Japanese Maple struggling to wake up

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BB Brian
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Japanese Maple struggling to wake up

Post by BB Brian »

Hi guys,

I've had some people say it's gone and others say it will come back. Just wanted to hear your thoughts.

It was obtained from a bonsai enthusiast who had no more time to look after too many trees and was given to the beginners class for FREE! At the same time I was told it wasn't well and not to prune it this season. I mistakenly dunked this pot into fertiliser which could have been the result of it not recovering but I'm told by the local nursery that the tree probably had root rot when it was given to us. I still continue to water it every morning hoping it recovers, only time will tell at this stage.

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Re: Japanese Maple struggling to wake up

Post by shibui »

I sometimes get similar in Japanese maples. I'm pretty sure it is a fungal problem. Usually I can see black bark just near the soil. Occasionally I have had trees recover when I have kept them slightly dry and up where the air is fresh and moving. You could try fungicide on your tree but I don't know if that will help or not.
I suspect your nursery is correct about it already being infected. I think it is caused by keeping trees too wet over colder months.
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Re: Japanese Maple struggling to wake up

Post by BB Brian »

shibui wrote:I sometimes get similar in Japanese maples. I'm pretty sure it is a fungal problem. Usually I can see black bark just near the soil. Occasionally I have had trees recover when I have kept them slightly dry and up where the air is fresh and moving. You could try fungicide on your tree but I don't know if that will help or not.
I suspect your nursery is correct about it already being infected. I think it is caused by keeping trees too wet over colder months.
Damn. First tree I might have to write off..
Should I try repot or take a cutting?


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Re: Japanese Maple struggling to wake up

Post by shibui »

I think it is too late for cuttings. Maybe you can try repotting. I don't think you will do any more harm and maybe if you can fins and cut off black roots it may recover?
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Re: Japanese Maple struggling to wake up

Post by BB Brian »

Sad to share first tree I've lost.
R.I.P.

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Thanks to advice from the nursery and Shibui
Much appreciate


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Re: Japanese Maple struggling to wake up

Post by pebble »

I lost a Japanese this season as well cut roots back/ and tree probably to hard and tree never woke up :(


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Re: Japanese Maple struggling to wake up

Post by Rory »

I've lost more Japanese maples over my trials in my time, than my entire collection of trees. :palm:

I only have 2 that I'm growing out of interest now, and they're the regular 'hard as concrete' standard variety. I allow them the most amount of sun I can, and pretty much don't cut back the growth ever.
All other varieties or special types of Japanese maples that I trialled over the last 20 years died from rot. Once you see the visible signs of rot, its pretty much sayonara.

I admit I love the beautiful look of them, but they're an absolute pain in the bum to grow in my area.
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I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
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Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus

Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724

Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995

How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
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