"Lilly" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 06:39:41 -0700, Layne wrote:

I'm not an expert, but I'd think the plant is so stressed that
maybe
you should wait a while and try to nurse it back to health in
the pot
first before planting or repotting as doing such puts stress
on the
already stressed plant.

Good point. Maybe I'll do whatever I need to do once it goes
dormant,
whenever that is, lol. Ack.
~Lilly

OTOH, you live in the part of the country where Acer palmatum
does best.

I'd guess that the soil in the pot is compacted and water doesn't
get to the roots, but flows down the side of the pot.

I think I would dig a large (diameter - 3X the diameter of the
pot) shallow (1/2 the depth of the pot) hole, fill it with water
and let it soak in, then lift the plant from the pot (you may
have to break the pot!) and break the soil ball without doing too
much damage to the roots. Maybe you could soak the rootball in
water for an hour. Then plant in the hole, filling with GOOD
soil -- rotted cow manure compost, maybe. Water well, then keep
it well watered but not soggy.

If it lives, you're ahead of the game. If it dies, well YOU
didn't pay anything for it and I'd bet it would die soon in the
pot anyway.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Bonsaiests
are like genealogists: We know our roots!