New Japanese Maple - Holes In Leaves

[EverydayDiesel]

Hello, I just received my japanese red maple and I noticed that there is holes in the leaves. What is causing this and is it something that I need to correct?



Thanks in advance.

 

[aml1014]

It sort of looks like hail damage or possibly grasshoppers.

 

[Txhorticulture]

Some kind of insect damage. It's about to lost those leaves anyway.

 

[EverydayDiesel]

Do I need to treat it with anything?

 

[discusmike]

Caterpillars

 

[Txhorticulture]

Well that was done by a pretty big bug so if they were still there you'd see them. Don't even worry about it. Congrats on your new tree. Japanese maples are one of the things that spurred my plant addiction. And by learning to take care of them (not super easy in texas) I learned a lot about plants, trees, container plants, and now bonsai. Hope the journey is as educational for you as it was me

 

[EverydayDiesel]

any tips for a newbie on growing these JM's?

 

[Txhorticulture]

any tips for a newbie on growing these JM's?

Don't use regular potting soil. Bark and coarse mineral stuff (perlite, turface, granite chips, floor dry whatever is easy for you to get)

Everyone says these need drainage and that's true but don't take that to mean they need to be dry. They do not want to be dry especially when it's hot or when they are growing. I think I underwater ed for years worried about root rot. I never lost a maple to root rot. I lost many to heat and under watering.

The unshaded bark on young trees can burn and die. If it's getting any hot sun directly on young bark not shaded by leaves then protect it some kind of wrap (that green nursery non sticky tape works) or move it to a shady spot.

Filtered sun part shade is best. Some direct morning sun is good. A small seedling like yours cannot sit out in hot texas sun in the afternoon.

If your water is hard / alkaline always use an acidifying fertilizer. Japanese maples tend to grow well in the same conditions as azaleas. They are 'floor of the forest' plants and like acidic soil conditions.

 

[MACH5]

You probably will have a really tough time keeping your maple in good shape throughout the summer even with lots of water and plenty of shade. Meaning you will most likely get sun scorch on the leaves. Very, very common in Japanese maples. Does no harm to the tree but very unsightly. This is a big challenge for all of us Japanese maple lovers including those in the north like me.

 

[EverydayDiesel]

I have two places I can put this tree, both are out side.
1. Is it better to put the tree in a spot that gets about 4-5 hours a day of direct sunlinght
2. Is it better to place under a huge shade tree where it only gets 1 or so of direct sunlight per day?

 

[Dav4]

I have two places I can put this tree, both are out side.
1. Is it better to put the tree in a spot that gets about 4-5 hours a day of direct sunlinght
2. Is it better to place under a huge shade tree where it only gets 1 or so of direct sunlight per day?

In Dallas, I'm thinking less direct sunlight, particularly during the mid day and afternoon, would be best. Ideally, your maple would get a few hours of direct morning sun, followed by filtered sunlight/shade for the rest of the day.

 

[Giga]

In Dallas, I'm thinking less direct sunlight, particularly during the mid day and afternoon, would be best. Ideally, your maple would get a few hours of direct morning sun, followed by filtered sunlight/shade for the rest of the day.

Correct-if you could rig, say a 50% shade cloth, so the tree gets morning sun then under the shad cloth the rest of the day-would be ideal. Maybe even misters through out the day if you got the $$

 

[GrimLore]

any tips for a newbie on growing these JM's?

I am not certain at what I call "insect season" it is there but we definetly see that type of leaf damage during grasshopper season and occasionally in the Summer from Japanese Beetles. I find that for Maples Bayer makes a 2 in 1 granular systemic that controls insects and fungal problems. If that is a Landscape Maple it will do well all the time in indirect sun which will further your need for a decent systemic. Also in a pot I would recommend shade. They can and do grow in full sun when mature but to my knowledge up here only in the ground.

Grimmy

 

[M. Frary]

From the looks of the size holes and the amount are you sure it wasn't from a stray shotgun blast?

 

[EverydayDiesel]

Don't use regular potting soil. Bark and coarse mineral stuff (perlite, turface, granite chips, floor dry whatever is easy for you to get)

Everyone says these need drainage and that's true but don't take that to mean they need to be dry. They do not want to be dry especially when it's hot or when they are growing. I think I underwater ed for years worried about root rot. I never lost a maple to root rot. I lost many to heat and under watering.

The unshaded bark on young trees can burn and die. If it's getting any hot sun directly on young bark not shaded by leaves then protect it some kind of wrap (that green nursery non sticky tape works) or move it to a shady spot.

Filtered sun part shade is best. Some direct morning sun is good. A small seedling like yours cannot sit out in hot texas sun in the afternoon.

If your water is hard / alkaline always use an acidifying fertilizer. Japanese maples tend to grow well in the same conditions as azaleas. They are 'floor of the forest' plants and like acidic soil conditions.

Thank you for this great answer. I just had the tree shipped to me and it is currently in potting soil.

It is the fall time right now, is there any problems with me repotting now?
I plan on 1-1-1 perlite, turface and bark. Do I mix these all together or should they be layered?

 

[Txhorticulture]

Thank you for this great answer. I just had the tree shipped to me and it is currently in potting soil.

It is the fall time right now, is there any problems with me repotting now?
I plan on 1-1-1 perlite, turface and bark. Do I mix these all together or should they be layered?

Mixed. It's fine for now wait til spring to repot