Trident Maple Question (Leaf tips browing)

[Gordo]

Good morning! This is my first post on Bonsai Nut. I've been browsing for a while though!

I have a trident maple that I picked up a few years ago from Matt O. It repotted it two years ago if memory serves. Last summer, early in the season the leaf tips started turning brown, which eventually progressed to a lot of leaves dying off altogether. A new flush came and the tips turned brown, but didn't die off like the first flush of growth. I thought I had been too aggressive with my fertilizer applications (Dyna-Gro). I have not used it at all this summer, only Plant Tone. As you can see in the attached pictures, I am getting the same symptoms now. I am wondering if I need to up my watering or increase the size of the pot given the fact that it looks to be root bound.

Any thoughts before I take action on this?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Robin

Edit: Raleigh, NC

 

[sorce]

I'd guess it's too wet, dark soil, plastic pot, nother pot...

Can you jam a toothpick in the soil?

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Gordo]

I'd guess it's too wet, dark soil, plastic pot, nother pot...

Can you jam a toothpick in the soil?

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

Lol. The 'nother pot' is my non-tipping mechanism. Very sophisticated and thought out!

I'll try that and get back to you.

 

[SeanS]

Could be fungal

 

[Hartinez]

Check this thread. Could be what your problem is and could have some solutions for you.

Presumed recurrent fungal infection on Trident Maple

Maybe a long shot but any chances of herbicides wafting onto your property from a neighbors weedy fence line, adjacent commercial lot or even someone spraying driveway cracks? Checked pot drainage holes and dug around for soil grubs??

www.bonsainut.com

 

[Gordo]

I'd guess it's too wet, dark soil, plastic pot, nother pot...

Can you jam a toothpick in the soil?

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

Toothpick goes in with ease.

Could be fungal

Fungal as in a root fungus? Any recommendations on a broad spectrum treatment that won't harm the tree?

 

[sorce]

It ain't fungular, or someone's sniffin bungular.

Sorce

 

[thatguy]

My .02c based on experiences with tridents last year is too much water. Had similar leaf tip browning going on and they were in a less than optimal soil with a overzealous waterer (me). Try putting one of those rocks under the edge of the pot to tip it up a bit. Help with drainage.

 

[Gordo]

My .02c based on experiences with tridents last year is too much water. Had similar leaf tip browning going on and they were in a less than optimal soil with a overzealous waterer (me). Try putting one of those rocks under the edge of the pot to tip it up a bit. Help with drainage.

Okay, I think I will start by slip potting it into some better quality soil in a bigger, non-plastic pot. We will see where that gets me.