Sango-kaku acer Japense maple in a heated garage
Nicole Koren
Posts: 1
in Plants
We bought a medium size Acer in a pot late last fall. We were advised to keep it in our garage over the winter so that the roots wouldn't freeze before we could plant it out in the spring. The trouble is we have been heating our garage because of our vintage car (it can get to be -20 C in the winter here in Norway).
The Acer receives some light from a window and has now started to produce new foliage. How do we keep it alive until we can plant it out in the spring? Do we water it regularly? What should we try to keep the garage temperature at? When will it be safe to plant it outside?
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If it's still too cold outside to plant outside, just keep it well watered. I'd plunge it into a bucket of water weekly, wait till all the bubbles have stopped rising, and give it a feed and plenty of light. Try not to let it get too warm, and spray the leaves with water, preferably not tap water once a week. It should be OK. Oh forgot let the pot drain and when you water, test the compost. It needs to feel a little dry to the touch before you water it.
Maybe a stupid question, but how will it survive next winter outside, if it won't survive this winter outside?
Agree with Dave, it's lack of moisture that is most likely to damage it, not the heating in your garage (unless your cooking the car!). We have a Sango Kaku, and various other maples. Its bark on a wet, sunny winters day is stunning. Of all our Acers, it is the one that gets most wind/sun burn, and it looks a bit tatty by mid-Summer. Avoid windy or excessively sunny spots once you finally plant it. A lovely choice though.
Most of the Japanese maples are pretty tough and once in the ground it may survive. That is the trouble with plants in pots is that the roots can freeze more easily.