Trident Maple leaves slow to reach maturity

[arctic107]

This is my first spring with this trident maple (or any trident maple, period). In March, the tree has sprouted a TON of new leaf growth but none of the leaves have reached full size yet. Being that it is May, I'm a little worried about the tree. The color of the leaves doesn't worry me, many are turning green. I water daily at this point until the water runs through the bottom of the pot. I fertilize with Neptune's Harvest fish emulsion fertilizer weekly. It gets sun, but I'm not sure that it gets "full sun" which I am worrying may be the problem (my satsuki azalea are thriving right now).

Should I just have more patience with my trident maple?

 

[rockm]

This is my first spring with this trident maple (or any trident maple, period). In March, the tree has sprouted a TON of new leaf growth but none of the leaves have reached full size yet. Being that it is May, I'm a little worried about the tree. The color of the leaves doesn't worry me, many are turning green. I water daily at this point until the water runs through the bottom of the pot. I fertilize with Neptune's Harvest fish emulsion fertilizer weekly. It gets sun, but I'm not sure that it gets "full sun" which I am worrying may be the problem (my satsuki azalea are thriving right now).

Should I just have more patience with my trident maple?

Yes. Patience and more sun. Soft lanky foliage indicates not enough sun exposure. You also need to hack those long branches back to a third next spring.

 

[arctic107]

Yes. Patience and more sun. Soft lanky foliage indicates not enough sun exposure. You also need to hack those long branches back to a third next spring.

Yes, I was planning to trim back the long branches in June/July!

 

[RaginCajun]

Nice tree! Nice taper.
It needs More sun. Tridents are sun lovers. Looks like you have it in good soil so, full sun and lots of water. Mine are in full sun exposure but I protect them from the afternoon sun exposure because it’s a little too intense here in Louisiana. Maybe someone else from the DC area can chime in but I would think tridents can stand full sun all day long in Virginia. Good luck, friend.

 

[BonsaiMatt]

I am in the same area, and I have already trimmed and defoliated my tridents. They get as much sun as I can give them (8+ hours).

What is the tree’s history? How long have you had it etc? Does it have a healthy root system? Repotted recently?

Sometimes they can sulk like this after getting roots trimmed severely.

 

[arctic107]

I bought the tree from Brussel's Bonsai last June. It got some leaf scorch towards the end of summer but survived the drought!

I didn't repot it this year because I wanted to do one more year in the existing. Pot before I disturbed the apple cart (plus, I'm a novice).

I live in the city (not in DC proper) with an eastward facing backyard.I bought the house last June as well and bought 2 satsuki azalea not knowing which would thrive in the space (since the house was new to me at the time). The big tree in the corner blocks morning sun and the house provides afternoon shade.

 

[NaoTK]

You may be overwatering it if you are watering it every day without full leaf burden. Overwatering often looks like underwatering with weak leaves. Try backing off significantly on the watering for a couple weeks, only when the soil is barely moist an inch down. The tree should be situated in part shade if we suspect the roots have a problem, and you may not see recovery for a few weeks.

Think about the water column in your deep pot. If the top of the soil is moist, that means the bottom of your root ball is saturated in water. Consistent moisture leads to root death.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I bought the tree from Brussel's Bonsai last June. It got some leaf scorch towards the end of summer but survived the drought!

I didn't repot it this year because I wanted to do one more year in the existing. Pot before I disturbed the apple cart (plus, I'm a novice).

I live in the city (not in DC proper) with an eastward facing backyard.I bought the house last June as well and bought 2 satsuki azalea not knowing which would thrive in the space (since the house was new to me at the time). The big tree in the corner blocks morning sun and the house provides afternoon shade.

Very well could be root bound. How does it drain when you water? If not well. Take a screw driver and create irrigation to the pot. By making holes into the substrate.

My own trident came unbelievably root bound...that I had a heck of a time sawing through it with a hand saw.

 

[arctic107]

Very well could be root bound. How does it drain when you water? If not well. Take a screw driver and create irrigation to the pot. By making holes into the substrate.

My own trident came unbelievably root bound...that I had a heck of a time sawing through it with a hand saw.

The soil drains very well! It probably does need to be repotted with some trimmed roots though!

 

[arctic107]

You may be overwatering it if you are watering it every day without full leaf burden. Overwatering often looks like underwatering with weak leaves. Try backing off significantly on the watering for a couple weeks, only when the soil is barely moist an inch down. The tree should be situated in part shade if we suspect the roots have a problem, and you may not see recovery for a few weeks.

Think about the water column in your deep pot. If the top of the soil is moist, that means the bottom of your root ball is saturated in water. Consistent moisture leads to root death.

I'll give this a try. I only started watering it every day starting last week because the temperatures got into the 80s.