Need styling help with a little maple

[Paul W]

You are right Ken ,but then again some people on this forum get their nickers in a knot over stupid things,I thought this was the season of goodwill to all,this is one reason I have become an observer rather than comment on anyones trees as some people out there are ready to chop your head off when you are only trying to help.
It is going to be my New Years resolution just to look.
Everybody have a great New Year and calm down a bit.

[Kyushu Danji]

You are right Ken ,but then again some people on this forum get their nickers in a knot over stupid things,I thought this was the season of goodwill to all,this is one reason I have become an observer rather than comment on anyones trees as some people out there are ready to chop your head off when you are only trying to help.
It is going to be my New Years resolution just to look.
Everybody have a great New Year and calm down a bit.

I think this is a smart approach, but unfortunately if everyone were to do this there would be nothing new to observe. It is almost just as painful to see someone being attacked for giving advice on this forum than it is to experience it first hand. Maybe the anonymity of these forums makes people feel less accountable and therefore less civil?

On a brighter note, a happy new year to you as well.

James

EDIT: Sorry to take the focus away from your original topic jme. For what it is worth, you might have some great prospects with your maple if given some more room to grow, as others have already suggested.

[Mojo Moyogi]

I would not bother with a bigger pot. Find somewhere in you garden and plant it out for a couple of years and feed, feed, feed.

cheers,

Jeff

Gosh Ian,
dont you love it when someone chimes in with a conflicting comment to have the last word overriding you on your very good sound advice.

The only sound advice so far has been from Neil:

Hey guys. I think Jme's biggest hurdle with this tree is the location. I think that a Japanese maple is going to have some real difficulties in Cairns. Jme, do you see many of these growing in the gardens in your area? Try, by all means, but it will probably never show decent autumn colour and don't be surprised if it does not thrive at all (and I'd be very happy for you if I'm wrong). you'd be better to stick with species that suit your climate.

I second the above.

Bougy Fan said he can't grow them at his place in Brisbane too close to the ocean but Andrew M can grow them up the road towards the Glasshouse Mountains .

The Glasshouse Mountains are more than 1400kmSouth of Cairns!

Cheers,
Mojo

[bodhidharma]

I have a friend in Maleny (Glass house mountains) who cannot grow maples and he gave it a good shot. It will not grow in Cairns as it cant go dormant. we compare our growing habits with Japan as they have humidity and heat but they also have snow. Maybe a Trident maple might last but not Palmatum. I think even a Trident would only last a few years. Gosh, how many times has it been said..grow trees that can survive in your area. You can play with some stunning Figs up there.