Maple cutting missing its first season

Last year i did 2 cuttings of Japanese Maples and both took, a few weeks ago I repotted one of them and didn't touch the second.

The one I repoted died but the second leafed out just fine so I thought it was probably because I shouldn't have repotted on the first year..

Since a few days the leafs of the one I didn't wilted and it is not doing well. Nothing has changed I just fed it once or twice .

I moved it to a shadier place watering it normally

any thoughts/ideas?

thanks

N.B: it might look in the pic that it is still leafing out but the leaves actually wilted

Hi Akhater

Dont allow the pot....POT...to heat up, by direct sun, and then let the soil dry out a little before watering again, this might help. Maples collapse if the soil is too hot, and you water too much. Maples does not like weath soil at any time.

Kind regards Yvonne

so it might be over-watering I see, I will try to let it dry more between watering just hope it is not too late

It is likely a combination of hot sun, a black pot, poor soil and overwatering.

I'm sorry but I cannot imagine Lebanon being an ideal habitat for Japanese maples.

I'd suggest wrapping the pot in aluminum foil to help reduce the heat in the soil. Then, jeep a chopstick or skewer jammed into the soil. Pull it out every afternoon and feel the dirty end. If it feels dry, you need to water. If it is even a little bit damp, do not water. Then, keep the tree where it will be in mostly shade all afternoon. Morning sun probably is OK.

thank you Jim

I do live in Lebanon but a bit higher in the mountains and maple are commonly used in the landscape around here.

I lost a lot of maples over the years so yes I can't say it is ideal either but lately it seems I have finally managed to keep them alive, I have 3 bigger maples in training pots and all doing perfectly well. this one is a cutting of one of them

the soil is 100% sieved perlite and it is very draining so that rules out the poor soil. all my maples are in morning sun and the rest of the day in open shade.

This said this one is in the smallest post since it is just a cutting so the pot heating up could also be a reason, it is a bit weird for me since it lived last summer's temperatures pretty well. I will try the aluminum foil trick

I guess I simply got over excited with the spring back and started to water too much too soon so I'd say over watering

Let's see if I still can still save this one and thanks for the help

Roots don't grow when the soil temperature is above 95F. Rather than guessing, buy an inexpensive meat thermometer/probe. Stick it in the pot among the roots, monitor the temperature, and keep it below 95F.

An alternative and/or supplement to Jim's aluminum foil advice for keeping the root temperature down, is to wrap the pot a wet white towel and cover the soil as well (i.e., tuck the towel into the pot up to the base of the tree). This gives you an evaporative cooler in addition to reflecting a lot of sunlight.

In my experience, JM leaves can cope with a lot of sun but dessicate very quickly in light breezes and faster moving air, even in shade.

we are still far away from 95F, we are in the 65~70 range but I shall keep that in mind for the summer if it ever makes it back

I guess overwatering is a pretty serious thing so I don't keep high hopes

Hi Akhater

This is how I provide shade for the pot, now it will not burn in the sun. But still leave the tree in full sun. I do this with all my trees.


Kind regards Yvonne