Japanese Maple Brown Leaf Tips

jstpierre

I have a Japanese Maple that was rescued from an empty lot 2 years ago. *Over the past few months, the tips of most of the leaves have turned brown and dried up. *Even new leaves, about two weeks after opening, are affected. *Is this a nutrient deficiency? *There is no indication of pests. *I don't think its getting too much sun, as it spends all year on a South-facing window sill. *I guess it could be a disease, but its only the leaf tips. *Any help would be appreciated.

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Joao_Felipe

The symptoms you told may be a more evaporation of water from the leaves than the roots can provide for them. So the tips of the leaves are turning brown. You should check if the soil isn't totaly dry between your waterings or put the tree in a less sunny place.
Best regards,

João Felipe Kudo

TreeBay

Hi JST,

We need to ask if the tree is indoors or out and what season you're in. Maples do need a dormant period and this might be a typical late fall response.

Regards,

Matt

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jstpierre

The tree is indoors, and always has been. I live in an apartment and don't have any place to safely place bonsai outdoors. Also, Boston is now in late autumn, but the problem with the leaves started during the summer months. Being indoors, I would say that it only went semi-dormant last year, shedding its old leaves just before the new ones appeared in the spring, not fall.

The only place I might be able to winter the tree (for it to go dormant) is in the windowsill of my back stairway. Its been about 55 degrees lately (insulated, but not heated), and only gets indirect light because of the building next door and the north-eastern exposure. Would this be better than where I have it now (bedroom with southern exposure)? Would my Junipers like to winter in this location better, too?

TreeBay

The maple will need a period of true dormancy to remain healthy. You can artificially defoliate it, but the temperature needs to be colder to maintain dormancy. Maybe you can move it to the darker (cooler area) and build an insulated box that could be attached to the interior of your windowsill somehow.

The juniper will appreciate having as much light as you can provide it, so if it is doing well in the current location, that's fine.

Regards,

Matt

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jstpierre

So, since I want the leaves to fall off anyway, I shouldn't worry about the problem unless it reappears in the spring? I'll move it to the cooler spot and see how it does. I'm 99.9% sure it will never get cold enough to freeze. If defoliation is the goal anyway, I guess there will be enough light back there to keep the tree happy until spring.