Japanese Maples are one of the best plants suited to container growing. You have an almost limitless assortment of colors, sizes, texture and form. Although the basic care is the same as that of a Japanese Maple planted in your landscape, there are a few basic care requirements to assure you of many years of enjoyment.
Your maple should be planted in a container no larger than twice the size of your root system.
We have potted our maple in a perfect soil mix to assure nutrient retention, proper drainage (EXTREMELY IMPORTANT), and giving the roots the ability to penetrate and grow as needed.
Your Japanese maple does not require fertilization in your initial year after coming from the nursery; after that a twice a season application of a granular slow-release organic fertilizer is all that is necessary.
Water once a week, twice during extreme heat. Never allow roots to remain saturated!
It should be placed in a location away from heavy winds and hot afternoon sun.
The beauty of a container maple is the ability to place it in a prominent spot for special occasions, then returned to its ideal location.
The final important requirement of a container grown Japanese Maple is overwintering. Allow your plant to be subject to a couple of heavy frosts, and to drop its foliage. Then relocate to an unheated garage or basement that is cool but not freezing. Reduce watering to once or twice a month, just enough to prevent drying out. Your plant is not growing at this point…again, never saturate the soil!
As your Japanese Maple outgrows its container, it can be removed and replanted in a larger pot or planted in a proper location in your landscape for many years of enjoyment!
