I think I have made a big BOO BOO

Alina....what a lovely acer. You’ve done well!!

Springy chicken....I agree with you over the new soft growth being susceptible to damage.
I didn’t realise how much moister at the roots keeps the leaves from browning though.
I would think that if both strong sunlight and drying out too much would contribute to crispy brown leaves more than the type of soil the tree is in.

Water it , it needs lots of moisture , I throw my tea leaves round it whenever I remember . I have two red ones and one green

Give it a feed of Sequestrene. That should sort it out.

We experienced very windy weather recently which was easily enough to scorch and damage tender leaves. I imagine the miracle grow encouraged soft growth and then the wind did the damage .

Greyduster

I am very wary of high nitrogen plant food and tend to stick to bonemeal.
My plants have grown really well this year.

I am going to have to fight my way into that flower bed to sort them out.

Alima
Do you see what I mean about being confused!!!

I have taken it out of the sun though, but not re-potted.

Just to add to the mix jeanie, I had no idea that Ericaceous compost should be used. Mine was potted up about 7 years ago in bog-standard 3-for-a-tenner compost. It sits in full sun and seems to be enjoying life.

Hi everyone
I read with interest your comments and suggestions.
I've decided to re-pot in JI ericaceous compost which I already have in the hut.
From what as been said I think the problem was placing the pot in full sun.I have a position with late afternoon sun which is more sheltered which may suit better.
Fingers crossed.

Nanny41.....do you know what the lowest temperature would be in the conservatory during the winter?
Obviously they cant be frosted, but as they loose their leaves could you bubble wrap (with lots of layers) and put in the conservatory?

If you have it straight into the pot from the shop in which it was bought it may not have hardened off enough?

Also the sun has been quite hot, well it has here in the north mids, just could have scorched a few leaves. Try it in the shade for a week or so. Was looking at some in morrisons this morning, they were lovely delicate little plants.

Hope it recovers.

Acers are pretty good in most soils, but do best in acidic soils, just like you are using. Brown leaves usually occur when it's under watered, or the wind causes leaves to burn at the edges. It rather enjoys a cup of tea, no sugar or milk.

Yesterday I became a proud owner of a green Acer, after watching the Chelsea Flower Show the other evening, I just couldnt resist treating myself ( Husband doesnt know how much I payed for it).We live in Sweden and I cant leave it out in the winter, but I wonder how or where I should keep it during the winter, indoors will be too warm I expect, we have a conservatory which isnt heated in the winter, has anyone any suggestions please.

This is from the RHS website.

Japanese maples are ideal plants for growing in containers. Plant in a loam-based compost, which allows good drainage and has a high percentage of organic matter, such as John Innes No 2 or John Innes Ericaceous.

Keep the compost evenly moist, but not soaking wet and feed in spring and early summer with a slow-release fertiliser or liquid feed.

Your maples will need repotting into a slightly bigger container every couple of years. April or September are ideal months to do this.

The roots of maples in pots are vulnerable to frost over winter, so wrap containers with a sheet of bubble wrap, held in place with garden twine.

I hope you have success. It's far to windy here for them to grow, but they are beautiful trees.

I have several in different locations around the garden and in pots. 3 of them are in pots and over 8ft. Now they have grown that tall the wind and sun catches the top branches and scourched the leaves.
As others have said protect from sun and wind (my most successful ones are under the protection of other trees) keep moist in dry seasons and they will thrive!!

There was piece on Chelsea flower show mid week just about Acers. It was either Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Look on iplayer.

I have 3 in very large pots next to a pond- they are different colours & look gorgeous. They were planted in Ericaceous compost & fed them every Spring with MiracleGro food - it's the one for these type of plants. They must have been there for about 10 years & are thriving.

They don't like wind, they get windburn. Our purple one in a north facing front garden does well. However, last summer it suffered badly in the drought. I now give it a can of water every two or three days when we have a dry spell and that keeps it flourishing.

I have had two lovely red Acers in pots, for many years. They seem to prefer a sheltered spot with not too much hot sun. They are simply in ordinary compost, and I throw a handful of feed and a bit of new compost around them each year. Sometimes the leaves get a bit nipped if we have a cold spell after they start to grow in the spring, but they soon recover.
I have noticed that they seem to be quite happy in pots that aren't too big. Mine have only been re-potted once, in about 10 years.

A mixture of acidy and regular compost is supposed to be the best.

It’s possible your Acer was nipped by frost during the early hours a couple of weeks back! The new leaves are really sensitive to frost.

My sons bought me an Acer Palmatum which I loved but had to leave behind, with many other precious plants, when we returned to NZ. Very sad.

Then, when I worked for the City Council here, our Japanese sister city, Kakogawa, gave us a beautiful garden in traditional 15th century design and it too featured Acers.
I saw immediately that the site was far too windy and exposed for the gorgeous, glowing Maples to survive, although they may have if they'd been re-positioned behind the pagoda, or near the gate.
I tried so hard to persuade the Gardens department to move them but they refused - and of course the Acers died.
Doubly sad - because it was avoidable.

I have three acres, one in the garden (red) and two in tubs (one red, one green). They are about 15 years old and thriving although we nearly lost one (the green one) a few years back. I researched online when it started dying and found that the slow release fertiliser I had given it as a treat wasn’t good for it at all. I had to remove it from the pot and wash away all signs of the fertiliser before repotting. They don’t like fertiliser. I do the same as pamhill4, scraping the top layer of soil off each year and replace with new compost. Good luck with yours jeanie99.

I have looked at Acers on sale in the supermarkets just now. The lovely colour really is tempting. However don't know if they are the 'in' plant at the moment but they are on sale everywhere and seem so cheap which makes me think they have been force grown and will be delicate to grow. I may be wrong but I am resisting the temptation this year. Good luck with yours those.

I totally second Greyduster in the suggested John Innes number 3. Anything other than annuals should be in a long term soil solution and MG is just compost (peat based but that’s a separate environmental issue) with feed for 4-6 months added to it. So shrubs, trees etc need JI. As for your Acer, plant it in equal amounts of JI number 3 and ericaceous compost as it needs that. Then yearly scrape off the top few inches of soil and replace with some feed and more ericaceous compost. Good luck