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Ilex crenata glorie dwarf - turning brown

sus1j0nessus1j0nes Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Help. 

I purchased these 2weeks ago planted in some ericaceous John innes and using mulch. 

Why are they turning brown? 

The inner leaves still look fairly green but lots of leaves dropping, worried as very expensive plants. 

Help appreciated. 
 

Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Frost? Driness at the roots? They still look to me alive, as green inside. Don't overwater, and don't feed yet. When you say " planted in ericaceous JI ..." is that how they came? Or is that what you have done? If either of these are your actions, it will be difficult to complain.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • sus1j0nessus1j0nes Posts: 5
    edited April 2023
    I did, but I just mixed the potted soil, soil the plant was originally in with Ericaceous soil, I was told by the lady at the nursery that’s what soil they liked? 😳 it would be the all the soil as the beds were already filled so used ecicaceous just around and top of the root ball and original soil. 

    No come back I guess as she just told me. Is this not the correct soil? 

    I have been watering as I thought it was lack of water. How long should I wait to water them? 

    What feed do you suggest? 

    What the likelihood of survival? 

    🫣
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Large specimens, and therefore trickier to establish. However, if they were grown undercover, and you've had cold weather since planting them, it can be a bit of transplant shock, so they should be fine in another few weeks or so.  :)
    Your soil will be fine.

    Don't feed them - just water every few days if you don't have proper rain, but make sure the drainage is ok. Are the beds open to decent draining soil below?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • sus1j0nessus1j0nes Posts: 5
    Hopefully just shock like you say.

    im
    unsure how they were grown, they were outside when I purchased them. We hadn’t had frost since I bought them but perhaps being outside and hopefully just transplant shock 🙏

    The bed were part filled with horrible clay soil by previous owner but I refilled probably half with nice soil and the drainage seems good. 

    When should I feed?

    how often should I water, I e been doing it once weekly but then I got scared as to what to do 🤷‍♀️

    what is a good feed to use? 

    Thank you! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They won't need fed. Later in the year you could give them a seaweed feed once or twice, but they'll get all they need from the soil/compost.
    It would have been better to mix the compost, plus some grit, through the clay. It could be a bit of a sump. Having said that - I don't know what your climate is like, or how heavy the soil mix is. Normally, adding organic matter is what helps clay - manure, compost etc :)

    New plantings, especially mature specimens, would need watered every few days - thoroughly though, not a trickle, a canful. I wouldn't need to do that here as we get regular rainfall, but if you're in a drier area, that would be around the right amount. If the soil's still damp when you push a finger in though, it's fine. The clay soil ,and the soil you added will retain moisture well, so it's mainly once temps are  higher and the soil dries out more that you'll need to be more vigilant with watering. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • sus1j0nessus1j0nes Posts: 5
    I’m in south east London. Is that enough waterfall? 🤔😂
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Doubtful - certainly not going into summer  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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