I just purchased my first jm, i will post some pics later tonight, the soil i planted it in was regular potting soil, some smaller rocks and clay pellets at the bottom to ensure drainage. On top of the soil i have sphagnum moss to help retain moisture in the soil. I planted it last weekend, and checked the soil on lunch today and discovered it was soaking wet from when i watered it yesterday. It seems to drain water from the holes on the bottom when watered WHAT TYOE OF SOIL DO YOU HAVE YOUR J. MAPLE IN?
Rocks etc. in the bottom of a pot retard drainage, by causing an abrupt change in texture which draining water backs up behind. Only when field capacity (saturation) is reached does the water then push through. The only time a drainage layer produces an improvement is when the container is a large planter, with long horizontal distances without drainage holes. Rocks in the bottom can help move the water sideways and out of the holes.
thanks for your point of view but i dont agree with that statement i have the lose medium in the bottom of the pot to aid in drainage, water will follow the laws of gravity and drain through the rocks, as it has been. can you explain how a change in texture effects water flow? it doesn't make any sense.
Whether you agree or not your plant (you said you planted it, but it now seems to be in a pot) is obviously not draining, and as it is it will die very quickly if you don't act immediately
Some people call it a perched water table. In your case it sounds like the best option is to wash the soil off the roots and start again. You can increase the drainage of your soil mix by adding course grit, gravel (not sand), pine bark and perlite etc throughout the whole mix, not just at the bottom. If the holes in the bottom of the planter are large you will need to cover them with broken terracotta or flat stones to help prevent too much soil being washed out, but that is the only extra you need at the bottom.
alright i will do as you say, i will repot the jm today and let you know what happens thank you both for the info.
Why no sand? i know i have read that sand improves drainage? is this wrong? i have a lot of plants that i mixed sand into the soil to help drainage, the biggest problem i have with pure soil is the compaction that occurs after watering the plant what about using sphagnum moss in the mix? would that work
Here is an article on potting soil for container gardening that deserves a read. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg0420085231701.html
Very informative article, thanks for sharing, And for the two guys that I was arguing with, sorry, you’re right.
That tree won't last long in those conditions..JM'S hate wet feet! I use Western fir bark and perlite and alittle lime.