Trident leaf issue

[mj_barb]

Hi bonsai nuts,

I've been refraining from asking 100s of questions, as there is a ton of info in the archives and I'm sure you don't like answering the same question constantly. However, I do not trust my judgement on this issue, and would like some advise.

I purchased this trident a few weeks before spring kicked in. A week or so after leaves sprout, they start to deteriorate. I personally think it is due to being root bound. I've been (or nature has been) watering about twice a week. The soil drains fast, but the roots around the bottom stay wet for days. If this is the problem, should a try to slip pot it? Thanks in advance for your time.

P.s. Any white you see on the leaves is from being a little reckless with the fertilizer.

 

[JudyB]

It's possible that since you are only watering twice a week, that the upper levels of your soil is drying out too much. Put a skewer into the soil, and check it daily. When it's starting to dry a bit, then water it again. As long as it drains well, I don't think it's a problem to water more. Maybe cut some more holes at the bottom of the container, and plan on a repot next spring. You could slip pot it, just be careful, as we are heading into warmer weather.

 

[jeremy_norbury]

Whenever I've had Trident maple problems - like this, planting them either in a large training pot (pond basket) or directly in a garden bed, has resolved the problem.

They can fix themselves if they are given the space to grow themselves healthy.

 

[mj_barb]

Thanks for the advice guys. I poked some more holes in the bottom and will be watering a bit more. If its still looking bad in a few weeks I may look into the slip potting.

 

[63pmp]

Your leaves have what is called "blight", but this is because you are over fertilizing with nitrogen. Your options are to fertlize less often, dilute more, or find a fertilizer with lower N.

Paul

 

[mj_barb]

Your leaves have what is called "blight", but this is because you are over fertilizing with nitrogen. Your options are to fertlize less often, dilute more, or find a fertilizer with lower N.

Paul

Thanks Paul. I was under the impression I should be fertilizing the heck out of it. I was doing full strength about once a week. I'll cut back a bit.

 

[Bunjeh]

It's a little late in the season, but Trident are very tolerant to insults. I would suggest repotting in to a better pot and soil. One of the reasons you would need to fertilize heavy is because bonsai soils typically have very little organic material and do not hold nutrients well. Yours is still the the soil provided by the vendor which is probably 100% organic and decomposing rapidly.

 

[mj_barb]

It's a little late in the season, but Trident are very tolerant to insults. I would suggest repotting in to a better pot and soil. One of the reasons you would need to fertilize heavy is because bonsai soils typically have very little organic material and do not hold nutrients well. Yours is still the the soil provided by the vendor which is probably 100% organic and decomposing rapidly.

Thanks. Yes I understand that, and I thought the soil was 100% inorganic, so that's why I was heavy on the fertilizer. I can message the seller to find out the mix used.

 

[JudyB]

It does look like an inorganic soil to me, at least the surface. Paul is a genius about such things, so I hesitate to question here, but once a week at full strength does not sound all that over the top to me during the fast growth season for a trident growing strongly?

 

[GrimLore]

It does look like an inorganic soil to me, at least the surface. Paul is a genius about such things, so I hesitate to question here, but once a week at full strength does not sound all that over the top to me during the fast growth season for a trident growing strongly?

I agree if it is 100 percent inorganic I use 5 to 7 times the amount every 7 to 10 days except during those two extra hot weeks we always seem to get. No ill effects for several years... I see not enough pot space and water being the problem with this one and if it is in the Sun move to partial Sun.

Grimmy

 

[mj_barb]

It does look like an inorganic soil to me, at least the surface. Paul is a genius about such things, so I hesitate to question here, but once a week at full strength does not sound all that over the top to me during the fast growth season for a trident growing strongly?

Perhaps he glanced at the last picture as saw the roots as potting soil?

I agree if it is 100 percent inorganic I use 5 to 7 times the amount every 7 to 10 days except during those two extra hot weeks we always seem to get. No ill effects for several years... I see not enough pot space and water being the problem with this one and if it is in the Sun move to partial Sun.

It is in full sun. I'll try to move it to a spot that gets some afternoon shade.

I guess I'll skip the slip pot for now. Searching around it seems like people only use it as a last resort (Pot breaks, ect).

 

[GrimLore]

I guess I'll skip the slip pot for now. Searching around it seems like people only use it as a last resort (Pot breaks, ect).

That tree is in NEED of a larger pot - It won't care if it goes into a 5 gallon bucket with drain holes drilled into it Do yourself and that tree a service, it does not have to be "fancy"... My penny on this one, but if you sent it to me that is what I would do based on experience

Grimmy

 

[mj_barb]

That tree is in NEED of a larger pot - It won't care if it goes into a 5 gallon bucket with drain holes drilled into it Do yourself and that tree a service, it does not have to be "fancy"... My penny on this one, but if you sent it to me that is what I would do based on experience

Got it. Rookie mistake not repotting when I got this. This is my first year and with only a few trees I have not had to repot anything, so unfortunately I have no soil. I'll have to do some quick research tonight to source the components. Thanks for your help.

 

[JudyB]

Or the alternative is as Jeremy suggested, to plant it in the ground or a bed for now.

 

[mj_barb]

Or the alternative is as Jeremy suggested, to plant it in the ground or a bed for now.

Ahh I wish I had that luxury. I should have mentioned I'm in an apartment right now

 

[63pmp]

I still stand with my initial comment. And now some more facts have come out it reinforces my suspicions that this leaf issue is from too much N in the plant. Tridents grow a tremendous amount of roots in autumn and store N in them. By not root pruning before bud burst, but still pruning branches, creates an imbalance within the plant and leads to lush growth, feeding in the early growth stages in this situation exacerbates the over supply of N.

The leaves in this plant are very large, fleshy and developing tip blight, classic excessive N. The simplest solution is to hold back with the fertilizer until the plant comes back to normal.

Beware that warm, wet conditions can cause fungal attack to the roots in non-repotted tridents. If you are going to have a week of rain, bring the plant indoors.

Good luck with it, go slow, don't panic, your plant is not dying.

Paul

 

[GrimLore]

I still stand with my initial comment. And now some more facts have come out it reinforces my suspicions that this leaf issue is from too much N in the plant. Tridents grow a tremendous amount of roots in autumn and store N in them. By not root pruning before bud burst, but still pruning branches, creates an imbalance within the plant and leads to lush growth, feeding in the early growth stages in this situation exacerbates the over supply of N.

The leaves in this plant are very large, fleshy and developing tip blight, classic excessive N. The simplest solution is to hold back with the fertilizer until the plant comes back to normal.

Beware that warm, wet conditions can cause fungal attack to the roots in non-repotted tridents. If you are going to have a week of rain, bring the plant indoors.

Good luck with it, go slow, don't panic, your plant is not dying.

Paul

This is not Australia - this is a huge site covering many climates... I toss out information based on experience in my climate and never give advise until I understand where people are in this HUGE country. What works for you in this case does not apply - not being rude just logical...

Grimmy

Note: What many read and see does NOT work where they are - it is a "balance" of nature, climate, substrate and MORE that gives your plant success,

 

[63pmp]

This is not Australia - this is a huge site covering many climates... I toss out information based on experience in my climate and never give advise until I understand where people are in this HUGE country. What works for you in this case does not apply - not being rude just logical...

Grimmy

Note: What many read and see does NOT work where they are - it is a "balance" of nature, climate, substrate and MORE that gives your plant success,

WTF! Not sure why you feel the need to go on the attack here, seriously, your response is irrational and agressive.

Clearly you have your opinion, I have mine.

Time you grew up.

 

[Bunjeh]

Yup. I figured the rocks on top were a top dressing and the noticed that the roots seemed to be in a much finer material.

 

[mj_barb]

Thanks everyone! All the new leaves from the past week are looking good. I have been watering more frequently and moved it to get some afternoon shade. Also scaling back the fertilizing a bit.