Japanese maple in total distress - help

jjb · White Belt Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 7

Please can someone help me?

I live in Devon (UK) and am a Bonsai novice. I have a beautiful Japanese maple (leaves are copper beech colour and have five segments).

When I first got the tree it was stunningly healthy and now I've done something horrible to it but I don't know what.

I put the tree on a table next to a fence initially. It looked like it got sunburn so I moved it to stand directly under the foliage of two non-bonsai acers. The leaves began to shrivel and curl but not fall off.

I watered the tree with water from a water-butt ( I had read that chlorinated tap water was harmful) not every day but whenever the soil (organic mix with grit) felt like it was going dry.

I fed the tree with Biogold pellets when it first arrived (6 weeks ago).

Now nearly all the leaves have dried and shrivelled so I have put it in the shade with a clear plastic bag over it (on the advice of a local bonsai nursery). I have removed all of the worst looking leaves and the remaining ones seem OK. What else can I do?

John P

You're doing well. I would imagine that you have removed the feed pellets already, but if not do it now. I think you are probably doing everything just about right for now. Don't be tempted to over water it for the time being either as it's requirements are less than when it is in leaf. You may check to see if some of the finer twigs are looking slightly shriveled or wrinkled. Do there appear to be any tiny buds in the old leaf axis points?
As it is in a bag, please also check for signs of fungal growth. I'm not convinced that the plastic bag is entirely necessary, but as long as you keep an eye on it, it probably won't be a problem at all.
Just sit tight on this one.
Good luck.
John.

jjb · White Belt Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 7

Thank you

I will check the fine stems, they seemd smooth and straight last night but I didn't look that closely.

When I removed the shriveled leaves the tips of the newly exposed stems/brances were green - hopefully this is a good sign.

Why has my tree got this sick? What should I not do in future?

Stymie

The recent sun was the culprit without doubt. Acers do need to be shaded from the direct sun, particularly around the middle of the day during Summer. As John says, you seem to be doing right by it. Some people remove leaves during June in the knowledge that new ones will be smaller. This is only done on healthy trees which are 'in the pink'. In your case, the sun has done it for you and hopefully in about three weeks, you will have a new crop. Resume feeding when new growth is well established. Have faith. The tree isn't dead.

jjb · White Belt Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 7

Thank you for the advice

I can report the presence of 8 leaf buds - phew!

Jenny

Stymie

Good news Jenny. Keep it out of this hot sun and have faith. We're with you all the way.

Dick

It's always a scary prospect when the leaves shrivel up and die on an acer, but the tree if kept watered will regenerate new leaves in time.

steve

Glad to hear it made it ok. It is always a hard lesson when the tree almost dies.