{"id":2690,"date":"2019-10-02T00:03:38","date_gmt":"2019-10-02T07:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/pal-question-478\/"},"modified":"2023-08-08T15:32:39","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T22:32:39","slug":"japanese-hollies-and-root-problems","status":"publish","type":"pal","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/japanese-hollies-and-root-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese Hollies and root problems"},"content":{"rendered":"

I purchased a gallon size Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata<\/em> ‘Sky
\nSentry’) 5 years ago and put it in a 12″ diameter container. It has
\nnot grown much, and has been looking bad lately, so I thought it
\nwas probably root bound. To my surprise, when I took it out, there
\nwere no new roots–the root ball was about 3″ deep and 6″
\nacross. Is this a normal root for the Ilex<\/em>? What does it need to thrive?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since you mention that the plant is not looking healthy, I wonder if it
\nmay have root rot.<\/p>\n

According to North Carolina Cooperative Extension,<\/a> Ilex crenata<\/em> is
\nhighly susceptible to this fungal problem.<\/p>\n

It is possible that there are nematodes<\/a> feeding on the roots and
\ndiminishing the plant’s ability to get water and nutrients from the soil.<\/p>\n

The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect & Disease Control<\/em> by
\nBarbara Ellis (Rodale, 1996) says that holly roots grow close to the
\nsurface, so perhaps the size of the root ball is not abnormal.<\/p>\n

Missouri Botanical Garden<\/a> has general information on this plant.<\/p>\n

To determine what exactly is causing the plant’s ill health, you may want
\nto bring pictures and samples of the affected parts of the holly to a
\nMaster Gardener Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I purchased a gallon size Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Sky Sentry’) 5 years ago and put it in a 12″ diameter container. It has not grown much, and has been looking bad lately, so I thought it was probably root bound. To my surprise, when I took it out, there were no new roots–the root ball was about 3″ deep and 6″ across. Is this a normal root for the Ilex? What does it need to thrive? Since you mention…<\/p>\n

Continue reading Japanese Hollies and root problems<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","keyword":[126,290],"class_list":["post-2690","pal","type-pal","status-publish","hentry","keyword-holly","keyword-plant-diseases"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pal\/2690"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pal"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/pal"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"keyword","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/keyword?post=2690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}