advice on a Acer

Mine did this and died bit by bit.

If it's in a tub, perhaps it's not getting enough water, particularly this summer when there's been so little rain.
We have a horse chestnut in a tub on the patio that MrA grew from a conker and had on his office windowsill 25 years ago
We thought of planting it somewhere, possibly along the banks of the Tyne, but it's now too big to go in the car.
It gets quite sulky if it doesn't get about a gallon of waterr a day - drooping leaves, brown at edges etc.
But I haven't succeeded in killing it yet

Acers need to be grown in ericaceous compost. Don't let the soil dry out and try to keep it in dappled shade during very hot weather.

I hav e four in pots and one is doing just that. Very poorly and I think it's turning up its clogs . They were free from the Times but have been very pretty over the years.

They are not easy to grow and they MUST HAVE acid soil and NO limey water! Or they will yellow and turn up their toes. If you have not got ideal conditions it's best to not plant them they are quite expensive.

Try feeding it with Sequestrene which is a tonic for acid loving plants.

How stupid am I ? I never looked at "Gardening" topic and thought it was a discussion about my Acer PC,time for bed I think

I didn't realise it needed ericaceous compost, I'll replant it tomorrow.
Watering though I do water about once a week but it is in a very sunny position so I guess I should move it or water more regularly.

Last two years it was so beautiful.

Thanks so much to everyone.

I have quite a few Acers, started off in pots until they are good to a good size then planted in the garden, never used ericaceous compost & my soil is not acid, have some lovely ones, never had any problems, maybe it's because I neglect them I just let them get on with it, one I am looking at now through my window is called Flamingo it had green, white & pink leaves on, planted it in the garden for the first time this year & it's doing well

Glamma I have done that sort of thing.

Jeaanie If you are watering it with tap water, is the water "hard" and does it fur up the kettle quickly? That depends on where do you live but that will make a big difference as well as the compost.

Saw the title and thought somebody wanted computer advice! I think Acer is a brand of laptop. I agree with the advice given, must have ericaceous compost and rain water only.

Ours had woolly aphid that makes leaves turn brown and sad. It is much happier now it has had its roots in soil in a shady spot. They like shade and damp.
Please don't plant a possibly diseased plant on the banks of the Tyne.

Swindrift . I love acers and we grew one successfully and neglectfully at our last home on clay / sandy soil. I've tried three different ones on three different places in our present garden which has slightly acidic soil. The best lasted two years before curling up it's toes last summer. I don't really have a place for one in a pot so have now thrown in the towel. I give up!

My acer is about 5 years old, currently in a large tub in a shady sheltered position and seems to be doing well at the moment. I do water it regularly with tap or rainwater from the butt. I have a feeling it was a reject from B&Q and cheap. I very rarely buy plants at full price.

jane I have a small horse chestnut tree which DGD grew it from a conker, whilst it is only tiny at the moment I was wondering how we were going to cope with it as it grows (only a small garden). Nice to know that yours is doing well in a tub 25 years on.

I have replanted my Acer in the ericacious soil watered it well and put it in a shady spot so fingers crossed. I noticed also that some of the leaves are turning green from purple. As this happened to anyone else.

Jeanie it's reverting to it's original species colour, usually when this happens the advice is trim the offending branch back but of course it depends how big the tree is, could only have one branch

Read the title and thought you were talking about a laptop!

Is it a Japanese Maple you are talking about?
It is a myth that they have to be in ericaceous soil, it also depends on the variety.
They hate their feet being wet so ensure good drainage, mix your compost with some horticultural grit.
Some varieties will tolerate full sun others will scorch,they don't like windy conditions either.
Do some homework on the one you have.
Hope that helps.

I have a lovely green feathered Japanese Maple, turning to a lovely red in the autumn. (Can't remember it's official name). It's been in ordinary potting compost - well drained - for the past 5 years. - in the same pot. I put it away in the barn after it's lost it's leaves and leave it dormant. In the spring I put it back outside the kitchen door, feed it once a week for the first month, and then just keep it reasonably well watered.
It's remarkably tolerant of this care.

Acid-loving plants like a dose of cold tea, so don't empty the teapot (if you use one) down the drain! It crossed my mind that your acer might be asking for its freedom from its pot. Do you have enough space in your garden?

I wonder if it is like ferns - the more feathery the fronds the more they need damp and shady conditions?

I'm reviving this thread because we just got back from holiday and found our pretty acer has shed nearly all it's leaves. It does look rather sad. We left it in a shady spot out of direct sunshine, but it has rained a fair bit while we were away so it hadn't dried out. It's still in a pot- I wanted to wait till it grew a bit more and planned to plant it outside next Spring.
But my dh said 'well its Autumn isn't it- it's what trees do!!'
I was just about to post on here when I found this thread. I don't usually do much gardening, only the low maintenance kind.
But I do hope my acer survives.

Once the Acer's leaves turn, they don't stay there long, especially if there is a high wind. I have a small weeping one (not potted) which is now absolutely flaming. If the wind gets up, it will suddenly be quite bare. Sadly.