Acer Palmatum

[Hysteresis]

I have several Acer Palmatum in pots. I have one which used to have deep Blood Red colour foliage although not a 'Bloodgood Acer Palmatum'.
This years growth has been quite vigourous, but the foliage has changed in colour from the Deep Red to a sage green.
Has anyone any advice as to why this may be so. Am I omiting to feed with some specific nutrients. I usually feed with a general feed such as Miracle Grow or very occasionally Ericacious Plant Feed.

I had some advice some years ago which was when growing Acer Palmatum that was to keep well watered in the Summer and dry in the winter. This avoids so called 'Wind Burn' which I was told is nothing to do with wind but is in fact the foliage drying out. Does this advice sound to be correct.

 

[ModernMaterials]

Have you moved this tree since its leaves were growing red?

It needs full sun for a few hours each day to get its leaves red but it might not like full sun all day.

As for watering, it needs to be moist but not soggy and you are broadly correct about the 'wind burn' which is also called leaf scorch, wind being one of the causes. If the leaves are healthy looking then i reckon you have the watering about right

It might need repotting as well but i grow mine out in the open, in heavy clay ( i threw in loads of grit when i planted it and it seems to like it) so i cant really advise.

 

[Hysteresis]

Have you moved this tree since its leaves were growing red?

It needs full sun for a few hours each day to get its leaves red but it might not like full sun all day.

Hi,
I haven't moved it since the leaves were red. The leaves started red this year but eventually new growth started to turn green then even the leaves which were red turned slowly green. This is why I thought maybe nutrients was the problem.
I have the tree in a shaded corner to avoid the wind and as the corner is westerly facing it only get sun for about two hours a day as later in the day it gets shaded by other larger trees. I use a moisure meter to tell the watering requirements.
So in all the conditions sound Ideal but why these leaves have turned green I am at a loss to understand. I have several other Palmatums and their leaves are still red with new growth which is a vivid scarlet.

 

[lx200gps]

Are the new (green) leaves the same type as the old (red) leaves or do they look different?? I have seen many acer's where the leaves change colour and shape. Has it been grafted??

Sorry. Just read your second post where you state the leaves have actually changed colour. I'm barking up the wrong tree here as I assumed it was only the new growth's leaves which had changed colour. In which case I cannot help.

 

[ModernMaterials]

If giving it slightly more sunlight doesnt work you might try feeding it less.
As you said the leaves are all healthy looking, im inclined to think it doesnt need as much nourishment.

 

[Hysteresis]

If giving it slightly more sunlight doesnt work you might try feeding it less.

I will try the slightly more sunlight approach. I only feed about once every three weeks which does not seem excessive but I only say this as I know no better. My other Acer's are fine and they get a similar feed rate but they are subject to slightly more sun. So I will try that approach in the hope that it returns to its former glory.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[ModernMaterials]

I think you are right to keep up some kind of feeding regime for plants in containers.

I was just suggesting a lower level of feed if the sunlight alteration doesnt work.

So don't alter the feeding regime which they are happy with until you have tried the extra sunlight.

If you do both at once and get good results, you won't know which differential caused the improvement.

 

[Hysteresis]

I have moved the Acer in question to a similar location to the other Acers I have. I would estimate in its present position I will get about 2 hours extra sunshine per day. I will monitor its performance and hopefully let you know the conclusion.
Thanks for your interest and help

 

[Hysteresis]

Hi ModernMaterials,

It needs full sun for a few hours each day to get its leaves red but it might not like full sun all day.

Thanks for the advice. As I said a couple of months ago I would move the Acer to a position of slightly more sunlight. I said I would let you know what happened.
It looks like the Red foliage is returning. Gradually the leaved have been getting more Red after its repositioning. It is nearly back to it's former glory.
I assume as the colour return has been gradual over the last few months that it's present colour is not just the Autumn pre-leaf drop condition. All my other Acers are not in the Leaf drop condition at the moment, so it looks like your advice was Spot On.
Thank You so much

 

[Hazelb]

I Know that in plants the green chlorophil is more efficient at converting the sunlight to neutrients than the red stuff is.
The plant may have been struggleing with not enough sun, so it produced more of the green chlorophil to cope.