Sick desjoho maple

danno_mills

i purchased a deshojo maple bonsai last winter and this spring it sprung into life plenty of budding and then the leaves started to open..then the trouble started. the tree is about 20 yrs old and was repotted last year by previous owner, the potting mix seems rather gritty to me

the leaves have shrivelled and died back, now there is no leaves at all...

the tree was watered when needed always kept moist and never allowed to dry out... and positioned in semi shade along with 3 other maples of mine which are doing very well...

what has happened and has the tree died? if i scrap the bark back on the trunk the colour is light brown, should this be green?

i will try and get a pic up...

im based in england and were just coming into summer over here, ive treated it the same as my other maples and they are doing very well...

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Aaron_K

Hi Danno,

Welcome to the forum. Firstly, take a few minutes to fill out your User CP with location and other information for future reference. Now to the tree.

From the sounds of it, the tree may very well be dead. The cambium layer should indeed be green. If there is no green under the bark of branches, try at various points along the trunk. If there is no green at all, then you have a dead tree.

As to the cause? How long had the tree looked sick? Did the leaves yellow and drop or did they wilt and go brown and crispy? What is the soil mix and how often were you watering and feeding the tree? Were there any signs of insect infestation? Have you slipped the tree out of its pot and inspected the roots for signs of rot or insects? Does the root mass smell of sulphur or have an eggy aroma?

If you can post a few pictures of the tree, particularly the soil, it would be helpful.

All the best,

Aaron

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