Taking care of Japanese maple bonsai is easy. It shouldn’t be difficult to grow a healthy bonsai if you know its sunlight, watering, pruning, and fertilization needs. Continue reading Japanese maple bonsai care.
However, some bonsai growers (especially beginners) end up with a Japanese maple that becomes weak and wonder “why is my Japanese maple bonsai dying?“. Usually, it is the over-cared for bonsai trees that eventually become unhealthy in those cases. Furthermore, poor bonsai seasonal care will lead to decline in the health of the bonsai tree. Continue reading seasonal care of bonsai tree.
It is worth mentioning that on some instances, Japanese maple trees might drop their leaves in the fall season itself (before entering the winter season). Do not assume that the tree is sick or diseased. This will happen sometimes after the tree displays its fall color. It is a deciduous tree and leaf drop may sometimes occur early.
A stressed Japanese maple bonsai tree will exhibit weak foliage and dropping leaves as its first signs of stress. Another sign of stress is that the tree will not push new growth. You will see leaves on the tree but there is no extension of shoots.
Following are some reasons why your Japanese maple bonsai is dying:
- Over-watering
- Poor drainage
- Soggy soil
- Not keeping track of the rain
- Underwatering
- Over fertilization
- Late frost
- Pot-bound roots
- Too much organic substrate in the bonsai soil
- Growing Japanese maple bonsai indoors
- Diseases
- Pests
- Poor Ventilation
Lets look at all these factors in detail. Also, check out How do you revive a Japanese maple bonsai tree?
Overwatering
These trees require regular watering, but it’s essential not to overwater them. Unlike some bonsai trees that need consistent moist soil, these trees prefer the soil to dry out before being watered again. Consistent moist soil will not let the healthy growth of the roots (as these trees prefer roots getting dry to expand). Please read how to water a Japanese maple bonsai to know the right method of watering.
Poor drainage
Ensuring that there is ample drainage in the pot should be one of the primary factors for these trees. There are other bonsai trees that are benefited by a water tray under the bonsai pot, however for Japanese maple bonsai trees, this water tray may prove to be more harmful than beneficial. Hence, do not put a water tray below the pot.
Soggy soil
Poor drainage will lead to waterlogged soil. This will cause root rot. If not taken care of immediately, root rot can do heavy damage to the tree and even kill it.
Not keeping track of the rain
Japanese maple bonsai trees are outdoor bonsai trees. They will be exposed to rain water also. Hence, making sure that the tree is not watered after it has rained is essential. Some bonsai growers forget to keep track of the rain and stick to a fixed routine of watering the bonsai. In turn, this leads to over watering problems. Continue reading Outdoor bonsai tree care.
Under watering
The tree will also show signs of stress and drop its leaves if not supplied with enough water. You will notice this especially during the summer months. Hence, making sure that you water your bonsai consistently in the summer is very crucial. For the second flush of growth, the tree will produce new buds. If not watered appropriately at this time, the tree will drop its leaves.
Over fertilization
Along with poor watering technique, over fertilizing your Japanese maple tree is also one of the primary reasons for decline of its health. Trees are subjected to a great deal of stress as a result.
Some bonsai growers apply a lot of fertilizers (especially with high amounts of nitrogen) to their trees for rapid growth. You may be able to get away with this practice in warmer climates. However, in colder climates such as zone 5 and zone 6, the tree will not be cold hardy.
Over-fertilization leads to elongated cells and thin cell walls. This makes the tree less resilient to the elements. Over fertilizing will also burn the roots.
Take the plant out of the pot and wash the roots immediately if you have over fertilized the tree. Continue reading How to fertilize a Japanese maple bonsai tree. Pruning the tree for rapid growth is always a better option than over-fertilizing it. Continue reading How to prune a Japanese maple bonsai.
Late frost
If you live in a colder climate, you will encounter late frost. The tree will get damaged by this. Do not panic. These trees recover from such damage fairly qucikly. Just make sure that you water the tree (and also add a mild liquid fertilizer) as soon as the frost is over. This will help in faster recovery of the tree. Continue reading Japanese maple bonsai winter care.
Pot-bound roots
This is probably one of the most common causes of decline of the bonsai tree. When the roots of the tree are pot bound, there will be less space for soil, water and nutrients in the pot. As a result, the roots will not get enough water and nutrients to grow and support the growth of the plant. This will also lead to leaf drop or stunted growth.
Keep checking the roots and repot the tree at the right time.
Japanese maple bonsai can be repotted in early spring and also in the winter. Some bonsai grower recommend repotting this bonsai in dormant season (winter) as the tree suffers from less stress at this time of the year. However, a healthy tree can withstand the stress or repotting in the early spring as well. Continue reading How to repot a bonsai tree.
Too much organic substrate in the bonsai soil
Too much organic matter in the soil is also not recommended for Japanese maple. This is especially true for young bonsai trees. This type of soil will hold a lot of water and prevent the healthy growth of the tree. Continue reading How to care for Japanese maple bonsai seedlings.
Also read Japanese maple bonsai care guide. There you can find all the bonsai soil recipes for Japanese maple bonsai.
Growing Japanese maple bonsai indoors
This tree is not meant to be grown indoors. However, some bonsai growers try to grow this tree indoors by placing it in a bright window. If sunlight is taken care of, this tree won’t die but it will be in leaf for a longer period of time. These trees need a dormant resting season or else the new spring growth will be weak and have an unsightly burnt look.
Diseases
Diseases can also be one of the reasons why the tree is dying. However, it is worth nothing that plant damage does not necessarily mean that the plant has disease. For example, frost damage may look like a fungal disease such as Verticillium wilt dieback. Make sure that you have positively identified the disease before applying any remedy. Continue reading How to identify and treat bonsai pests and diseases.
For instance, dark spots on the trunk or branches of the tree can be a sign that the wood underneath the bark is dying. This could be a result of verticilliosis. However, this can also be a result of soggy and waterlogged roots. Hence to determine the exact cause of the problem, cut the affected branch and look for dark rings inside. If the rings are not present, it is most likely that the problem is wet roots and not verticilliosis.
Too much wet soil can also cause Pseudomonas Syringae. Light fungal diseases or powdery mildew will not kill the plant.
Pests
Caterpillars, rodents, red spider mites, leaf hoppers or even deer or rabbits (if you live in such area) can damage the tree and drop the leaves of the tree.
Caterpillars will eat the leaves. A sign of damage caused by rodents is that some parts of a branch have damaged or no bark. Spider mites will not lead to dropping of the leaves but it will make the leaves unsightly.
Please read how to keep your bonsai free from pests and diseases.
Poor ventilation
Make sure that the bonsai tree is kept at a location with good air flow. Lack of air flow will lead to weak and burnt foliage.
