How to grow Japanese Maples in a Container
Japanese maples (Acer palmatym) are understory plants in their native habitats of Japan, China and Korea. There are hundreds of cultivars of Japanese maples, including those that gardeners adapt for the art of bonsai. Specific height, growth rate, leaf color and shape vary according to the cultivar. Generally, Japanese maples are compact, growing between 7 and 25 feet tall. They tend to have a rounding habit with spreading branches. Foliage colors include deep reds, purple, yellow and green. Most Japanese maples are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture planting zones 6 to 8. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Choose a flower pot or container that is large enough to hold comfortably the entire root ball of the plant, with enough extra room to accommodate growth for the next two years. Avoid containers that are much larger than the plant because of the danger of the soil not draining sufficiently to allow the roots to breathe.
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Combine composted organic materials with perlite at a ratio of 2:1 and use that mixture to fill the container halfway to the top.
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Place the plant in the center of the container and at a depth equal to the depth it sat in its original pot. Fill in the container with more of the soil mixture, leaving a few inches of space between the soil and the rim.
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Position the Japanese maple's container in an area with some protection from direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Give a preference to a location that affords dappled sunlight for most of the day.
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Keep the soil in the container moist, but do not allow the roots to sit for extended periods in wet soil.
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Protect the plant from freezing in areas that experience cold winters. Wrap the container with an insulating material, such as burlap, over the winter or move the container to a frost-free environment, such as a greenhouse or indoors in front of a very sunny window.
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Tips & Warnings
Test whether the container has sufficient drainage holes by pouring water into the container after you add soil but before you add the tree.
Monitor your tree's progress to determine when to move it to a bigger container; there are no set guidelines. Your maple will grow at its own pace, depending on the specific climate of your yard or patio, the cultivar and the quality of care you give it.
References
Resources
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