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White Powder on Cypress Roots

Greenish Fingered GirlGreenish Fingered Girl Posts: 47
in Problem solving
Good Morning All,

I am hoping you can please help. I dug up one of our Cypress conifers as it wasn’t growing as well as another we have so thought I’d move its position, however when I dug it up I noticed a white powdery substance on the roots and in the surrounding soil (pictures attached) does anyone know what this could be please and could this be affecting its growth? 

Thanks in advance for your help. 

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    It is most likely a symbiotic fungus (ie a mycorrhizal fungus, as is contained in 'rootgrow') and is probably doing good rather than harm, by helping the tree take-up nutrients.  If it helps, I have seen the same in the roots of Scots Pines when I repot them into larger containers or plant them out, and they are all healthy.
    Conifers need a lot of root space, require a lot of water and quickly deplete the soil of nutrients, so is it possible its roots were restricted in some way?
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Greenish Fingered GirlGreenish Fingered Girl Posts: 47
    Thank you so much for the information! That’s reassuring, I am moving it somewhere with more space and will make sure I give it enough water. Thank you again for your help. It’s really useful as I am still very much an amateur gardener haha. 
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