'Dissectum Garnet' leaves dry up ?

Hello

I've recently purchased ( last Friday) a japanese maple 'dissectum garnet'. It was delivered by post in a well protected box and I planted it straight away on receiving it.
It's about 40cm high and seemed (to the untrained eye) to be in good condition.
I especially bought an acidic potting soil (heath mould/peat) and made sure of good drainage.
It's been in it's pot outside for only 3 days but to my horror I noticed this morning that some of leaves are turning white and going limp/dropping off..
It wasn't like that when I got it 3 days ago...
I placed it in a sunny spot on my patio, sun from about 10am to 4pm, and have watered it moderately.
Yesterday eventhough it was very sunny there was a lot of wind and the poor thing was swaying about quite a lot...

I've read that they don't like windy spots nor too much sun but could this be the reason for such an overnight change ?

I realize it's been a bit traumatized with the postal delivery & re-potting and I've checked the bark & trunk but there's no sign of discolouration or fungus...



Can anyone help ?

I'd be devastated if it died, I've always wanted one and am really proud of it...

 

You probably have a combination of travel stress, potting stress, maybe too much sun and then strong winds (enough to make it 'sway quite a lot') and maybe over watering as well
Move it out of the wind and sun
The poor thing needs some peace and quiet
Hopefully it will recover. Otherwise try the supplier for a replacement

 

I have to admit loveing some plants to death :-D

 

Hello

You're probably right, I'd be stressed out after all that too!

I'll do as you say and hope it picks up... fingers crossed...

by the way as far as watering is concerned, how much how often... what do you recommend ? It's always difficult to get the balance right and I know that one of the main causes of death for most plants is over-watering....

 

There is no real answer to that Helen
Plants in a pot need more watering than those in the ground
Plants in strong sun need more watering than those out of the sun
etc etc etc
At the end of the day it is a question of judgment
The plant should rest in moist NOT wet soil
And water should not be added until it has used up what is there, otherwise you are inclined to keep topping up until there is too much and the plant suffers
In the UK once a week is usually sufficient
Once a day is far too often
Once a fortnight might just be too little
AND a plant in too large a pot can frequently become over watered as it cannot use up the moisture in the excess surrounding soil
You get the idea?