Gardening

[Gunadooh]

My acer palmatum Flamingo has lost its variegation. I have pinched out the leading hoots but it remains obstinately green. Anyone any suggestions? It looks very healthy

[woofgang]

I think you might have lost it (the variegation) variegated trees and shrubs often do revert and because the all green reversion is stronger than the variegated shoots, the green ones gradually take over. To prevent it you have to be vigilant and cut off EVERY green bit as it appears. This can happen even on ungrafted specimens but additionally on a grafted plant, the host plant can start to shoot, again it will be stronger than the grafted top and it will take over entirely.
So....is your plant grafted or ungrafted? If its grafted and its now all green then you are stuck with what you have. If its ungrafted and all green, you might save the variegation by cutting off EVERY BIT of the green shoots. Hopefully it will shoot again and hopefully the shoots will be variegated. The risk is that this huge pruning might kill the plant, also it might just regrow green again. Your choice.

[Chipchopper]

One idea, might be move the plant to a slightly more shady spot, if that's possible, is it in a pot ?.
Variegated plants often cope better with shade, due to the lack of chlorophyll in the leaves.
Otherwise learn to live with it and look forward to its autumn colors.

[woofgang]

interesting.....my understanding is that variegated plants need MORE light than their green relatives because of the lack of chlorophyll.....I go to google

[woofgang]

well....consensus seems to be that if a plant is losing variegation due to light levels, it needs more light, not less, BUT variegated leaves can be more fragile than green ones and too much direct sun can burn them. In this case the leaves won’t lose variegation but will die, turning crisp and brown, especially if the excess sun is coupled with wind.