What is wrong with my Japanese Red Leaf Maple tree?

Question

I bought it this past spring, it's about 3ft. tall and I put it in a larger container, it did well for some time but then its leaves towards the top started to dry up, crumble in my hand, and the whole top died, so I cut it down to the better growth, it grew some more and later did the same thing again, should it not be in a pot at all you think? Help! P.S. Now my Weeping-Willow is doing the same, it too is in a large pot but this tree is about 5ft. tall.

What is Foxfarm? I know it,s deciduous. I'm sure I didn't overwater & that the pot is not too small or overpotted. It could be blite, got more info on it? Can I put it in the ground this time of year in Seattle? My neighbor has a very large one and he has it and says it loves direct sunlight, so that is how I had mine. It wasn't because it is Fall, this happened twice this Summer.

Answer 1

If the Pots are the permanent resting place for the trees you should have at least 2 gallons of fresh organic topsoil like Foxfarm every foot of tree. 6 gallons is the minimum of what you want. You can get Foxfarm from Bordines or English Gardens ( any major garden center) and it comes premixed. Otherwise you might want to put them in the ground ASAP. Then make sure they are getting the proper fertilizer and amounts of water. Your garden supply should also have all the info for taking care of the health of the plant. If it’s still drying up then it’s probably because it’s fall silly… Oh yeah if your someplace close to Detroit. ;)

Answer 2

When new growth dies off not long after transplanting I suspect root problems. Perhaps they were damaged in the transplant, they aren't getting enough water......something is amiss. Of course I'm also assuming we aren't talking sun burn or environment related problems........Jap red maples hate hot direct sunlight and dry air......they are not arid lovin' plants.

You have a weeping willow in a container?? What, you trying to bonsai?? Willows will fill a container quickly, especially something like the giant weeping willow. As the roots fill the container, the water holding ability is lost so you end up watering more often.

If you are trying to dwarf the tree, remember the bonsai plants are removed from their container and root pruned to keep them in bounds.

One final thought........how much larger pot did you put the plant into? There's also a chance the plant is rotting when a plant is over potted. The soil stays too wet.......tho not with death from the top down.......more likely bottom up.

Answer 3

I have seen Japanese Maples kept beautifully in pots for years. Something like large bonsai. They are usually in a semi shaded environment. If you have these in full sun on a hard surface this is your problem straight off.

I would say its too little water. It is very easy to let pots dry out. (In the soil the moisture stays a lot longer). If it is a porous pot eg terracotta, seal the inside with a sealer designed for pots, (Unless you are in a very wet climate) this stops the water loss. Invest in some water storing crystals and mix into the potting mix as directed. Also to help get over transplant shock, and die-back try some seaweed extract. Its a great root tonic and is very gentle. Hope this is helpful.

Answer 4

Probably shocked it by transferring during growing season make sure always has water but don't drown it , too much will rot the roots or it might have a blite, or fungus check with a nursery.
My red leaf maple did that a couple years ago and it was a blite couldn't do anything but hold my breath and hope winter chill would kill the blite, it did and had to cut out dead branches and reshape the tree.

Answer 5

Definitely the pots. Get them out of the pots and into actual soil, because there isn't enough room for the roots. With the roots growing in a contained environment, they're all very bunched up and water can't reach every root. This means less water is getting to vital parts of the tree, and thus causing it to die. We have a japanese maple and we moved it out of a pot once it reached two and a half feet. It's doing very well now.

Answer 6

It sounds like you may be over watering the trees.
This symptoms is common for potted plants that get over water.
Yo may need to go to your local Nusery Garden shope and pik-up a small plant meter that operates on battery. Most of them either a 9-Volt. You stick the one end into the plant lets you know if soil is moist or dry. Then water the plant occordingly.
Good Luck. Plus pick-up copy of Plant problems published by ortho books.

Answer 7

Take a branch or two to your local nursery and maybe they will be able to tell you if they are diseased and how to treat it. Check your trees for beetles also..I really don`t know if they should remain in a pot or not. Have you applied any fertilizer soil (new) to your potted trees. This might be the problem too and your pots may be getting to small for their roots...

Answer 8

There is a good chance you planted the tree too deep. The ball of the root flare should be near the surface of the yard. A good rule of thumb is if it looks like a "telephone pole" in the ground it was planted too deep and is thus suspectible to disease.

Answer 9

They are deciduous = they shed leaves in the fall.

Water test: pick up the container, light = dry. Aerate and water. (aerate by poking holes in the soil with scissors, screw driver, knife...)

If the container is heavy = too much water, let it dry out some. good luck

Answer 10

Hello, The bark at the bottom of my Japanese Red maple is shedding and peeling! Help?