Bonsaify | Did Eric Cure Leaf Curling in his Trident Maple Bonsai?

In March 2021, Eric shared a short video entitled "Phoma Problems on Trident Maple" ( • Bonsaify | Phoma Probl... ) where he discussed a fungal cause of leaf curl and margin burn on Trident Maples. He highlighted one small tree in particular, and in this new video, Eric provides an update!
00:00:32 This 6 year old Trident Maple is quite small. Eric has been playing around with it for the past few years as he wanted to do refinement work on a very small trunk to see how dense he could get it.
00:00:58 As a quick reminder, after noticing significant growth issues from last spring, Eric learned that the tree had been diagnosed with phoma - a pathogen that effects the vascular tissue in the leaves - and was also potentially infected by a root pathogen.
00:01:32 Once he received these lab results, he faced a major challenge; how to treat the phoma infection.
00:02:40 During the 2021 growing season, Eric tried a few different things to try to resolve the tree's issues.
00:04:04 First, he treated it with root fungicide called Subdue Maxx which inhibits the growth of fungus.
00:05:20 Second, he used a broad spectrum fungicide called Propiconazole (amzn.to/3CI9Miq). He used 7-10oz per 100 gallons of spray, treating the tree 2-3 times. Eric strongly suggests that you read the directions thoroughly and very carefully before attempting to use this type of product.
00:08:15 Doesn't this tree look a lot better this year than it did before treatment? Have you tried treating your Trident Maples with fungicides like this? Let us know your results in the comments below!
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[@erichraudebaugh]

I had this problem with a trident a few years ago but unfortunately didn't see that original video. I first treated with copper and then I think Mancozeb, and the tree looked like it had recovered, but the next year the same treatment did nothing and it died. It was also weakened from a ground layer. Thanks for these videos, I'll try this if the problem comes up again.

[@BONSAIenCORTO]

Like the pot. Fits really well.

[@maryoverton7245]

After nearly two years of searching you have finally solved my problem. I have been spraying fungicide at this problem. I bought a Japanese maple two years ago and since then it has spread to all my maples including the tridents. I did spray them all with lime Sulphur last winter they all started off really good then it struck again the only thing I haven't done is treat the roots we have just gone in to Autumn there are new buds coming still might be able to save these new buds or else they will start next spring weak and it will start all over again thanks for the research

[@sivakumarthangavelpillai3068]

So much to learn from you. Started practicing mini bonsai on following your videos

[@blueridgebonsai9155]

Eric, Bonide Infuse liquid contains propiconazole and is readily available in consumer quantities.

[@bakelall]

Which lab is it where plant samples can be sent ?

[@mrarimir]

How often did you treat the roots with Subdueed Maxx? Also, is the idea to spray the leaves with the Propiconazole? And how often do I spray the leaves? I don't understand how this fungus appeared given I've been growing my seedlings indoors.

[@Bonsaify]

every 10 days or so. 0.01 oz/gallon (about 1/10th of a tsp per gallon, or just a few drops.) You can alternate with propiconazole - it is used more for foliar while subdue is used for root pathogens. Complicated topic, but I believe the main problem is weakness in the tree being caused by stress to the roots, or just stress in general. Once you get the tree healthy and growing vigorously the phoma symptoms will disappear. But, they can reappear if the tree is weakened again.

[@sabikmercuriobravo5976]

The tree looks pretty good, i have the same problem as you since last year, i tried to use cercobin and mancozeb, but my trees already started to push some grow without any succes, i think you did it, you find the solution.

[@blueridgebonsai9155]

Eric, Bonide Infuse liquid contains Propiconazole and is widely available from Amazon. I also am trying Bonide Infuse granules which contains Thiophanate-methyl and obviously does not require spraying so hopefully is safer to use. We had a discussion on BonsaiNut about this problem and several people suggested hydrogen peroxide as well to treat the root issue. I know you are a member so maybe you could add some updated results to that thread. BTW, I got my Seiju and cork oak, thanks-Larry

[@SyriusStarMultimedia]

I have a miniature Chamaecyparis Pisifera in the same pot. Nice color.

[@skipperb3503]

Hi Eric! Thanks for posting this very informative video about Phoma problems you had on your Trident Maple. I am having the same problem with my trident maple. I ordered SubdueMaxx fungicide, as you recommended, but when I calculate the dilution for my bonsai, based on the ratio of .3 ounces per 100 gallons of water (recommended ratio on the package), I come up with.003 ounces/gallon, which comes to 0.09ml/gallon. This seems like such a small amount I wonder if it is enough, much less how to measure it. Do you have any advice? My maple is in a pot that is 16x13 inches and 20 inches tall. It was also recently repotted. Thanks so much for all your videos - they are great!

[@professoroak.833]

It looks cured , i wonder if it more or less likely to catch the infections again. 🤔

[@dye8287]

You said early in the video about tridents that curl the other way? I have a trident that is doing this, should I be concerned? This is my first growing season with this particular tree.

[@Bonsaify]

There is a trident maple cultivar, I'm not sure of the name, where the leaves curl upward almost like they're folding in half and showing the underside on the outside. I just googled the name "ACER BUERGERIANUM ‘NARUTO’ TRIDENT MAPLE" and found photos.

[@henzobonsai]

Nice..👍

[@scottbarboza1834]

Hi Eric - I had a number of tridents that I struggled with over the years that exhibited symptoms like these. I tried a number of treatments (not the ones you recommended, so I took some notes). I did start a lime sulphur dormant spray regimen and noticed some improvement. I now adhere to it religiously and spray every season as the new buds start to emerge. I haven’t seen any symptoms like this on my trident in years. Just curious to know if you perform any dormant treatments on your trees and, if so, what they are.

[@Bonsaify]

Lime sulfur was the first fungicide invented and used in France. It's highly toxic to lots of things, including plant roots and tender foliage. We have used it, but we normally use it only in mid-winter and on a few trees. Commercial fungicides are as effective without the phytotoxicity, so we tend to use those - propiconazole is one example, the strobin chemicals are another type. They are systemic rather than contact/residual. So we treat regularly with a rotation of fungicides to ensure good growth without causing resistance in the pathogens. The treatment of this trident was an offshoot of that in a sense.

[@mikecipriani7792]

You have to be a horticulturist to be able to grow bonsai, the 2 two year old JBP I got form you guys suddenly just turned brown almost over night. Not sure if I will continue to try to grow anymore plants or just give up and spend my time playing the piano.

[@Bonsaify]

Mike - sorry that happened to your trees! I'm gonna give you a mulligan. If you play the scales on your piano incorrectly, you don't stop playing the piano, you just practice the scales again and again until you learn how to do them perfectly.😉.

[@GMAR8]

Any ideas what are the equivalent products in Europe?

[@Bonsaify]

I would check for the active ingredients - Propiconazole and Pyraclostrobin. Also note that there are other fungicides in both the groups these belong to. Strobin's are widely used in commercial operations.

[@tomasferreirarubial1455]

👏👏👏

[@eeeealmo]

I'm definitely seeing this on two of my tridents but I'm hoping mancozeb spray and clearys3336 granules will solve it (since that's all I have right now 😬)

[@Bonsaify]

Worth a try for sure.

[@arnoldmmbb]

You have some not chemical treatment for root mealybugs? Man I hate them

[@Bonsaify]

Using a dilute soap dunk (for like 5 minutes) will likely kill them. Use 1-2tbsp horticultural soap to a gallon of water and submerge the entire root ball. If that doesn't work then mechanical removal followed by a soap dunk might eradicate them. Keep in mind that mealy bugs will hide in crevices on benches etc. If you mean root aphids (e.g. on a black pine) then this will also work.

[@arnoldmmbb]

@@Bonsaify Thank you very much Eric!!