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Best container Japanese Maple?

12 years ago

I have a large pot (about 2' tall x 18" wide at the mouth) in which I want to plant a small specimen tree, one with multi-season interest. It will go on my front patio in a very prominent spot. The area gets early to mid-day sun and mid to late afternoon shade. Of course, the patio gets hot.

I thought a Japanese maple would work. What is the best cultivar for a pot? I like things a bit on the unusal side, so I don't want to use a really common JP. I'm open to suggestions for other kinds of trees that do well in containers, as well.

Thanks

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Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
everything can be grown in pots.. and trees are no different ...

and when you are talking trees .. you are in the realm of bonsai ... and IMHO.. that is where you should start ... perhaps not so much about dwarfing the plant.. but about potting and repotting and root pruning of potted trees .... bonsai resources would be prime in understanding potting media...

again .. IMHO ... the potential to succeed starts with the potting media ... specific to trees ...

then.. pot size .. though you think your pot is large.. it is not .. and i would be concerned ... depending what it is made of.. that a tree with any size .. will keep tipping it over, as it grows ... i would consider a pot in pot ... a removable plastic pot ... inside a heavy decorative clay/ceramic pot .... which might need to be emptied in winter to avoid cracking ...

after that we get to whether there is enough sunlight.. which is probably left to trial and error...

as to sunlight.. you might want to consider what color of JM you choose ... some will lose their brilliant coloration in improper sun .... i dont have any experience with JM's in that regard ..

and finally ... you will have to deal with winter storage ...

and probably a bunch of other things the coffee is blocking from my mind right now .... lol

ken
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
12 years ago
Not necessarily easy to fnd, but 'Mikawa Yatsubusa' is an excellent JM for a container. Dwarf to begin with, it grows quite slowly, has an interesting habit with very congested, almost shingled foliage and offers nice fall color. And being a green leafed choice, it tolerates quite a lot of sun.

All of Ken's advice applies - correct potting medium being at the top of the list, but also concerns about winter protection. You might want to visit the Maples forum - there have been numerous discussions there on growing JM's in containers.
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They will be a bit more fussy in containers than in the soil, so be prepared to protect them from the hottest sun. Also, this spring, I lost a JM that I had been growing in a container for about 8 years. It had come out beautifully with a heavy flush of new growth when we were zapped by a sudden and severe (for us) cold snap. Though I hoped that only the leaves were killed, it soon became apparent that the enire plant was affected. So, protect them from something like that! I had less hardy plants that did fine, but not the JM. ;-(
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If you intend to keep the maple in a container, the most important consideration is to protect the roots from severe cold. The small volume of soil in a container will freeze much more deeply than the ground and roots are generally less cold hardy than the wood. If it's possible to store the plant in a cool basement after leaf fall but before severe cold, this would be best. I think survival would be pretty doubtful in an unheated shed. Crimson Queen is quite hardy but Z4/5 doesn't seem realistic for outdoor planting, especially for a young specimen. Leaf filled protective structures can work, but unless the leaves remain dry they will lose their insulation value and invite fungal infection.
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The truth is somewhere in between the two extremes......it depends on exactly what type of plant you use. Just as with JM's planted in the ground, it is best to pick shallow rooted plants that do not require dividing or replacing. So no annuals and careful with the perennials, although many groundcovers are ideal. Ditto most ferns. Mixed container plantings utilizing all sorts of plants - JM's included - are extremely common and providing you use some common sense when combining, do not detract from or jeopardize the health of the tree. Any container planting, regardless of species, will need supplemental fertilization to replace leached nutrients and careful attention to watering. I don't see why California or any other particular location would be any more of a factor than anywhere else - these two requirements are constants regardless of location. As long as the plants you choose to compliment your containered JM share the same needs, you are good to go. FWIW, virtually all my collection of JM's are containerized (some of which are more than 20 years old) and all have some sort of low growing planting at their base, typically groundcovers or ferns.
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If the containerized trees are exposed to the elements and you receive a reasonable amount of rainfall in winter, then no additional watering is required. If the containers are stored somewhere under cover, the soil should remain just barely moist to the touch so that might require a small amount of watering from time to time, depending on the quality and consistency of the potting mix. IMO, pruning during the dormant season should be done in early winter (Nov/Dec.) rather than late winter (Feb/March) to avoid excessive bleeding. Sap in JM's typically starts moving early, often as early as January but for sure by February in milder climates. Summer pruning - June and July - is always an option. The adage is structural pruning in winter; thinning/shaping in summer. I personally prefer a light hand when it comes to pruning these trees - this is not a one time shot so small, selective shaping and branch removal can (and should) be extended over several seasons. You can always take more off later but you can't put it back on!! And I would have to say that if at any time one was thinking of removing as much as 20% of the tree, it is far too small to prune!! Or step back and reconsider your plan. These trees seldom need that much attention.
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lou_spicewood_tx
12 years ago
Visit container forum and read everything about Al's 5-1-1 mix. A well draining mix is a must for optimal growth.

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