AusBonsai

So I've got a little trident group going.
I repotted this year into a larger pot at the start of spring.
Issue is that most of the tree's have this reddish cast on their leaves and don't appear to be too healthy?
As per the photo's it almost looks like they have their autumn colour?

What is also quite strange is that one of the group appears perfectly normal, green and healthy?
Be interested to hear some thoughts and potential suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Are all the leaves of the affected tridents red Luke? The new leaves of many tridents start of reddish then change to green but a few only ever have green leaves right from the start.

If all the leaves on a tree are reddish like this I'd guess some sort of stress - cold, dry, starving, ?? but hard to guess why one in a group has not been affected.
Hope they stay with you.

Hello Neil.

There are 5 small 1-3 season old trees in this group.
Of the 5 one is perfectly fine and green (pictured) whilst the others are varying shades of red.
Some are almost all red like that pictured whilst others are less red but mottled between.

They have always looked fine (regardless of colour) and really had they continued to grow strong I'd just not worry.
However I fear they have stalled and may be going backwards.
That is a maybe.

IMO they are fed well enough and I don't think they are too cold, dry or wet. Really wet could be the only option but I'm not convinced about that either.

P.s. They are not immature leaves.

Hi. I'm in cape town and have the same problem. Someone told me it's to much heat and the tree are producing to much sugar,or something like that? Had it last year as well,also only on some of them. Some are not affected.
Does your one's with the red ,also stop growing,or go very slow and weak at least?
Cheers

I definitely believe they are growing less and maybe have even stopped.
I would say my Japanese maples are affected a little as well.
I'd hazard a guess and say that those that are most red are growing the least.
I wouldn't think to much heat is the issue purely based on the fact that it has been very cool around here in melbourne si fat this spring/summer?

Very confused.
They aren't this color last year!?

Hi boics. Found some info. I thought it may help?
http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forum ... hp?t=17239

Thanks so much for this info Sprinbok.

I'll have a really good read of it tonight and put some of this into action.
I will say that what is particularly strange about this in that one plant from the same batch of tree's in the same pot is perfectly green and putting on good new growth!

If I find a moment I'll pluck a few leaves to show side by side the differences.
I think this will show the symptoms a lot better for others to potentially make comment / advise and to document this phenomena a little more clearly.

Here are some leaves which might assist others to help me now and to document for those that come across this problem in the future.

I'll add that this problem appears to be near to global across almost all of my Trident Maples and to a lesser extent my Japanse Maples.
It is definitely hindering the growing process of these tree's as those that are most prematurely red have grown very little.
I'm pleased to report that the tree's are indeed still alive and I note growing roots poking out of the bottom of one of the pots.
It is not affecting only new growth but hardened off "mature" growth as well.

I'm going to try to ensure that the maples are more underwatered than overwatered as this appears to be the advise (thanks Springbok) that I have received so far.

More than happy to hear some other views.

I am hoping to help with an observation of some of my trident and maples.

Earlier in spring, I air layered a japanese maple and a trident. I wanted to get a better nebari.
About 2 months into the layer, most of the leaves on the trident and maple were slowly going into autumn color (similar to what you have now). Some turned totally red.

They were weakening. They have been kept moist, fed on seasol every now and then and ensured they did not dry out for any period.
I had a peek into the air layer and was thrilled to see roots coming from all sides but although they looked healthy, they weren't very long.
I am into my 4th months now and the roots have lengthened and the leaves have all gone back to green. I think the new roots are finally supporting the plant with enough water and nutrients.

To cut the story short, when my trident was suffering from overly wet soil and the root was rotting, the leaves were curled, looked thin and showed signs of transparency. They were also pale in color.
In the case of my air layer, even though the leaves turned into autumn color, they appeared strong and solid in color (just the wrong color).

I am guessing if it is not from a lack of water or root rotting from too much water, it maybe from a lack of nutrients. I would check below the soil to see if there is a reason for this.

I have a few small japanese maple seedlings, one of which has also turned red like this. It was out in the sun, while the others were in the shade recovering from a repot. Though Melbourne has been quite cool so far this summer, I do think it seemed to happen after a particularly hot day, so I was putting it down to a bit of heat stress. My trident maple right next to it did not have this problem though.