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Is my acer potbound and dying?

tuffnelljohntuffnelljohn Posts: 284
in Problem solving
Hi all,

Ive had this acer for a few years. For the past few months the leaves have been shrivelling up. I moved it out of the sun and out of the wind, buts its just getting worse!



Does it look potbound? Would I be better off planting it in the ground?

Weirdly, I have a small acer in a pot which is doing the same thing! Perhaps theyre both diseased?



Not sure what to do. I dont want to lose them! :(

Thanks





Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Definitely. Both of them need much bigger containers. You're lucky they survived this long.
    The first one has a good chance if you repot it. The second one, scratch the bark with a fingernail. If it's green underneath, its alive. If it brown, it's dead.
    If it's alive, put it in a bigger container 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Looks to me like they are starved and thirsty.   Why are they in such small pots?  Could they not go in the ground where they can spread their roots and not have to rely on you for food and water?

    Planting composts only have enough nutrients for 90 days.  After that you need to feed them.  Plants in pots also need a space between the rim of the pot and the compost so that enough water can be applied so they either need re-potting in larger pots with 2/3 good quality John Innes no 3 compost mixed with 1/3 Levington or MPC to help with moisture retention.   

    Whether you pot on or plant out, you need to immerse the root balls in water till no further air bubbles appear and then tease out the roots so they head outwards rather than circling round and round.   Water well again after planting and make sure they get regular water for the rest of the summer until the autumn rains set in.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Sun and wind - the two things they hate most too. Frazzled ends on foliage is mainly because they can't get enough water to the foliage ends when it's needed. 
    Dappled shade is always best, although the purple ones can cope with some sun. Afternoon is much better than morning and midday though. 

    That second one isn't a 'small' acer. It's a big one that's been hacked.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    edited July 2020
    They're both very strange shapes. I hope I'm not being too harsh but I would give up on the smaller one, like Fairygirl said, it's been hacked and they never regain their shape. Maybe buy a new small one and grow it on.
    The bigger one I would shape it in the winter when it's dormant. There are very good videos on you tube showing how to do this. 

    As for the brown leaves its usually the wind and sun combo as others have said but a bigger pot and some feed would go a long way.

    * also noticed that the soil is completely to the top and even slightly higher than the rim of the pot
    Doesn't the water just run off when you water it? It is best to leave a space between for easier watering. 



  • tuffnelljohntuffnelljohn Posts: 284
    Thanks all.

    I have found hopefully the best spot in the garden for the big acer which is sheltered from the wind and is fairly shady.

    The smaller acer did show green when I scratched it, so Ive put that in a bigger pot.

    Fingers crossed! :)
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