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What's wrong with my Holly?

wellhellotoyoutoowellhellotoyoutoo Posts: 29
in Problem solving


Can anyone please tell me what is wrong with my holly? The variety is Blue Maid.  It was looking very nice and full of berries a few weeks ago, but now the stems and leaves are turning brown, the berries have fallen off and I'm worried it's dying. Any advice? Thank you
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  • wellhellotoyoutoowellhellotoyoutoo Posts: 29
    Forgot to say it's about 1m in height and I keep it in a large pot. Have had it for about 3 years.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The pot is likely to be the problem.
    They aren't very suitable for pot growing. Has it ever had the soil changed, or been repotted or fed etc?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • wellhellotoyoutoowellhellotoyoutoo Posts: 29
    I repotted it about a year and half ago and changed the soil then. I planted it in  ericaceous potting compost. Nothing since. I don't have anywhere in the ground to plant it at the moment. Should I repot it again? If I cut out all the black wood will the plant regrow? Some of the black wood goes all the way to the bottom so I'm worried about cutting it back that deep. Can I feed it now?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited October 2020
    I would use John Innes No 3 loambased potting medium ... it is formulated for longer term planting and the nutritional element will last longer. 

    Although some folk advocate slightly acidic soil for hollies, they grow perfectly happy in the very chalky soil around here. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Don't feed it when it's clearly not happy, especially at this time of year. It's hard to say whether cutting it back would benefit it just now - not without seeing it properly.
    @Dovefromabove is right - compost alone is no use for anything planted long term in a pot. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    @Fairygirl the PP says it’s planted in ericaceous compost ... I think that’s a lot of the problem. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I wondered why it had  that, although it's often said they don't like alkaline soil, so perhaps that's the reasoning. 

    It's the same as the nonsense quoted about rhodos and acers etc re soil. People think that because they prefer acid soil, they must have it, when they actually don't need it at all. Neutral is perfect for them, and is a wide area, not a fine line with alkaline and acid on each side.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • wellhellotoyoutoowellhellotoyoutoo Posts: 29
    Oops! Yes, I admit I read somewhere they prefer acidic soil so I planted it in a large pot full of acid soil. I can change it tomorrow for John Innes No 3. Should I prune it back at all now or just repot it and cross my fingers until Spring?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think I would just repot it and let it recover. A lot of that foliage will drop anyway.

    As I said - I wouldn't want to advise on pruning it back when I can't see it well enough, although I prune stuff if I feel it needs it. Timing is important though - even with tough shrubs. It depends on your climate and conditions too. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’d agree with @Fairygirl
    ... repot and then let it recover. Take stock in the spring and decide what to do then 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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