Japanese maple can survive in a pot. This is why many gardeners prefer container cultivation of this tree.
How large should a container be for a Japanese maple?
The pot for a Japanese Maple should be large enough to accommodate the entire root ball plus 1 to 2 inches on each side. In other words, the pot should be slightly larger than the tree’s root system.
The material from which the pot is made can be either plastic or clay. Clay pots are more decorative but less resistant to frost. At the same time, a plastic container is more tolerant of harsh climatic conditions.
Be sure that the container has several drainage holes in the bottom. The more holes, the better.
What kind of potting soil does a Japanese maple need?
Potted Japanese Maple needs high-quality, well-drained potting soil with high organic content, such as pine bark or compost.
A multipurpose potting soil usually works well. The first thing to look at is the reviews of the potting soil manufacturer. Choose the one with a lot of positive reviews.
The potting soil should be either neutral or slightly acidic. In other words, ensure the pH is between 5.5 and 7.0.
Choose a cloudy day to plant the Japanese Maple in its new pot. If it has not rained the day before, water the maple well.
Gently pull the tree out of the old pot without damaging the roots. Place it in the new pot so that the ground’s surface is about 1 inch below the edge of the pot. Fill all the space around the roots with potting soil.
Avoid covering the tree trunk with soil. The place where the trunk and roots join should be at ground level, and only the roots should be below the ground.
How much sun does a potted Japanese maple need?
Potted Japanese Maple needs 4-6 hours of direct sunlight a day. The tree should get direct sun in the first half of the day, and the rest of the time, it needs shade.
What you should avoid is placing a potted maple in full sun. This is especially true for young trees in small pots. If there is too much sun, the soil can dry out quickly, and the leaves will get scorched.
How often should I water my potted Japanese maple?
Potted Japanese Maple should be watered when the soil is more than 1 inch dry. Keep an eye on how wet the soil is, especially during the hot summer.
When watering, you should use as much water as you need to make the soil evenly moist. Usually, 1 gallon is enough to moisten the soil well. The excess should flow out through the drainage holes.
To prevent the soil from drying out quickly, mulch the surface with pine bark chips or other organic matter. The layer of mulch should be about 1 to 2 inches. Avoid volcano mulching, which means do not bury the maple trunk under the mulch.
What do you feed a potted Japanese maple?
The best fertilizer for potted Japanese maple is slow-release pellets. In terms of composition, a multi-purpose fertilizer is excellent, but make sure the amount of nitrogen is no more than 12.
It is also essential that the product contains phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and iron.
The best time to fertilize Japanese maple is early spring. Usually, one fertilization is enough since the active period of most such fertilizers is 6 months. This means that your maple will be fed for the entire growing season.
Pruning potted Japanese maple
Potted Japanese maples need almost no pruning because they are usually compact and have a small annual growth rate.
Sometimes, removing branches that intertwine and suppress each other is necessary. In this case, remove one of the intertwined branches as close to the trunk as possible.
The best time to prune a potted Japanese Maple is early spring. Always use good quality, sharp tools for pruning. Be sure to disinfect them before working.
Read more: How Do You Winterize A Potted Japanese Maple Tree?
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