Anyone know anything about acers?

elsien

I'm about to add one to my list for Santa, but there's that many it's a bit hard to narrow it down.
I'm looking for something either compact or slow growing that will be happy in a large container, more of a weeping rather than upright habit and one of the red ones. I really like acer garnet, because I think the leaves are lovely, (I like the feathery rather than the larger leaves) but am not sure whether this would be happy in a container. Also wondering about red dragon, although I've only seen this in a picture, not in real life.
Any suggestions welcomed.

theoretica

I have seen lots of different maples as bonsai so assume they can cope with a large pot.

safestored4

I 've never had any trouble growing Acers in containers. For the best advice and a really large selection of varieties to choose from just Google in 'How to grow acers in containers'. The first site listed will be from the RHS - Japanese Maples. Follow their advice and you are home and dry.

Badrick

We've 4 different varieties growing happily in separate containers.
They prefer a sheltered position in dappled shade, especially the darker leaved ones, as the leaves can scorch in full sun.
More about growing Acers in containers on RHS website.

Mayflower10cat

I've had more success with Acers in pots than in the ground! At least you can move the pot around until you find the perfect spot. They are like beautiful Divas, gorgeous but fussy. Hate being overwatered and I've also lost a few to vine weevil. But most of all they detest windy or drafty places - they suffer from die-back when they get scorched by hot sun or strong wind. This year I'm going to wrap some fleece around my remaining Acer just for some extra protection.

Chris25

I've had an acer (red, feathery fronds, not sure what it's called) in a pot for 19 years - just repotted it last year for the second time only. As Mayflower says, they can easily scorch and they suffer in strong winds too.

cyclonebri1

Ok, the one I think you need is (sp) acer purpureum dissectum.

This is the lovely purple feather leaves acer, glorious a couple of weeks ago as it dropped it's crimson leaves, and so Japanese for the rest of the year.

I have about 8 varieties, all but two purple, APD is the best in my book.

My big 1 is about 12 years old, spent it's 1st 8 years in a very big salt glazed Ali Baba pot.
The pot eventually succumed to frost, the plant roots burst out and it needed a massive crater digging in the garden to house it.

All was great but the heavy snows of 3 years ago broke away the main trunk.

We bandaged and managed to save the tree totally intact. It is now 6ft high and about 8 ft across and shades our pond. Best tree/plant in the garden.


PS, B&Q were flogging these off a few weeks ago locally for £3.49 each, I bought 2 more:D:D:D

[Deleted User]

I have a very beautiful acer

http://www.spaldingbulb.co.uk/product/japanese-maple-dissectum-garnet-/p_JM/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=merchantcenter&utm_campaign=googlemerchantcenter&channel_code=735&product_code=66399197&gclid=CLP0is-4-7oCFUkCwwodcSkAug

in an equally lovely pot

http://shop.erringtonreay.co.uk/salt-glazed-pottery/salt-glazed-shallow-plain-pot/shallow-plain-pot-xl

I planted the acer in ericaceous compost 11 years ago and have re-potted once. The compost is topped with gravel. The tree has remained the right size for the pot and the combination is gorgeous. It is so easy care

cyclonebri1

kittie wrote: »

I have a very beautiful acer

http://www.spaldingbulb.co.uk/product/japanese-maple-dissectum-garnet-/p_JM/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=merchantcenter&utm_campaign=googlemerchantcenter&channel_code=735&product_code=66399197&gclid=CLP0is-4-7oCFUkCwwodcSkAug

in an equally lovely pot

http://shop.erringtonreay.co.uk/salt-glazed-pottery/salt-glazed-shallow-plain-pot/shallow-plain-pot-xl

I planted the acer in ericaceous compost 11 years ago and have re-potted once. The compost is topped with gravel. The tree has remained the right size for the pot and the combination is gorgeous. It is so easy care

Just to comment alongside this, as the variety I mentioned above is very similar and the timescale is too.

The big difference is that although I too used a salt glazed pot, the 1 I used was at least 3 times the volume of this 1 and the roots burst the pot a few years ago:D

Once in the open it has doubled in size over the last 3 years.
I'm only stating this as it shows the effect of either keeping the tree under fairly tight control as per Kittie, or giving it a little more legroom as I did, which does allow a more powerful root system to develope, 1 capable of letting itself out of it's restraint:D:D

It's down to what the grower wants from his/her tree;)

[Deleted User]

yes cyclone correct, mine is a feature standing on a gravel terrace. I don`t give it lots of feeding and water sometimes. No tlc but is is a lovely thing