Trident Maple - burned deformed leaves

[MelaQuin]

I have five tridents, four very healthy, the fifth was fine for two years and then started getting deformed leaves with the edges burned. The leaves are dwarfed [not nicely so], crisp edges and curl in. I have talked to a number of experts and gotten a number of solutions but nothing has worked. Today I spoke with Leong Kwong of Bonsai South in Caringbah and he clicked his fingers and said 'salinity'. According to his extensive experience Osmocote has a lot of salt in it and this particular tree is obviously very sensitive to salt.

Root rot was suggested by an experienced grower but the soil is good and the roots were lush and wonderfully healthy when it was repotted in August. Initially this year the leaf damage was not as bad as the last three years but I defoliated it a couple of weeks ago, hoping to get a better crop of leaves and what has grown is hideous. I was all but ready to bin this tree but it is not a tree you discard lightly.

I can't repot it in mid summer but I am drenching the soil regularly to try to wash out the fertilizer. All the other tridents got exactly the same treatment and not one of them has had a problem but this particular one has been a nightmare. It is obviously so sensitive that special care will be taken from now on. Actually, I think I might remove a bit of soil from a section of the pot and replace with soil without osmocote. If I do a small section weekly I can remove a lot of the soil with osmocote without unduly disturbing the tree.

If anyone else is experiencing this problem with a trident maybe this info will help.

Trident leaves 2009-01.jpg

[Spinner]

Thanks for the 'heads-up' with this MelaQuin. I have two tridents, one fine and the other as you described. I don't use osmocote but salt could certainly have built up from other sources. My method of dealing with poorly trees is to carefully lift them out of the pot and deposit them into a corner of my extensive vegetable garden. This I did to my ailing trident and it is now powering and enjoying spreading its toes....so to speak!

Just an aside..does 'MelaQuin' have anything to do with Dylan's 'Mighty Quinn' ?...you're not an Eskimo?....no?....just asking

Spinner

[Jon Chown]

Just an aside..does 'MelaQuin' have anything to do with Dylan's 'Mighty Quinn' ?...you're not an Eskimo?....no?....just asking

He, he, he, Come on without, come on within - pseudonyms are not always what they seem are they.

Jon

[PeterW]

I like the dude just like the rest.........but

[anttal63]

lee any chance of posting up some pics of ya trees?

[Bretts]

I have experienced this with some of my tridents. I was thinking it was a bug infestation of some sought. Mine are in the ground mostly. I will take a closer look and take some pictures.

[anttal63]

after going away and thinking about it, i experienced this early in spring with the new growth. at the time i had put it down to strong winds. i certainly did not back off the feeding, in fact at that point in the year im only just getting started and continued to get more aggressive with feeding. osmocote and liquids. now these are trees im letting grow free and as the newer growth took over the problem was gone.

[FlyBri]

...and then started getting deformed leaves with the edges burned. The leaves are dwarfed [not nicely so], crisp edges and curl in...

Gday MelaQuin et al!

Same thing with my Tridents - ugly, twisted leaves which tend to scorch around the margins. I thought maybe mites, but the Good Lady believes it may be a virus. I'll get some photos tomorrow and we can compare notes.

Thanks.

Fly.

[Bretts]

Now you are scaring me Fly.
I have had thoughts of a disease but thought that was not common in Australia. I have looked up plant virus and there is no mention of cure only prevention.

[MelaQuin]

Melaquin is short for Melaleuca quinquenervia, the large leaf Sydney paperbark - a tree I absolutely love.
Can't post photos.... for some reason [obviously my computer] I don't have the ability. Which is probably just as well because I would flood the site.

[anttal63]

steven get over there and sort him out will ya. global mod and cant even show us a photo.

[Spinner]

Just an aside..does 'MelaQuin' have anything to do with Dylan's 'Mighty Quinn' ?...you're not an Eskimo?....no?....just asking

Melaquin is short for Melaleuca quinquenervia, the large leaf Sydney paperbark - a tree I absolutely love.

Thanks for sorting me,
..........umm.................. I still prefer my interpretation!

Spinner

[aaron_tas]

him

(she's a her)

[anttal63]

sorry is she a good sort? just kidding lee.

[aaron_tas]

she's the best sort i know of

if it wasn't for her, i wouldn't be where i am today with my bonsai