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| Posted this a week ago in "Japanese Gardens", but it seems like that's a pretty dead forum (5 posts since May?).
Anyway, we have a bloodgood in a container, planted about a year ago. Last summer the tips of the leaves started curling and browning, until eventually the entire leaf would curl up like a dried hand - then fall off. Eventually the entire tree lost its leaves about a good month before established trees in the ground did. The tree is about 3' high; the pot is approximately 18" in diameter, 30" deep. So the pot seems appropriately sized. The only thing that was suggested to me was maybe a fungus, so over the winter I treated the tree and the soil both with a sulphur-based fungicide, about once a month. This spring the tree leafed out beautifully (very thankful for that) - however in the last couple weeks I'm again seeing some browning and curling on some leaf tips. (And in the meantime I had been continuing the monthly fungicide treatment; though if it's a fungus in the roots or stems, the foliar and soil treatments might not work.) Thoughts? It's well watered; in fact last summer one concern was that maybe I wasn't watering it enough (I know maples like water), but this summer I've been more generous, but am still having the problem. Could it be a deficiency of some kind? Also, the tree gets full morning sun, up through about 1:00 or 1:30 p.m., then it's in full shade. Maybe that's too much sun? Thanks for any input. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sat, Jun 30, 12 at 13:03
| The tree is about 3' high; the pot is approximately 18" in diameter, 30" deep. So the pot seems appropriately sized. ==>> i dont know about this presumption.. w/o a pic.. it sounds like a 5 gallon pot.. which might be small for a 3 foot tree ... regardless.. trees. in general.. do NOT like a lot of water ... they like a drink.. and then near full drainage.. and near drying in between ... which brings me to the issue .. IMHO ... whats the potting media...??? if you are watering it.. like a water loving annual .. or perennial.. and basically.. never letting it near dry.. i think you are drowning it.. and once the roots start reacting.. the usual result.. is leaf damage .. no matter how much you water.. once the roots rot.. the leaves cant get water.. which .. if i am right.. means all MONTHLY [which seems excessive] fungicide was a waste.. and PERHAPS.. the key is.. when you said: It's well watered; in fact last summer one concern was that maybe I wasn't watering it enough (I know maples like water), but this summer I've been more generous, so if i am right.. and do understand.. its all speculation.. that it had a root rot type problem.. your increasing water.. only increased the problem... it probably boils down.. to you trying to kill it. with TOO MUCH love ... what is the potting media. .. did you do any kind of root surgery prior to repotting... was it badly rootbound when you stuck it in this pot ... and can we see a picture?? trees.. really should be in mother earth .. because.. growing them in pots .. is VERY hard ... is there any chance you can free it??? ken |
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| I hope you don't seriously think that a pot 18" in diameter and 30" deep is a 5 gallon container. And even if it were, I know (in part from my degree in *Forestry*) that size of the pot alone is not determinant of growing ability. *And* that Japanese maples of all species are commonly grown in pots, around the world. AND as it happens we rent, so no, I can't "free it" even if I could contemplate doing so without rolling my eyes at the terminology. |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Sun, Jul 1, 12 at 15:49
| Is your "9" an indication of zone, as in California? If so, I would be suspect about water, both the frequency and the alkalinity. I'd also want to know about your potting medium and the frequency of fertilization. Any or all of these factors plus sun and/or high temperatures could result in the leaf symptoms you describe. Growing trees in containers - and many folks do for many years despite what Ken may think :-) - is very different and requires much different care than the same plant in the ground. Photos and more details would be very helpful. FWIW, the Maples forum typically has a lot of discussion about Japanese maples and their issues, both in containers and in the ground. |
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