Japanese Maples are Great in Containers
One of the most common questions we are asked is: “Can I grow Japanese Maples in a pot?”
The short answer is, “Yes.” But who wants the short answer?
Japanese maples like excellent drainage, and do very well in containers, whether that is a bonsai pot, a terracotta flowerpot, or a large planter or raised bed. The biggest caveat being that you will need to be extra attentive when it comes to watering, especially in the summer months. A bigger pot is not necessarily better. A good analogy is to think about buying shoes for growing kids: you want to go up one size at a time — maybe two sizes at most. If the pot is too large, the roots cannot drink up the water quickly enough, and the soil can stay too wet. Soggy soil can lead to fungal disease and root rot.
A good plan would be to promote your tree to a larger pot every 2-3 years. You can pull the root system out of the pot and quickly determine if the roots have filled the container. If they have, it is time to go up a size. If not, you can just slip the tree back in the container and make a note to check it again next spring. Trees in pots will need to be watered at least twice a week and possibly more in summer, depending on the size of the tree, the shape and type of container, and the amount of sun in the location.
Japanese maples work very well in containers, and the containers can provide great flexibility for growing trees on porches, patios, or in small gardens. Metro Maples has a few thousand Japanese maples, and will be happy to help you find the one that best meets your needs.
METRO MAPLES
4890 DICK PRICE ROAD, FORT WORTH, TX 76140
