hot spell, don't be afraid to water either because that mix will let it run right through, which is the idea.

Ok i put it in a bigger pot.... 12x12x16. I couldn't find the soil mix so i added perlite to some garden soil and I'm using that. I didn't put pebbles on the bottom and come fall I'll probably mulch it a bit? maybe? should i?... have a look....

the watering globes are just left over from tomato plants..... the maple needed some company :)

i have to admit, i'm a litle scared to leave it outside... it's so small and fragile. the winds could take it.... down pours could drown it, anything could happen.

That's a big pot! I didn't realize how small the tree was, but you might be surprised at how fast it fills this one. If there are good drain holes in the new pot and you don't locate it in a natural wind tunnel, it should be ok - after all what happens to any year old plants in the ground? Don't forget wind (within reason) helps strengthen trunks.

What type of maple? That pot is huge. And depending on the variety putting it in a pot that size could kill it. Most Japanese maples are slow growers, give or take a couple varieties. And once you know the type you csn find out if it can stay out all year round. Some are hardy to zone 3 and 4 so there's a high possibility you can leave it out all year. Depending on hard freezes a garage is acceptable. Water it a few times throughout the winter and everything should be golden

Is it some sort of trident maple? It sure is small and weak looking.

Josh

it's a year old acer palmatum but it didn't receive enough light in the beginning of this season so the leaves came out broad.

An update! My maple is doing great, I transferred it to a slightly smaller pot and put river rocks above and below it for better drainage. halfway through year two...