Japanese maple
Acer palmatum, tree, deciduous
Water a Japanese maple when the soil is dry a few centimetres down, which outdoors means every 3–6 days in summer and every 10–20 in winter. It wants partial shade, 2 to 6 hours of sun a day, and starts to suffer below −15 °C (5 °F).
Updated 12 October 2026. How we write these pages
Japanese maple at a glance
Water, outdoors
3–6
days in summer
10–20
days in winter
When the soil is dry a few centimetres down.
Month by month
Minimum temperature
−15 °C
It starts to suffer between −20 and −15 °C (−4–5 °F).
Growth
Slow. It’s a tree.
Feeding
Quite a lot while it’s growing.
Follow the dose and frequency on your fertiliser’s label.
Repotting
When the roots fill the pot.
Pruning
No regular pruning needed. Remove dead or damaged branches.
Where does your plant live?
Pick its place and see what changes.
What changes
- Indoors, near the window. Fine, as long as the hot midday sun doesn’t fall straight on the leaves.
- Indoors, away from the window. With less light it grows more slowly. If you can, move the pot closer to the window.
- Outdoors, in the shade. Fine, as long as it gets at least 2 hours of sun a day.
- Outdoors, in the sun. Full sun all day is too much. Move the pot where the hottest hours are in shade.
- Indoors, summer. Indoors the soil dries more slowly than outside, where in July it needs water every 3–6 days, so feel it before you water.
- Indoors, winter, heating on. Near a radiator the air is warm and dry and the soil dries quickly, so keep the pot away from it and feel the soil often.
- Indoors, winter, cool room. The soil stays damp for a long time in a cool room, so water sparingly.
- Outdoors, summer. In July it usually needs water every 3–6 days, and more often in the sun, so feel the soil when it’s hot.
- Outdoors, winter. It takes frost, but in a pot the roots feel the cold from every side, so on the hardest nights move the pot under shelter.
- Outdoors, winter. In January it usually needs water every 10–20 days: in the cold the soil stays damp for a long time.
How often to water a Japanese maple
Outdoors, month by month. Tap a column.
In October
Every 6–13 days
Usually every 9 days. Feel the soil first, and water when it is dry a few centimetres down.
Every month in a table
| Month | Usually | Usually between |
|---|---|---|
| January | every 14 days | 10–20 days |
| February | every 14 days | 10–20 days |
| March | every 10 days | 7–14 days |
| April | every 7 days | 5–10 days |
| May | every 5 days | 4–7 days |
| June | every 4 days | 3–6 days |
| July | every 4 days | 3–6 days |
| August | every 5 days | 4–7 days |
| September | every 7 days | 5–10 days |
| October | every 9 days | 6–13 days |
| November | every 12 days | 8–17 days |
| December | every 14 days | 10–20 days |
Typical intervals outdoors in a mild northern-hemisphere climate: sun, wind and rain stretch or shorten them. How to tell when to water, with a finger and the weight of the pot.
Soil, propagation and problems
Soil
An all-purpose potting mix that holds a little moisture but drains well: if it’s very dense, add some perlite.
Propagation
By grafting, a nursery job: at home it’s simpler to buy a new one.
Common problems
The most frequent: Aphids · Scale insects · Leafhoppers · Anthracnose · Canker · Grey mould
When you feel the soil, look under the leaves too: pests show up there first.
Japanese maple: questions and answers
How often should you water a Japanese maple in winter?
Outdoors in January, usually every 14 days (between 10 and 20), compared with every 4 in July. The longest gaps run from December to February.
How can you tell when a Japanese maple needs water?
When the soil is dry a few centimetres down, not just on the surface.
How much light does a Japanese maple need?
Partial shade: 2 to 6 hours of sun a day, without the full midday sun. Indoors that means near a window, out of the sun in the middle of the day.
How much cold can a Japanese maple take?
It starts to suffer from the cold somewhere between −20 and −15 °C (−4–5 °F). It takes frost, but in a pot the roots feel the cold from every side, so on the hardest nights move the pot under shelter.
When should you repot a Japanese maple?
When the roots fill the pot. If needed, the best time is spring or autumn. There are usually 2 years between repottings.
How do you prune a Japanese maple?
No regular pruning needed. Remove the dieback at the ends of the shoots, cutting back to a well-placed side branch. Don’t leave a stub: it tends to rot and die back.
How can you tell if a Japanese maple is getting too much water or too little?
Too much water often shows as leaves turning yellow, soft brown patches on the leaves and leaves drooping even though the soil is wet. Too little shows as leaves drooping, leaves and buds dropping and young shoots drying out.
What soil does a Japanese maple need?
An all-purpose potting mix that holds a little moisture but drains well: if it’s very dense, add some perlite.
How do you propagate a Japanese maple?
By grafting, a nursery job: at home it’s simpler to buy a new one.
Which pests and diseases affect a Japanese maple?
The most frequent are aphids, scale insects, leafhoppers, anthracnose, canker and grey mould. When you feel the soil, look under the leaves too: pests show up there first.
Read next
Every plant has its own rhythm. LINFA keeps track for you.
It looks at the light where your plant stands, its pot and the season, and tells you when to check it.
Coming soon to Android
