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Potted Japanese Maple

14 years ago

I just bought my first Japanese Maple. Bloodgood variety.

Since I'm in zone 4 and I don't want to deal with wrapping and/or dieback, I have decided to keep it in a container and bring it in during winters.

That said, I will admit to being a container novice. Is there a particular type/mix of potting medium that works better for trees? What kind of fertilizer and how often?

Would it be ok to plant some annuals around the base of the tree?

Thanks in advance.

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Comments (4)

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years ago
More importantly, where will you keep it during the winter?
Unheated garage?

Josh
thisismelissa
Original Author
13 years ago
Yes Josh,
I have an unheated garage that, even in the coldest of spells never drops much below 20Âº
Melissa
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Zone 5 is pretty much the lower hardiness range for Japanese maples. Any container-grown JM will need winter protection in your climate - either indoors under low heat or sunk in the ground. And it really doesn't matter what size container. And 'miniature' JM's is a bit misleading :-) Sure, there are dwarf varieties but even dwarfs grow. And often faster than you would expect. I'd take mature size listings for dwarf JM's you find online with a large grain of salt - they tend to be seriously understated. Both my dwarf 'Mikawa Yatsubusa' and 'Hupp's Dwarf' - not supposed to exceed 4-5 feet - are already close to 4' feet tall and still very young. And are low graft plants as well. I know of one Mikawa planted inground that is around 15' tall!! I've included a pretty good link for "dwarf" JM's - but keep in mind these guys - like all other trees - just keep on growing :-) Here is a link that might be useful: dwarf Japanese maples
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I have a potted Acer Palmatum Dissectum...it's probably about three years old now. Normally in the fall it turns color of course. Shouldn't my tree have turned color by now if I am in the NYC area...or might it still be a bit too soon? I am concerned that maybe my tree is in one of those 'stagnant' states as sometimes happens with some plants...where it's neither dead but not thriving either. The leaves are still green but the edges are a bit brown/dried out. But I see no turning of color otherwise... Also, with potted maples, is it a good idea every few years to refresh the plant by way of removing it from its current pot, maybe cutting off a bit of the roots...and then putting it back in its already-large-enough pot, and refreshing the ammendments (adding more perlite) etc? And if so, is the Spring the best time to do that, right after the danger of frost has passed? Thanks!
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Thanks gardengal48 for the info! I had a look at the 2018 prices for JM at a large nursery half an hour away from me. Yikes! I hadn't looked at JM prices in ages. Now I wish I had picked up another $6 one. And actually my husband and I (at the same sale) were deciding on whether to purchase a $40 red dissectum JM (named, but don't remember now). It looked really nice. Didn't purchase it because I figured I had a lot of learning to do regarding container trees and didn't want to kill it. Should have snatched it up then and there! It was the only one left. Darn!!! Oh well. But now I am more knowledgeable thanks to you all!
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Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
13 years ago
You'll likely have to make your own potting soil, go to the Container Forum and look for 'Al's Gritty Mix' and go from there.

Make it a large container, in spring gradually bring it outside, and I wouldn't plant annuals. You'll have to re-pot every couple years so work that into your routine as well.

Dan
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
i cant grow them here in the windy plains of z5 SE MI ...

but dad can grow them in suburban z5 ..

its all about winter wind.. winter sun ... and micro climate ...

most trees prefer a sip of water .. and then dry ...

a potted plant, like annuals and perennials .. are usually potted in a media heavy with peat ... so it holds a LOT of water.. for a plant that needs a lot of water ...

but that is not a tree ...

so you want to 'cut' the media about 50/50 with a large porous material ... so that water nearly runs straight out the bottom.. but there is enough peat to grab the little a tree needs ...

mini chunks of bark are about the size of your thumbnail ... and mixing that 50/50 with a good potting media.. about does the trick for me..

some use grits.. or small stones.. etc ... if you walk around a nursery ... take a comparison of what media is in pots of differing plants ...

and never leave a black pot .. with a tree in the sun .. ever ... since low water.. can mean root cooking ... get a decorative pot.. into which you slip the black pot ...

as for winter ... my attached unheated garage is easily 2 zones warmer than outside ... plus no winter wind and sun ...

i think my JM suffer from winter sun heating the branches.. followed by icy desiccating, dehydrating winter winds ... anything that blocks those.. should help ...

water it well late into the fall.. but dont let it go into winter inside an ice cube... and in january.. put a snowball or two on the soil.. and if the temps warm.. it will melt enough water into the pot ...

and then... CROSS YOUR FINGERS .. lol

ken

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