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Japanese Acer dying?

crjjenkinscrjjenkins Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi all, I'm new to the forum. I hope I've posted this in the right place, please correct me if I'm wrong.

For the last 2 months my Acer (Palmatum Atropurpureum) has been losing its leaves due to them looking like they're drying/burning up. The plant is only in direct sunlight for part of the day and is protected from wind. I have checked for pests and there are none. 

I repotted the plant when I bought it 3 months ago. Could it be that the compost I have used is too rich in fertiliser? Unfortunately is has got much worse in the last couple of weeks and nearly all leaves are affected. 

Any help is appreciated  :) Thank you.










Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    I would move it into a shady location for the rest of the year and see if it recovers. My acers in pots are in a west facing location - fairly bright but no direct sun. They seem to cope better in the ground if they do get sun. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Difficult to tell from the photos but the plant seems quite big for the pot. I use JI no. 3 to pot mine with added grit. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    I have the same variety and have posted re how it suffered complete drought and lost all its leaves, being waterlogged with at least 2 inches of water up the trunk, eaten by deer and then transported 700 miles with its bare roots in a carrier bag! Each time I nurtured it back to life. Mine thrives in the UK,  more or less.  It's in a pot 16 inches square and about the same deep. My tree is about 6ftx6ft now. What I would do would be to put yours in a shady spot, water it well and repot it in ericaceous compost. You could cover the compost with bark. Mine occasionally has a few leaves which are a bit dry on the edges if it has been in the wind. It was a tiny twig 14 years ago.
  • crjjenkinscrjjenkins Posts: 2
    hogweed said:
    I would move it into a shady location for the rest of the year and see if it recovers. My acers in pots are in a west facing location - fairly bright but no direct sun. They seem to cope better in the ground if they do get sun. 
    Thank you Hogweed, I didn't realise they were so sensitive to direct light. I'll move it asap :) 

    Joy* said:
    I have the same variety and have posted re how it suffered complete drought and lost all its leaves, being waterlogged with at least 2 inches of water up the trunk, eaten by deer and then transported 700 miles with its bare roots in a carrier bag! Each time I nurtured it back to life. Mine thrives in the UK,  more or less.  It's in a pot 16 inches square and about the same deep. My tree is about 6ftx6ft now. What I would do would be to put yours in a shady spot, water it well and repot it in ericaceous compost. You could cover the compost with bark. Mine occasionally has a few leaves which are a bit dry on the edges if it has been in the wind. It was a tiny twig 14 years ago.
    Thanks Joy that's great advice, off out tomorrow then to get some ericaceous compost! I'll repot it and also check if it's waterlogged or otherwise. Will move it to a shady spot. Your tree looks beautiful by the way, if mine can grow half as much as that I'll be happy :) 
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