Rescue mission - Acer palmatum Ryusen (SQUAT STAKED)
I visited my local nursery and noticed a couple of semi-abandoned Japanese maple trees tucked away in a corner. Out of curiosity, I asked about them and was offered both for $25 each. One is labeled #10 and the other #5, which I believe refers to the container size.
The trees have a mix of healthy green foliage and some browning. The #5 container felt extremely light, which made me suspect it hadn’t been taking up water properly. I placed both pots in a tub of water to rehydrate them. The #10 pot absorbed water quickly, and water soon emerged from the surface. The #5 took much longer; I had to gently poke the soil surface before water finally began to penetrate and rise to the top.
I’m hoping to give these trees a successful rescue. Besides deep rehydration, what additional steps would you recommend to help them recover and thrive? Thanks!