Japanese maple can be grown wonderfully in a tub

Japanese maple can be grown wonderfully in a tub

Selection of the planter

In order for the Japanese maple to feel comfortable, it naturally needs the right planter. Make sure you choose not only a sufficiently deep one, but also a wide one. As a shallow root, the roots of the Japanese maple do not reach particularly deep, but rather grow in width. It also makes sense to choose a pot made of natural material (such as clay), as excess moisture can escape better from it. Waterlogging quickly forms in plastic tubs.

also read

  • Japanese maple is also hardy in the bucket
  • Japanese maple - the difficult choice of location
  • Japanese maple - location, plants, propagation

The right location

The same applies to bucket maples: they need a location that is comfortable for them. Whether this 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, and you can always move plants that are kept in pots quickly.

Ensure good drainage

The Japanese maple does need a lot of water, but does not tolerate waterlogging. Therefore, you should definitely pay attention to very good drainage when planting:

  • Choose a planter with a drain hole in the bottom.
  • Do not place this directly on a coaster.
  • Cover the hole with some potsherds to avoid silting up.
  • As the bottom layer, fill in several centimeters of expanded clay (€ 17.50 at Amazon *) or similar.
  • This is followed by a loose substrate mixed with clay granules.

Caring for the potted maple optimally

Naturally, a Japanese maple cultivated in a tub needs 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 mornings and evenings on hot summer days.
  • Fertilize every four weeks with a liquid fertilizer (e.g. maple fertilizer).
  • Fertilization period between April and August
  • Avoid pruning maple in late autumn / winter
  • Cut as little as possible.

Tips

Although the Japanese maple is hardy even in our latitudes, specimens kept in pots should be protected from frost - otherwise the roots could freeze to death.