Problems with Acer in a tub

Interestingly this afternoon I walked past a street of beautiful gardens near my train station and three houses in a row had beautiful bushy acers, in the ground in un-sheltered and full sun positions, maddening isn’t it I’ve always got on with them but playing by the rules, but then some other folk are just lucky I guess!

I haven't been able to keep lupins, delphiniums, hollyhocks, helenium, heucheras, daisies you name it, it dislikes this garden. Even indestructible penstemons are looking sad.
Yes, we've conditioned the soil, added nutrients, manure etc.

I've given up on acers! I've tried growing them in containers, directly in the ground, in sun, in shade, in dappled shade, out of the wind, in the open. Every single one has shrivelled up and died. I have the same results with lupins. I'm beginning to think it's personal!

We have a very beautiful Acer in the garden 4 metres high,
It was planted in a wooden pot 32 years ago by SILs Mother and just left to get on with it. I have lived here for 9 years now and am still battling with the plants.
At first when I pruned the roses SIL was hysterical, shouting and yelling. Then when they flowered properly for the first time in years he realised I was not going to kill anything,(well not obviously anyway).
Now he buys me nice tools etc and appreciates the work I have done.

Purple acers do like the sun, it’s the green leaved ones that prefer shade. They really don’t like the wind though, so they need a sheltered, sunny spot. I’ve got quite a large one in a pot, which is very healthy, over 20 years old, I water it with the hose pipe all summer, but only twice a week, until the water runs out of the bottom of the pot. It’s in ericaceous compost, and every two or three years I tip it out, and just refresh the compost I can scrape off, it seems to be happy.

Are you feeding your container plants? They need regular supplements as they use all the goodness in the pot very quickly and can't spread out their roots as they would in the ground.

Acers and similar acid loving plants prefer rainwater as opposed to tap water.
Yes, we water some of our acid loving plants with rainwater from the water butt.

I really want an acer now!

Acers and similar acid loving plants prefer rainwater as opposed to tap water. I used miracle grow granules on an old rooted Xmas tree and its growing new shoots. Plants can be precious indeed.....

Agree with nanna8. Watering is crucial, assuming you are using the correct mix in your pots and have good drainage then water, water, water. They are very thirsty but hate being in any way waterlogged.

We lost our beautiful rhododendron a couple of years back after 20 + years because we were away during some hot weather and it didn’t get watered. It was a big one, about 8 foot tall , and I do miss it so much. Pinky purple flowers.

Purple acers do not do well in sun as they do tend to shrivel up and die. I doubt it's the pot, assuming it's a good size. I currently have several acers in pots and have found them to do better in shady areas, at best dappled shade but also full shade. I have been experimenting by moving them around the garden to find the best place before planting in the ground.

What is the tub made from and does it have drainage holes? I prefer unglazed terracotta pots with drainage holes.

I bought a lovely glazed Heritage pot for a rhododendron (which also like acid soil) but it ended up looking very sickly and I found the soil had become far too compacted halfway down. It wasn't draining properly although I used a mix of potting and ericaceous compost.

We transferred it into a garden bed (rather risky as our soil is clay), enriched the soil first and so far ? it's doing well.

Same has happened to me, tried growing Acers in large pots, followed all the advice and they never seem to last long. I have decided to admire them in others gardens and enjoy the things I can grow.

They need repotting every few years, usually in the spring. The roots are shallow and can dry out very quickly so maybe that is the problem. They need good drainage at the same time as they don’t like being waterlogged either. It has been very hot and drying. A feed in the spring is also good.

I am interested in answers here as I have had the same problem - in and out of pots. Have given up now, but would love to have acers. Strangely I have a snake bark maple which is an acer and is doing really well.

Next door always seems to grow acers in pots very successfully. The pots are huge though, and east facing.

Also my name is a misnomer, I’m not a professional gardener, just an enthusiastic amateur!

What is the tub made from and does it have drainage holes? I prefer unglazed terracotta pots with drainage holes. For a soil mix try Compost, equal-part mix of ericaceous compot and John Inners No.3.

Acer’s prefer dappled sun and a sheltered spot. Could be either wind burn or sun causing the leaves to crisp up and drop. Could you take a photo of it’s position?

Not sure but wondering if being in pot is restricting its need to spread its roots further?