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Sick Acer - Can anyone tell me what's wrong with my acer

RibsRibs Posts: 12
in Problem solving

Posts

  • 2oaktrees2oaktrees Posts: 160
    edited May 2018
    Looks healthy to me. Is it the change of leaf colour you’re concerned about or the way it is drooping? 
  • RibsRibs Posts: 12
    Yes the leaves are turning yellow and dropping off, in previous years they stayed green until the autumn.
  • autumngloryautumnglory Posts: 255
    Are they going crispy before they drop off? Could be sun scorch in this warm sunny weather we've been having. Sun and wind scorch are common in dissectum types.
  • RibsRibs Posts: 12
    No they are soft and droopy, I was wondering if it's been over watered
  • UpNorthUpNorth Posts: 376
    Could you detail whether its in shade part shade etc.   Have you repotted recent or years ago..... What soil mix?  Acers enjoy slightly acidic and must be free draining so you can keep moist whilst not drowning it.

    You could take it out of pot and see how wet or dry the soil is. 

  • RibsRibs Posts: 12
    It's been in part shade for about a month since the wisteria above it has come into leaf.It was reported about 3 years ago. The soil is john innes no 3 and quite damp. It's only in the last week that the leaves have started turning yellow and dropping off.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Ribs said:
    It's been in part shade for about a month since the wisteria above it has come into leaf.It was reported about 3 years ago. 
    I'm intrigued why it was reported. Is it sitting in the naughty corner now?  ;)
    Devon.
  • RibsRibs Posts: 12
    Typo 😕 Repotted

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    What a pity - it's a lovely looking acer. Looks like a palmatum dissectum - I've got one that's now about 12ft high and nearly 30ft wide! And when it turns red in the autumn it almost hurts the eyes.
    A couple of things spring to mind
    It may well be waterlogged. Is the pot on feet? If not, it may have become waterlogged over winter and needs to dry out a bit.
    You re-potted it 3 years ago in JI3 - has it been fed since? The nutrients in the JI will have run out a long time ago. Some Blood, Fish and Bone or some other slow-release fertilizer may help - once in March and again in early summer, but just a little.
    Whenever I have a situation such as yours, I often try seaweed extract. It's a great tonic for all plants.
    Lastly, if possible use rainwater when watering - tap water contains calcium and other carbonates which acers would rather not have.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • RibsRibs Posts: 12
    Yes it gets fed every year with liquid fertilizer using rainwater to. I'll try and dry it out a bit.
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