A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Plant pests and problems Japanese maple is dying! White fungus on roots.

A few of my outdoor potted plants have gotten a white fungus that I think is eating their roots. I'm most concerned about my japanese maple that's lost most of its roots and leaves. The dead roots are bright white and fall apart easily, and most of the leaves are dry and slightly curled, though they still retain their color. I'm not sure if it's the fungus that's killing the plant, or if they have a parasite on their leaves that's just making the roots die and turn white. I sprayed the leaves with an incecticidal spray a while ago, and a few leaves came in that looked normal.

Please help!
~Whitney

There is a disease which is very common to Japanese Maples called verticillium wilt. It is pretty much akin to hardening of arteries in a human. The porous material in which the sap flows inside the plant hardens and begins to dry up. A cross section of a branch will show the darker wood where this has happened.
The leaves will start by getting a molted appearance to them, and then in the later stages begin to curl in. This is normally a death sentence for anything in the maple family. You can prolong the life of the plant by making sure that it receives minimal stress. Ample but not too much water, and fertilization are key.
I would not plant any other type of maple in that area as it is a soil born pathogen and it is a good bet it will show up in other maples planted in the same spot.
Here is a picture of a cross section:
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/resm/aee/cde/plantpath/CD/maple2.jpg