No apparent dormancy in maple?

[justBonsai]

Hi,

I have a group I believe kashima maple planting. There is one larger tree with some fused trunks and another clump composed of 5 or so trees. The latter seems to be fine and is entering dormancy. The other tree still has bright green leaves and even some new growth. I think this is attributed to a mid October heat spike that crispified some leaves. I'm concerned that the tree will not enter dormancy. From what I read if a maple undergoes continuous growth for 2 years without a proper dormancy it will enter a "default" dormancy from which can be stressful and fatal. Can I expect the tree to enter dormancy a bit late or is it going to shove through winter with a full set of leaves? I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow.

Thanks,
Julian

 

[sorce]

Does it even get cold there?
With all the video games running and all, it Probly stays pretty warm huh?

You can defoliate it, and stick it in the shade, but if it doesn't get cold.....
It may not work.

Sorce

 

[jomawa]

Am in SW WA and have lost leaves on my maples except one still clinging to some at the tips of a branch, but I digress. We live in a technological age with various think outside the box possibilities. If a "tree" is being uncooperative give it some time in a fridge or freezer? Sorry, my problem solver brain just goes outside the box.

 

[justBonsai]

Am in SW WA and have lost leaves on my maples except one still clinging to some at the tips of a branch, but I digress. We live in a technological age with various think outside the box possibilities. If a "tree" is being uncooperative give it some time in a fridge or freezer? Sorry, my problem solver brain just goes outside the box.

Putting it in a fridge is not very practical for me, additionally you risk doing more damage to the tree due to lack of humidity--overall not worth the effort. Hopefully by the end of the month they should fall off given shorter days and cooler nights.

 

[aml1014]

Putting it in a fridge is not very practical for me, additionally you risk doing more damage to the tree due to lack of humidity--overall not worth the effort. Hopefully by the end of the month they should fall off given shorter days and cooler nights.

It'll go dormant dont worry when Temps drop and stay consistent and with the change of light it'll do its thing, the country is warm this year as far as winter goes so a lot of things are still holding on to their leaves, we have a cottonwood at my work that has dropped all leaves but has been putting new growth on at the same time lol who knows what this winter will bring

 

[Eric Group]

If it is getting cool but not COLD, and your trees aren't dropping their leaves, you can help them along by removing the leaves... In fact many feel it is beneficial to do with Maples specifically.. It kind of forces a dormancy a little earlier, and- as long as it isn't eating cold at night and days are seasonally short- the tree should stay dormant for a normal period of time after. If you did it in say... September, in my area it would just leaf back out and be terribly stubborn about dropping leaves again when it does get cold. I am encountering that now with a tree I pruned the latest in the season. It is farthest along in development and being pruned a couple times a Summer to promote ramification instead of being allowed too row to thicken the trunk. Since it was last pruned, the newest push of growth is still completely green, healthy and growing along while the old leaves are red, crispy and a good many have dropped! All my other Maples are dark red and half or fully defoliate do at this point... So I am considering removing all remaining Maple leaves this weekend to encourage dormancy and get winter started! Problem is... It was freaking EIGHTY DEGREES TODAY! My Chinese Elms have not even lost their leaves! One cutting appears to have popped new growth just today... Very confusing writer conditions thus far. Not sure if I should start repotting stuff and starting cuttings or if I need to hunker down, remove leaves and prepare for winter!

 

[sorce]

EIGHTY DEGREES TODAY!

Jesus!

I had to look it up....
Damn!

Sorce

 

[justBonsai]

If it is getting cool but not COLD, and your trees aren't dropping their leaves, you can help them along by removing the leaves... In fact many feel it is beneficial to do with Maples specifically.. It kind of forces a dormancy a little earlier, and- as long as it isn't eating cold at night and days are seasonally short- the tree should stay dormant for a normal period of time after. If you did it in say... September, in my area it would just leaf back out and be terribly stubborn about dropping leaves again when it does get cold. I am encountering that now with a tree I pruned the latest in the season. It is farthest along in development and being pruned a couple times a Summer to promote ramification instead of being allowed too row to thicken the trunk. Since it was last pruned, the newest push of growth is still completely green, healthy and growing along while the old leaves are red, crispy and a good many have dropped! All my other Maples are dark red and half or fully defoliate do at this point... So I am considering removing all remaining Maple leaves this weekend to encourage dormancy and get winter started! Problem is... It was freaking EIGHTY DEGREES TODAY! My Chinese Elms have not even lost their leaves! One cutting appears to have popped new growth just today... Very confusing writer conditions thus far. Not sure if I should start repotting stuff and starting cuttings or if I need to hunker down, remove leaves and prepare for winter!

Same deal here. All my elms still have leaves, just beginning to yellow and fall off. Would removing the leaves encourage dormancy or would you just get another set of leaves? I want to give it to the end of this month to see if they naturally fall off.

 

[bonhe]

Hi Bleumeon,
Where do you keep the maple? I mean if it is in the North, West, East, South or others in between.
Bonhe

 

[justBonsai]

Hi Bleumeon,
Where do you keep the maple? I mean if it is in the North, West, East, South or others in between.
Bonhe

I keep it near my driveway on a South facing wall that is horizontal east to west. Really the only place I can put my bonsai that has decent sun.

 

[bonhe]

South is too hot for maple at this time. I would move it to the north side which is coolest place.
Bonhe

 

[justBonsai]

South is too hot for maple at this time. I would move it to the north side which is coolest place.
Bonhe

I don't want to place it in complete shade though. I'll put it under a trellis or patio with partial sun.

 

[GrimLore]

I don't want to place it in complete shade though. I'll put it under a trellis or patio with partial sun.

So you don't want dormancy? Sorry but you have confused me a bit

Grimmy

 

[bonhe]

I don't want to place it in complete shade though. I'll put it under a trellis or patio with partial sun.

My trees which needed dormancy such as liquidamber, ume, Chojubai, flowering peach, flowering pear, flowering apricot, I place them in the north side.
Bonhe

 

[justBonsai]

My trees which needed dormancy such as liquidamber, ume, Chojubai, flowering peach, flowering pear, flowering apricot, I place them in the north side.
Bonhe

I'll try moving it then. I was under the impression that complete shade would be unfavorable and risk things like fungal issues--my maple had some kind of fungus when purchased that I since removed with a spray.

 

[Eric Group]

Same deal here. All my elms still have leaves, just beginning to yellow and fall off. Would removing the leaves encourage dormancy or would you just get another set of leaves? I want to give it to the end of this month to see if they naturally fall off.

It depends on your weather as to whether they will regrow or not. Temperature is an important part of the dormancy equation, but she shorter days have a hand in it as well.
more shade during dormancy is not a problem. Some recommend an application of lime sulfur during dormancy to ward off illness...

 

[bonhe]

I'll try moving it then. I was under the impression that complete shade would be unfavorable and risk things like fungal issues--my maple had some kind of fungus when purchased that I since removed with a spray.

The fungus loves to live in humid and warm area (it is liked athlete's foot and crotch itch, is not it?). So if you put it in the well ventilating area without leaf moisture at night, it should be fine. I have also sprayed diluted lime sulfur solution yearly to avoid the fungus.
Bonhe

 

[justBonsai]

The fungus loves to live in humid and warm area (it is liked athlete's foot and crotch itch, is not it?). So if you put it in the well ventilating area without leaf moisture at night, it should be fine. I have also sprayed diluted lime sulfur solution yearly to avoid the fungus.
Bonhe

I don't have a good option go place it at a north facing wall so I just put it where it will get mostly shade. Regarding the lime sulphur how much do you dilute it buy when using it.

 

[bonhe]

Hi Bleumeon,
4 tablespoons of lime sulfur in one gallon of water.
Bonhe