Fall Leaf Color Techniques

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

About half way through this blog post (http://blog.rei.com/hike/color-me-intrigued-why-do-leaves-change-color/) it mentions weather related causes of color change on leaves. I'm wondering if anyone has any tips/tricks to help bring about the brilliance of leaf color in their trees. Specifically, elms and maples.

 

[M. Frary]

Spray paint.

 

[Cypress187]

I think it has to do with the balance between light and dark time, so perhaps controlling this balance more precisely could enhance the color, or spray paint.

 

[Paradox]

Tree health is a big factor. Whether the trees get enough water during the summer is a factor as well. How hot the summer was. How fast it gets cold in the fall also effects color.

The only things you can control is health and water.

 

[MACH5]

Tree health is a big factor. Whether the trees get enough water during the summer is a factor as well. How hot the summer was. How fast it gets cold in the fall also effects color.

The only things you can control is health and water.

Yes, but remember you can also control light.


As Paradox mentioned there are quite a few factors affecting autumn color. I believe one of the most important ones may be light. Below is the same Japanese maple photographed in 2014 and 2015. In the one from '14, the tree was placed under full sunlight. In '15 the tree was under shaded conditions for most of the year.

2014



2015

 

[Paradox]

@MACH5

Interesting comparison and difference.

Could be the difference in light levels effects the composition of the compounds that effect color of the leaves and influence the color

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

The only things you can control is health and water.

What about creating the cold evenings by bringing the tree inside the A/C at night?

 

[Paradox]

The Autumn Leaf Colot wiki also says that maples produce more of the chemical that makes red leaves when they are under greater stress in the late summer/fall

 

[Paradox]

What about creating the cold evenings by bringing the tree inside the A/C at night?

I think that would be pretty extreme. It would probably have to be at 50 or so degrees for several nights. You would have to time it just right too.

It's your electric bill I suppose, if doubling it is worth it to have a bit brigher color plus the shuffle, go for it.

FYI: Two window units maintaining 2 rooms at 70 costs us an extra $200 a month. I don't know if an AC can go much lower than about 60 and if so what that would cost you.

 

[MACH5]

@MACH5

Interesting comparison and difference.

Could be the difference in light levels effects the composition of the compounds that effect color of the leaves and influence the color

Sandy it is quite possible. I am not a scientist however so any explanation from me would be a guess at best.

I am trying same thing this year by keeping the tree in the exact same spot as last year and see what I get. I am going to guess yellow/orange again. Any bets?

 

[Paradox]

Sandy it is quite possible. I am not a scientist however so any explanation from me would be a guess at best.

I am trying same thing this year by keeping the tree in the exact same spot as last year and see what I get. I am going to guess yellow/orange again. Any bets?

Dunno but would love to see the result

 

[GrimLore]

Dunno but would love to see the result

In the past two plants in particular here showed their best colors in Fall when moved from filtered sun to full sun after the equinox. Maples and the burning bush. Left in filtered sun here they change but not nearly as vibrant - why? Dunno, stumbled on it at the old place when I was reworking an area.

Grimmy

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

I think that would be pretty extreme. It would probably have to be at 50 or so degrees for several nights. You would have to time it just right too.

Yes, that doesn't seem cost effective or even just effective, now that I think about it.

 

[Smoke]

https://bonsaial.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/fall-color-healthy-tree-what/

 

[cbroad]

@Gdy2000
From what I've been taught for wild trees, cool/cold nights and lack of rainfall produce the best fall colors. Don't know if you want to try to simulate that with any specimens though...

 

[Potawatomi13]

Frost does it here except trees that normally turn red no matter what. Strangely our Quercus garryana/Oregon White Oak which are normally yellow mixed with brown are showing some few small trees with red to almost magenta leaves. Only reason with no frost seems to be extra dry summer we had.

 

[miker]

I've read from a couple different sources that the technique of growing season defoliation in bonsai improves fall color. I have also read that drier conditions tend to stimulate greater fall color and/or earlier color up. Most importantly, from my research, a period or periods of chilly/cold nights (32-48F) and high levels of sunlight during a shortening photoperiod are the main factors in how dramatic fall color will be on a given tree. The genetic provenance of the tree in question and of course the species also affects the amount and specific makeup of the colors.

Another relevant point mentioned in at least one book is that bonsai often color up and lose their leaves earlier than their in-ground counterparts.

In October 2007 I did an experiment with one of my small sugar (Acer saccharum) maple pre-bonsai, originally collected from the woods in Lansing, Michigan (tree collected in October 2005). I put it in the refrigerator for 12-15 hours per day (33-38F), then put it inside in a window (daytime temps 70-74F) that allowed for full sun to hit the tree for at least several hours each day. After 10-14 days, the tree colored up starting at the leaf tips and eventually over the whole surface of every leaf. The color was a rich golden yellowish/orange, essentially the same color as the wild sugar maples nearby had turned at the time of collection in Michigan. The tree stayed colored up for another 1-2 weeks then the tree dropped its leaves and I put it in the fridge for the winter.

 

[GailC]

This is interesting. I have three amur maples. Two are in small pots that dry out more then the one in a larger pot. The small ones are both brilliant red but the bigger one isn't turning at all yet.
My wild big leaf maple isn't turning yet either but the ones in the woods are, they are bright yellow.

 

[M. Frary]

but the ones in the woods are, they are bright yellow

The trees in the landscape always turn before the ones I have in pots.
I don't care about fall color too much though. As long as the leaves are nice and green before fall telling me the tree is still healthy, color dosent really matter to me.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Frost does it here except trees that normally turn red no matter what. Strangely our Quercus garryana/Oregon White Oak which are normally yellow mixed with brown are showing some few small trees with red to almost magenta leaves. Only reason with no frost seems to be extra dry summer we had.

Update to former post. Went back Sunday for hike on the mountain to get some pics. Realized on way home photo card was in computer adapter at home. DUH! Monday went back again with whole camera intact. First pic is of typical uninspiring leaf colors with red small tree in background. All others are the unusual and much better colors. Apparent nearby "parent" trees all had normal colors and no adult trees had these bright colors except for the rare individual lower branch.