Hi all,
my Acer Palmatum (should be a Deshojo) leaves, bright crimson as the buds open, normally turn green once fully developed by late spring/midsummer.
That green, however, is rather discoloured and pale.
The tree sits on my terrace where it only gets afternoon sun, so I keep it in the back protecting it from the strongest early-afternoon sun, for fear of scorching the tips of the leaves.
So I was wondering whether this pale colour is due to lack of enough sunlight, or is it something else?
The 3 pics show the Acer soon after budding, and the leaves and canopy now, showing that uneven green-coloured leaves.
Can you help me to identify the cause?
Thank you!

Odd. Looks almos like a variegated deshojo. Never seen that before.

You do not have hin webbing over the leaves, do you?

Currently I have 4 colors on my Deshojo. Those pinkish green leaves are there from day one, but they doesn’t looks damaged or unhealthy.

Sunkissed


Newborn


Pinkish green

Thank you Leatherback and Felidae.
I confirm there are no webs on the tree and it is definitely in good health.
I have it since 3 years and every early spring it buds with that wonderful bright red, then turns greenish. Autumn colours are a little disappointing though...

In fact, Felidae, my Acer's leaves are quite similar to yours - though they have, by now, lost most of the pink in favour of a paler green...

I live in downtown Milan and I can only grow my trees in my south-west facing terrace, which gets sun, by midsummer, only from 12:00 to 18:00.
I am afraid that's the worst condition... but I have no other place, I'm too mad about bonsai so I'll not give up!

Therefore I keep the Acer in a relatively shady spot of the terrace, and it gets just 3-4 hours full sunlight.

But well, seeing Felidae's pics makes me think that should be ok. Hopefully...
Thanks!

Ricky73 wrote: ..Therefore I keep the Acer in a relatively shady spot of the terrace, and it gets just 3-4 hours full sunlight...

That could be Mine was kept in a half shaded area on the nursery and I keep like this in my home also. Where you see the dark red leaves, those where green, just got more sun, unlike the other parts of the tree. The variegated ones looks like stay there, where the tree was turned to the plastic foil (film, cover, half greenhouse...) on the bonsai nursery and get enough sun to don’t turning completely green, but not enough to stay red. I need more experiment with it to know for sure, but that’s my theory now.

Hi all,
to try and prevent leaves scorching next summer (in Milan it can reach up to 35-40 °C in direct sunlight in the afternoon) I have ordered an anti-transpirant from Harry Harrington's bonsai4me website.
Once it arrives, I'll try it first on other maples (not trained as bonsai).
Has anyone ever tried something similar?
Thank you!