AusBonsai

Any ideas?

The leaves are leathery, and hairy, some are small, some are big, there are 3 pointed leaves with longer lobes, some/most are 5 pointed, all serrated. It has never flowered. Pic 700 is the colour right before the leaves drop. It's in dire need of a repot so not sure if the oddities are from less than great health

Please help identify

Identification solved

By elias

Liquid amber

My guess would be Liquidamber styraciflua 'American Sweetgum'

Elias wrote:My guess would be Liquidamber styraciflua 'American Sweetgum'

Yes albeit a sick one.

bodhidharma wrote:

Elias wrote:My guess would be Liquidamber styraciflua 'American Sweetgum'

Yes albeit a sick one.

Oh noes Any advice?

It should be going dormant soon,(if they do that in your part of the country) repot in a large container and feed it for a year and let it grow freely then think about designing the following year. The main thing is to get its health back. I know it is turning for winter but the leaves shouldnt be variegated like they are. It indicates lack of food. Dont feed it now wait till it is dormant, repot in early spring and then start your feeding regime

bodhidharma, you mean chuck it in a styro or similar without touching the roots and pad it with some good potting mix? and repot this spring, or next? I bought two trees from the same person and they'd kept them both in the shade, never any sun, hoping this is one of the main reasons for the foliage yellowing.

You can pot it up this coming spring in a large container or styro if you prefer and get it healthy, ready for the following spring when you can do the necessary root work and restyle

If the leaves are hairy i would belive it is a chinese liquid amber not the american sweetgum. the bark is giving it away too.

noah78 wrote:If the leaves are hairy i would belive it is a chinese liquid amber not the american sweetgum. the bark is giving it away too.

Well spotted Noah. I have only dealt with the American.

Thanks for all replies Now that I know what it is I can give it the right care. Hopefully I can find something on google.

I have a problem, there is bugs in the roots so I submerged it into my sink with a squirt of dish washing liquid... the roots STINK like putrid foul lake water My house smells

It was so compacted in the pot it took me 20-30 minutes to extract it from the pot - it was stuck in there. What can I do right now to help this poor tree?? Just place it in good potting mix as is or loosen the root ball?? the stench is seriously rank foul so drainage has been an issue for who knows how long.

Sounds like you've got root rot. Try reading this.