Kojo No Mai Cherry yellowing leaf

I have a couple of small rooted Kojo No Mai Cherry cuttings that have been doing fine until about a month or so ago. They blossomed in the spring, put out lots of new growth and leaves, everything seemed to be fine.
Then in late June, when all the leaves started to get a little brown on the tips and edges, in some cases this continued until the entire leaf was brown/crispy and in some cases they leaves turned yellow. The leaves then drop. I have a few in small training pots that are now almost fully defoliated and others in pond baskets that still have a good amount of leaves left. All have lots of new buds and some are even starting to pop. See pics. Watering is good, well draining substrates etc. I had these in dappled sunlight along with my maples and we haven't had that hot or wet of a summer here.

I have searched this site and the internet and haven't found very much at all on Flowering Cherry trees as Bonsai. The only related item I found mentioned possible salt / sodium / mineral issues. Here's that link for reference...http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=71612

Help. I love cherry blossoms and would hate to lose these.
Any suggestions, thoughts, direction and heck even sarcastic comments are welcomed.
I'll sit here with some Sam Adams Cherry Wheat beers while I await your responses..THANKS B'nutters

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Cherry...who knows what variety....?









Repot next year....three years running........if these pictures help.

LanceMac10 said:

Cherry...who knows what variety....?View attachment 79244

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Repot next year....three years running........if these pictures help.

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Thanks. Nice trees. Trying to figure out the cause and fix for the leaves on mine browning, turning yellow and dropping...any thoughts?

I've had cherry turn yellow and defoliate in summer months,but they always pushed new leaves

I have Kojo No Mai...and it's doing the same as last year...with the leaves as you are having. Trust me...come spring it will flourish. I'm not quite sure what's up...but...know that it didn't effect this springs blooms. And hope to treat it for black spot early...but, also not baby it so much. I put it in my greenhouse when it could have withstood the temps outside that were dropping. I did so because of a recent root prune. So I am hoping that with not babying it next season...proactive black spot and fungus treatments It will do better and hold its leaves. It's only an experiment I'm trying...to see if I notice a difference next season by proactive treatments. Since I do have black spot in my ravine beside my home.

But it looked like it does now...last year at this time...but recovered come spring. I will be following your thread post...in case one does figure out the issues. But I'm not overly concerned because of how it bounced back from dormancy looking the same as it does now. I would love to figure out how to prevent it from leaf loss.

In the spring...


Took this photo a week ago...as you see it looks sad...but looks as it did last year at this time.

Yes they have done this before, only not as severe as this year. As I mentioned in OP they blossomed nicely this spring and were doing fine up until about a month ago. They also have new buds some of which have begun to pop.

Cadillactaste said:

But it looked like it does now...last year at this time...but recovered come spring. I will be following your thread post...in case one does figure out the issues. But I'm not overly concerned because of how it bounced back from dormancy looking the same as it does now. I would love to figure out how to prevent it from leaf loss.

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Thanks.. this seems to be common. I wish I could control it though.

I'm curious if it's the heat...from the link you attached. We had some warm temps there for awhile as well when it took its turn for the worst. I am also now taking to submerging the pot to water...since it's now in the crescent pot it's harder to water. I would love to figure this out as well...to have this in full foliage come fall would be a dream. Just as clueless as you...but, since we did this dance last year I'm not as concerned. Just making mental notes of things to change next year...I may also...offer a new location come next year. Though it only gets morning sun which isn't as hot...under a balcony so not exposed to full sun. I'm at a loss. Curious...if it might need watered twice a day on hot weeks...or, misted maybe?

As there is new buds...I wouldn't be overly concerned...just like me try and tweak things up next year. If you find success...please share with us here.

Going to keep researching this. If anyone has any suggestions or similar experiences, please share. I will try and post any info I can find on this thread as well.

My flowering cherry trees always started looking rough around this time of the year. Look at cherry trees if you have any in the neighborhood. They're probably doing the same thing.

whfarro said:

I have a few in small training pots that are now almost fully defoliated and others in pond baskets that still have a good amount of leaves left.

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This my tell you that you give too much water and the pots' drainage can't get rid of it, while the baskets have no trouble.

Thanks Brian.
There is a great cherry blossom park near me..Branch Brook in Newark, NJ (one of the largest collections in the U.S.)...maybe I'll swing by.

JKL,
I don't think it's a watering issue. The trees in the pond baskets are also experiencing this, although to a lesser degree. That was my first thought though when the first couple of leaf tips browned up and later turned yellow and dropped. All are well draining and I am very attentive to watering needs of these and my other trees (mostly maples). This occurred last year as well about this same time and I am seeing others that have Kojo's that have this common issue.
Thank you for your reply.

I am thinking of making it a habit to folier feed the leaves next season. Hoping that might also give it a bit of a helping fight against what ever is going on.

Cadillactaste said:

I am thinking of making it a habit to folier feed the leaves next season. Hoping that might also give it a bit of a helping fight against what ever is going on.

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Let's use this thread to keep the dialogue on Cherry Blossoms going, sharing our individual experiences as we try and sort this out.

If it's brown, and crispy, there's likely no cherry.

Anyone try defoliating early August?

Sorce

Why would you defoliate cherry? They are grown and enjoyed while in flower, not in leaf.

It's common for many species, like cherry and Japanese flowering quince and even Japanese flowering apricot bonsai to lose most, or even all, of the foliage in mid to late summer. I think that's normal and do not worry about it. Just check to see if good buds have developed for next years flowers and fruit.

Ditto what Bill V. said. The BIG cherry tree in my front yard has now lost about 80 percent of its leaves, as it done for the last 20 summers. My black cherry bonsai has also dropped most of its leaves as it has for years. No big deal...

William N. Valavanis said:

Why would you defoliate cherry? They are grown and enjoyed while in flower, not in leaf.

It's common for many species, like cherry and Japanese flowering quince and even Japanese flowering apricot bonsai to lose most, or even all, of the foliage in mid to late summer. I think that's normal and do not worry about it. Just check to see if good buds have developed for next years flowers and fruit.

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What is sad, is some photos show the Kojo No Mai in fall shades of a vibrant red.

Today I spoke with a man who knows fertilizer in my neck of the woods. Wanted some liquid potassium and was discussing the cherry with him. He pondered if the tree's natural habitat is high on a mountain. And thus...our hot temps are what causes us to not have the beautiful fall foliage. That many struggle with the loss of leaves...makes him feel it's something we must just learn to deal with. Enjoy the blooms and early full foliage the tree brings when it first opens in leaf. But, as long as those healthy buds form...realize this is just its fate. He said I could attempt foliage feeding. But, he somewhat thinks it's like ones around here who try and grow pine trees. Just gets to hot for them to thrive to full potential. (That's his take on what is going on with our trees.) I will give the foliage feeding a try next spring...but, if that doesn't work...then I at least know that come spring it will still give me one amazing show. And just be glad I no longer have to worry come mid June when it's foliage starts to decline...that it isn't the death. But, a passage of rights so to speak. And enjoy seeing healthy buds form for next year. And chuck it up to...it's just the way it is.

rockm said:

Ditto what Bill V. said. The BIG cherry tree in my front yard has now lost about 80 percent of its leaves, as it done for the last 20 summers. My black cherry bonsai has also dropped most of its leaves as it has for years. No big deal...

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See...my weeping cherry still is full of leaves...but, thrives in the sun. As far as an edible fruiting cherry. No clue what they look like in our neck of the woods...but, am curious.