Durandal

Hello everyone, first post here.

A while back when I was around 8-9 I used to collect and plant acer saccharinum seeds. One year instead of all the seedlings dying from neglect, I potted them. About half of them were planted in a large well drained planter and the other half was planted in plastic lined wicker baskets. Both sets of plants were placed on a second story sunroof which faced southwest. Eventually the plastic lined baskets filled with water and leaves. The trees in the planter matured normally and were moved within two years, however the trees in the baskets did not grow much at all. In five years they grew approximately one inch each and maintained miniaturized features (Although they always looked like seedlings.) After five years though I neglected them through a drought and they dried up an died.

I have a few questions. What exactly caused my trees to remain drawfs? Has anybody done this on purpose and if so what is it called? and finally, should I try it again?