Wintering Maples

tazzer

Lst summer, i was given the opportunity to collect some japanses red maples from a neighbors yard. These people bought the house three years ago but never moved in and so the yard was wild. I got three maples that were about three feet high with trunks about as thick as my pinky finger ( so inch to inch in a half in diameter).

They survived the collecting fine and are now i my parents heated, but completely ninsulated glass porch. Its a old house with radiators and for some reason they put one in the porch. This keeps the porch from freezing at night, but doesnt keep it warm at all as it only goes on when the entire house needs to be heated and only stays on until the thermostat inside the dining rooms gets to 65.

So, i though this would be a good place to winter them. As a side note, with the weather here in philadelphia near 60 today and in the 50s for the last month starting to wonder if we will ever get winter. Luckily, none of them have shown signs of budding yet.

So, to my question - Do dormant maples have to be watered? I have been watering them about once every week and a half (when soil gets completely dry) as I figured trees outside do get some water during the winter and that it coundn't be good for the roots to dry out for three months.

Should I be watering them? Should I water them less or more often? Is it bad to let dormant maples completely dry out between waterings?

I realize that I should have asked this about two months ago , but hopefully its not to late.

Thanks

Tazzer

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Cathie

In zone 6b, they should be outside forever, and watered much less often if they're without leaves. You shouldn't water if the soil freezes either, and only do it when it's warm enough to start drying out the soil. Snow is fine though.

tazzer

I brought them in as they are only in half gallon pots now and we do usually get a month or so where temps are below freezing every night and it will stay below freezing for several days at a time. multiple days below freezing doesnt happen often but figured better safe then sorry.

I'll move them out again this weekend - My parents will be thrilled!!!!!

Thanks!!!