HI , WE HAVE JUST ENDURED A VERY HOT SUMMER, SOME DAYS XCEEDING 39C , HOWEVER MY YOUNG ACER GRISEUM AFTER NEARLY COMPLETELY DEFOLIATING DUE INSECT INFESTATION AND THE HEAT , I GAVE LOTS OF WATER AND THE PALNT , (APPRX 12INS) , RE-GENERATED WITH NEW LEAF ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS LATER!! HOWVER , AS SOON AS THIS NEW GROWTH APPEARED , IT WAS OVERCOME BY A BLACK SUBSTANCE WHICH COMPLETELY KILLED ALL THE NEW TIP GROWTH? THE PLANT STILL APPEARS TO BE ALIVE ETC , BUT WHAT IS THIS THING CAUSING NEW GROWTH FROM THE TIPS TO BLACKEN N WITHER AND OF COURSE DIE??? YOU COULD RUB THE BLACKENED TIPS WITHIN YOUR FINGERTIPS ONLY TO REVEAL THE PREVIOUS GROWTH TIP ? PLZ. CAN ANYBODY HELP HERE BEFORE THE AUTUMN (fall) SETS IN? THANKYOU , WAYNE
Hi Wayne, I can't really guess the cause of what you describe. But if you could post a photo I might have a better idea, or someone else might be able to chime in. -E
With newly planted specimens you don't want to do anything like summer fertilization or heavy watering that stimulates lush top growth that will be present and still tender during hot periods as such growth is more likely to be lost should a watering be missed or the heat become too much for the plant, despite roots being moist. Is your climate, soil and irrigation water suitable for this species? Blackening could be a mineral toxicity or perhaps just due to weather conditions.
hi thx for yr msg , we have a fairly warm-hot summer , though winter has frosts.luckily of late , things have cooled down somewhat , but my poor plant at presnt is now *leafless*. I just pray it re shoots new growth!! Have given water , though not xcessive by any means , i mean seriously what does one do when the temp xceeds 35c , roots must be kept cool.....the plant grew new foliage then very quickly it started to *blacken* , in fact eventually you cud rub the growing tips between yr fingers and the *blackened* dry leaf literally disintergrated into nothing? Very strange , as i have never had this happen to any of my other maple species! Wud really love to find out the problem , but i guess it will be trial n error unless someone else has experienced this exact same problem. Cheers once again wayne.................
>i mean seriously what does one do when the temp xceeds 35c , roots must be kept cool< Mulch with wood chips, place rocks near the roots, plant low dense plants around the base...if climate too intense even the shade of tall trees may not be adequate, for instance except for heat adapted evergreen azaleas rhododendrons are not possible in the Deep South of the US no matter how much shade they get.
hi ron , thx for taking the time to reply regarding my problem..will def take o/b what you have said , cheers , wayne
