Hi all! My Trident Maple has leaves that are drying out and dropping. Any idea what is causing this or why it’s happening? All my other trees are fine. Japanese Maple, Chinese Elm, Trident Maple seedling, Bald Cypress and a Chinese Juniper are my other trees that are doing fine. I am in NE Texas Zone 8b. Any help is appreciated.
Trident Maple dropping leaves
- Thread starter JerArt
- Start date
RoadManDenDron
Chumono
That soil looks really dry to me,
It's hard to tell from the leaves if the problem is too wet vs too dry as both create the same problem at the leaf- not enough water
As mentioned tho your soil looks very dry to me
Does this match what you would think about your watering habits?
It's hard to tell from the leaves if the problem is too wet vs too dry as both create the same problem at the leaf- not enough water
As mentioned tho your soil looks very dry to me
Does this match what you would think about your watering habits?
I’ve been watering every 3 days. I fear of over watering which is why it’s every 3 days. That’s the schedule for all my trees. It’s starting to creep into the low to mid 80s here and has been really windy.
WNC Bonsai
Masterpiece
If you are using a fast draining inorganic soil then you need to water every day and where you are maybe even more often. Wind is especially problematic as it dries out the foliage quickly a d if there ain’t enough water i the soil your leaves will be toast in no time. Here in Asheville I usually keep my maples in partial sun and water every day. With my soil it is impossible to overwater them.
It’s a fairly quick draining soil. It gets shade after 2pm. The backside is more green and the leaves are not dropping. I will water more often. I just gave it a good watering. Thank you! This is my first winter to spring season change. So I wasn’t sure if it could be related to that and something I’m not doing.
RoadManDenDron
Chumono
Forget about watering to a schedule, you should check your trees at least daily, probably more where you are
And water only when they need it
You start to learn when they need it and when they don't, but still you check,
By getting to know your trees in this way you can notice if something changes
And water only when they need it
You start to learn when they need it and when they don't, but still you check,
By getting to know your trees in this way you can notice if something changes
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
Definitely check soil and water according to needs.
Often different pots need different water schedules. Larger tree uses more water than a smaller tree. Smaller pot (relative to tree size) needs water more often. Different soil mix dry at different rates so may need different watering. Trees that have been in the pot for a few years gradually fill the spaces in the soil with roots. Suddenly there's no spaces left for water and normal watering schedule is no longer enough.
In Spring, trees are using a lot more water to fuel rapid growth so will usually need more water than other times of year. Adjusting watering schedule to match Spring demands is the most challenging. We are accustomed to winter watering schedule then suddenly days are longer and warmer and trees are taking more water. If we are not aware dehydration occurs.
FYI, I water most of my trees twice a day through most of Summer. Even at that rate I still get dehydrated trees sometimes.
Often different pots need different water schedules. Larger tree uses more water than a smaller tree. Smaller pot (relative to tree size) needs water more often. Different soil mix dry at different rates so may need different watering. Trees that have been in the pot for a few years gradually fill the spaces in the soil with roots. Suddenly there's no spaces left for water and normal watering schedule is no longer enough.
In Spring, trees are using a lot more water to fuel rapid growth so will usually need more water than other times of year. Adjusting watering schedule to match Spring demands is the most challenging. We are accustomed to winter watering schedule then suddenly days are longer and warmer and trees are taking more water. If we are not aware dehydration occurs.
FYI, I water most of my trees twice a day through most of Summer. Even at that rate I still get dehydrated trees sometimes.
SeanS
Omono
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As everyone has already mentioned, plants aren’t familiar with our concept of time and aren’t very good with rationing resources based on their next scheduled allocation of those resources. They use up the water they have available as they need it and then once that’s exhausted need some more. Water them when they need water.
Thanks. This is very helpful. Would it be safe to go ahead a repot this tree? I know it has been in it’s current container for at least a year but not sure before I got it.
Jrmcmich
Shohin
You can add a chop stick in soil to help check moisture level as well. This is something I did for all my trees this year to help learn watering better. Easy to tell how wet soil is.
bwaynef
Masterpiece
You're past that window. Wait until next year, when the buds are beginning to move.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Your tree has dried out. Looks to be kept in direct Texas sun and watered on a schedule. It’s in very porous soil mix as well from the look of it
That a recipe for drying out. This time of year trees are growing strongly and need the resources to support that growth.
You can’t water on a set schedule as said above. The amount of water needed every day varies tremendously. Windy dry day and things get dry quickly. Strong sun speeds that process. Don’t rely on rain. Monitor the forecast and soil moisture every day. If you don’t this can happen even though other trees may not be the same. All are individuals with individual circumstances
That a recipe for drying out. This time of year trees are growing strongly and need the resources to support that growth.
You can’t water on a set schedule as said above. The amount of water needed every day varies tremendously. Windy dry day and things get dry quickly. Strong sun speeds that process. Don’t rely on rain. Monitor the forecast and soil moisture every day. If you don’t this can happen even though other trees may not be the same. All are individuals with individual circumstances
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
The leaves have been open for some time so I agree that you are well past safe repotting window this year. It can be done by very experienced growers under specific circumstances but your questions indicate you probably don't fit in that grower category.
I'm confident the tree will be OK if you can keep the water up to it through Summer. If that means watering twice a day then do that. Many beginners are watering ineffectually. The water only soaks into the soil a few cm, most of it runs off or around the dry soil ball. I often recommend beginners soak the entire pot in a bucket of water once a week. This makes sure the entire root ball is properly wet at least once a week. That's also how I manage any badly root bound pots here until an appropriate time of year to repot properly
thank you. I do have them where the shade starts to creep in about 1pm and fully covered by 2pm. Would sphagnum moss be okay to put a layer down on top of the soil?
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Yes. It would help but it’s not gonna let you off the hook for checking to see if trees need water. It can so make watering more difficult because it hides that soil surface
