I live in Pennsylvania, US and I just bought an Acer palmatum dissectum 'Red Dragon' this spring. It was B&B when purchased and planted and mulched in a part shade (a.m. sun) location on my property. A few weeks after planting the leaves started to turn green on the inside of the leaf near the stem and main vein, and the over all tree started to loose a lot of leaves. It has maintained this look until now, no new growth. Then a day ago I sprayed it with insecticide and 1/2 of the leaves curled up and look dead. I sprayed it in mid afternoon but the plant was in the shade at this point of the day so I didn't think scorching would be a problem. I can not find any good care tips on red dragons or much information for that matter. I really adore my red dragon and do not want to loose it, what can I do to save it? Please ADVISE!
Professional Help You are too far away for me to make a house call, besides that my background is based on limited stays at the Holiday Inn Express. I suggest that you call your county extension office and see if they can send someone who is familiar with Japanese Maples to look at yours. You could also contact a qualified arborist to evaluate your 'Red Dragon'.
I think you can help yourself more by joining the UBC forums and then posting some images of your Maple. Red Dragon is still a relatively new Maple in the US having been introduced here less than 20 years ago. Red Dragon's culture would be quite similar to most any other Atropurpureum dissectum such as Crimson Queen, Ever Red, Pendula Julian, Tamukeyama, etc... One thing to keep in mind is that Japanese Maples do not like insecticide sprays at all during the warmer parts of the year. Not many people know that yet. Only spray an insecticide when it is necessary to knock down an insect infestation that has gotten out of control. Red Dragon is not a clean Maple. The plant has some inherent problems that other Atropurpureum dissectum forms do not have as much to be wary of. One thing you cannot do is let this Maple stress much in a growing season as the plant can become so weakened that it will surely die like many Red Dragon's that I’ve seen have. Early on this Maple does grow strong either grown in a container or planted in the ground and then after about 6-12 years of relatively steady, vigorous growth the plant starts to slow way down as a grower. It is in that slow down stage that we have to be extra careful with this Maple stressing. Also, this Maple does not seem to like granulated fertilizer or time released Nitrogen applications during the Summer months. If this Maple is to be fertilized after late Spring to early Fall, use a liquid form of fertilizer instead. Half strength liquid doses seems to work best for this Maple during the warmer months. Water issues have always been the penultimate problem for us with B&B plants. Preliminary analysis without seeing your plant is that your Maple is not getting enough water. Start deep watering your Maple is your best short term recourse for the desiccation of the leaves. Jim
my dissectum When I bought a sekimori from a grower in N.Carolina, it went brown on me too. So I brought it to my garage and put it under a grow bulb, selectively trimmed a 1/3 of the branches, misted it everyday, and watered with B1 every week. Heat and CO was provided by my truck when I came home from work. After a while it started to shoot new growth, so I took it outside. Then my area got a cold spell, leaves started turning orange, which is OK, but that's another post. I'm assuming that prior to my handling, that tree grew in a sun-filter, temperature controlled greenhouse. I guess once I got my hands on it it went through all kinds of shock; sun, wind, new pot, etc... That's what happened to me... cesar
