I have 25 Japanese maples in containers. They start out looking really good when they leaf out in the spring, but by summer they are green. I have tried everything, more sun, less sun, more water/fertilizer, less ect. Do you think it is my zone and weather. I'm in zone 7b Georgia north of Atlanta. They are all heathly and grow well just don't show good colors like I see in other pictures. Is there anything I can do to help this? The only other thing I can think of is maybe the roots are getting to hot in the summer and bronzing them out. Thanks Justin
I have a large collection in the Auburn, AL area and would consider climate similiar. Most of mine are in pots and all bronze out by midsummer. Even variegated maples lose the majority of their variegation by midsummer, the reds turn largely green, and the lighter colored maples turn darker green. If healthy, you are doing a good job as keeping them alive and in good health in pots can be a challenge anywhere. I can give you some suggestions on those that do best in my area for keeping color in pots and they are as follows: Pixie, Emperor I, Peaches and Cream, Butterfly, Okukuji nishiki, Orange Dream, Red Dragon, Sherwood Elfin and Nuresagi to name a few. Also, those pictures you are referring to are likely only spring and fall pictures for which japanese maples are known for. Again if they are healthy, growing year to year, and not showing obvious signs of stress, your are doing a good job and enjoy at least 3, if not 4, seasons of changes with your collection. Justin
thanks! Mine look normal in the spring in fall, I guess I'm trying to compare them to the ones in the pacific northwest which is totally different climate.
