Many varieties of Japanese maple grow very slowly and only grow five to six centimeters per year. These Japanese maples, which tend to remain small, are ideal for growing in containers as long as you care for the distinctive trees properly. Japanese Japanese maple with its delicate leaves is particularly suitable for this purpose.
How do you care for a Japanese maple in a pot?
To successfully cultivate a Japanese maple in a container, you need a sufficiently deep and wide planter, a suitable location, good drainage, regular watering, fertilization and minimal pruning. Protect potted maples from frost in winter to prevent their roots from freezing.
Choosing the planter
Of course, in order for the Japanese maple to feel comfortable, it needs the right planter. Make sure you choose not only a sufficiently deep one, but also a wide one. As a shallow-rooted tree, the roots of the Japanese maple do not extend particularly deep, but rather grow broadly. It also makes sense to choose a pot made of natural material (e.g. clay), as excess moisture can escape better from it. Waterlogging quickly forms in plastic containers.
The right location
The same applies to potted maples: They need a location that suits them. Whether it is in direct sun or in light partial shade depends on the needs of the selected variety. In any case, the Japanese maple feels comfortable in a warm place protected from the wind, although you can always quickly move plants kept in pots.
Ensure good drainage
Although the Japanese maple needs a lot of water, it absolutely cannot tolerate waterlogging. Therefore, you should definitely pay attention to very good drainage when planting:
- Choose a planter with a drainage hole at the bottom.
- Do not place this directly on a coaster.
- Cover the hole with some pottery shards to avoid muddying.
- As the bottom layer, fill in several centimeters of expanded clay or similar.
- This is followed by a loose substrate mixed with clay granules.
Take care of pot maple optimally
Naturally, a Japanese maple cultivated in a pot requires more care than a planted specimen. Pay particular attention to the following points:
- Water regularly.
- Carry out a finger test beforehand: the surface of the substrate should be dry.
- Water in the morning and evening on hot summer days.
- Fertilize every four weeks with a liquid fertilizer (€9.00 on Amazon) (e.g. maple fertilizer).
- Fertilization period between April and August
- If possible, avoid cutting maple in late autumn/winter
- Cut as little as possible.
Tip
Although the Japanese maple is hardy even in our latitudes, specimens kept in pots should be protected from frost - otherwise the roots could freeze.
