Something sounds drastically wrong unless you actually have another cultivar??? and in the Linearilobum group I know of none fitting your description .... sometimes with red and green it can look a little brownish and maybe the white is just tip burn ...but ya got me ...my rp is NOT very red except for the new shoots but is more of a green color...it is in almost full day sun and has grown very slowly ...I have NOT been real pleased with it but everyone that sees it lovess it ..but your description sounds like you have a real problem ..try to post some jpegs ( good luck with dat) or email me a couple personally and I'll take a looksee...but something is not right...David

BTW the fall color of the red pigmy is YELLOW...NOT RED!!! david

Fading in summer of redleaf Japanese maples due partly to summer weather conditions, partly to genetics (some kinds are more purple than others). Maybe yours needs a little more shade and/or cooler, more humid situation. Same variety in hot parking lot or underwatered yard will not look as good as one near a lush, heavily irrigated lawn or a lake.

For premature fall color, my first thought is to check to see if it is dry or wet at the root. Constant moisture for Japanese maples, significant episodes of dryness or wetness drags them down. Good drainage essential.

Here is a link that might be useful: Google Images of 'Red Pygmy'

I don't disagree with bboy....but the description by westgate the westgate pigmy and your post IMho0 does not match any photo or description of ANY healthy tree with the name RED PIGMY ...Mine being green YES soil humidity sunlight all could cause this ..but we are NOT talkin' mine we're talkin'wastgate's...and your post doesn't address his extreem description ...as I said photos would be nice but if his or her description is NOT exagerated ...it is not a healthy red pygmy...David

I think the problem maybe that it is in the hottest and most exposed paved area of my patio..... no green leaves at all. Howwever, the new shoots are a healthy, deep red. We have had an exceptionally hot summer. I think that I will get some fertilizer pegs, as per your suggestion. Thanks.

HUMMM are we on the same forum ..NO ONE recommended fertilizer pegs unless I am misreading something!!!! I reread all the posts twice!!...IN FACT that would be the WORST thing to do especially now ..JM's should ONLY be fertilized once in spring and only really low dose 4-6-6 or something like that with LOW N. and NOT time release and after established if planted out not much at all...If you are getting new red growth everything is ok and leave that bugger alone ...don't kill it with those pegs!!! david