Repotting My Japanese Maple- Sango Kaku

Yesterday, early evening, I repotted my Japanese maple, sango kaku. It's been in its pot for over a year & it's been doing really well & doubled in size. I decided to repot it into a bigger pot this autumn/winter to support its beautiful growth.

I purchased a lovely glazed pot with 3 drainage holes. I always make sure there are 3 drainage holes for my maples because they need good drainage. I bought pot feet to aid with drainage as well.

I also purchased premium potting mix, some perlite & some pretty stones to use as mulch- and for prettiness of course!

First step, remove the maple from it's small pot. Seemed easy but it actually took quite a bit of effort! It wasn't round bound as such, but it had a beautiful big root ball that I had to squeeze out of the opening.

It was pretty stuck for a while there.

Finally got it out!

Next I added some potting mix & some perlite, plus some slow release fertiliser & mixed it all together at the bottom of the pot. Perlite adds lightness to the potting mix which helps with drainage, as well as all the other little drainage improving tricks I mentioned above. It's very important to get good drainage for the tree's health.

Here I am adding the potting mix. I chose this potting mix because it's high quality & because it has water saver crystals already added to it, so I didn't have to buy them separately. It's good to have them in there so the tree doesn't dry out if your slightly slack with watering.

Adding Perlite. I'm wearing my new floral gloves!

Some slow realise fertiliser. Little helper learning.

 

I added enough potting mix to raise the tree to the right level in the pot. Little helper mixed the soil, perlite & fertiliser through evenly.

In the pot it went.

Then I filled the pot up with perlite, soil & fertiliser mix once again.

I watered the maple in well & then it got dark & cold, so on to the next morning.

Out I went to sweep up the dirt & leaves & add the pretty stones to the top of the pot

Little helper started out by adding them one by one. Too cute right?

 

Eventually, we go them all on.

 

Sango kaku in its beautiful new pot.

 

 

From little helper & I,

Have a great week,

Bel

Operation: Improve My Balcony!

I have 2 balconies & one of them needs a bit of help.

Siamese cat used to be an inside cat & is now an outside cat, so he no longer uses his cat enclosure. It was taking up heaps of room on the balcony so we sold it.

We were also in desperate need of a new dining table & chairs (now we have 4 people eating at the table rather than 2 like back in the day!) So I decided to use our old, tiny wooden table & chair set as an outside sitting area, to sip coffee in the sun & so forth.

I also wanted my two Japanese maples to be on the same balcony for hot wind protection & so I could adore them all at once. I really do love them!

Here are the before photos.

 

And now after, after some heavy lifting & selling & rearranging.

Much prettier now right? I let Siamese cat keep his scratching post. I think it looks cool on the balcony & he loves to sit in the sun right at the top.

I plan on improving it further throughout spring. I have tulip & daffodil bulbs chilling in my fridge. I want to find some pretty wrought iron planters to plant them in. I've also bought a Golden Bunny rose. Always wanted one & bought one at Big W for $6.95. Score!

Here's a pic of a gorgeous Gold Bunny rose (photo from rossroses.com.au)

A few other pretty little photos of mine. Got some lovely floral gloves & a pretty wind chime for mother's day from the kids. So gorgeous.

 

I also have another Japanese maple coming for mothers day some time this week. Very exciting! I'm using the red pot from my sango kaku for my new maple & I'll buy a bigger pot for sango kaku & repot it some time this week or next.

My flower gloves. Love them.

Inaba shidare in dormancy. Poor thing lost all it's leaves early. It will have a great spring, I just know it!

My husband bought me this pretty little stone plaque on our beach holiday, summer that just passed. He thought I'd like it. I love that he knows I'd love something a bit sweet like this. And I do love it!! It always makes me smile when I read it.

A few photos of my sango kaku maple & my fuchsia again. I can't help myself.

It's losing all it's leaves now.

Fuchsia still flowering.

Hope you enjoyed my balcony renovation.

Until next time readers,

Bel

Autumn, Lovely Autumn

I can't stop taking photos of my japanese maple, sango kaku. I can hardly believe how big & beautiful it has grown in its smallish pot. It's leaves are starting to fall, so I'm taking in every moment of its beautiful golden show.

 

 

 

Little helper giving it a water.

 

Some fallen leaves.

I love it's leaves so much, I put some in the middle of my dining table.

Thanks for reading,

Bel

Final Fuchsia Flourish

Here are some photos of the final burst of flowers from one of my fuchsia. Everything else Has stopped flowering, but this plant just power flowered all of a sudden!

It's been great looking out at all the beautiful flowers in this cold, over cast & rainy Melbourne weather.

 

 

One featuring Siamese cat's head.

 

I love fuschia!

Be well & happy,

Bel

A Sick Little Tree

One of the worst things that could possibly happen to my little garden has happened. Something is wrong with my inaba shidare Japanese maple. I am so sad.

I have decided one of 3 things is wrong with it. 1- when I sprayed it with soapy water to kill the little bugs that were on it, it didn't like it. 2- the little bugs that are on it are killing it 3- I didn't water it enough over the last 2 weeks due to sickness & in addition to the bugs, it's suffering. (please don't be 3!! I don't want it to die because of me *sob sob*)

So, whatever the reason, the tiny bugs are still lurking, so I have a double plan of attack.

Pest oil to fully kill off these little free loaders & a generous dose of seasol to inject some nutrients & hopefully life back into my special maple.

Here's some photos of it today. It's very sick looking.

If you look closely, you can see a few of the little bugs.

My poor maple.

First things first, I sprayed the leaves with pest oil. I sprayed the tree until it was dripping. Under & on top of all the leaves & branches.

 

Then I mixed a fairly strong water & seasol mix & fed it to my sick little maple. I watered it in well afterwards.

 

Please get better maple. I have no idea what happens when deciduous trees are sick & then go into dormancy. Hoping it will be re-born in spring. I'll have to research a bit more & find out.

Please get better maple!!!!

Have a fantastic day & thanks for reading,

Bel