I think OP means a lace leaf (thin, frilly leaves) cultivar of Japanese Maple. That's what my Dad and I always called those cultivars. I'm fairly new to JM's, so I am just learning about the 'Bloodgood' variety I have. Mine got too dry its first year outside (even in ideal setting) and lost nearly all its leaves. It did set out all new leaves as the old ones died/dropped off. Mine is in a plastic half whiskey barrel size pot with lots of drain holes, sitting in a ground ivy bed that is under trees for shade. It also sits near an automatic sprinkler that waters it every 3 days. All those things helped it recover (large pot, shade and regular water). JM's will not take kindly to direct sun until very well esttablished. I've seen some out in full sun, but they were quite large/mature. Is yours young? Could it be getting more direct sun a day than it prefers? That will s ure burn off leaves to a crisp. But fertilizer will also do the same thing to leaves. I've never fertilized my very young 4' specimen, water only. These photos taken after Texas SEVERE single-digit temps in February. The 25' loquat tree above it nearly died, but is coming back, so size DOES NOT matter in the plant world in every scenario. LOL
