Big Ilex

[Paradox]

The nurseries are finally starting to put out plants and I got a flyer from one that Im a member of their "club" for discounts etc.

In the itch to get out and wander among the plants, I stopped on my way home from work.
Not unexpectedly, they have started putting some things out, not a lot yet and as usual there is really nothing worth taking home. It was pretty cold, rainy, raw and the wind was blowing so spending much time outside was rapidly becoming not so desirable any more. Before I leave, I decide to look through the bargain area like I normally do, because you just never know what you are going to find.

Well I found this monster Ilex, the biggest one I have ever seen in a 15 gal pot. Being in the "trash pile" it was marked down to $30, which around here for a plant this size is a bargain and more.

Needless to say, I was pretty excited to get it secured in the truck before anyone else in the mostly deserted nursery snatched up this wonderous tree.... I just dont find things like this around here very often.


Ive posted in the "Miscellaneous" section to get advice on how best to deal with this tree.

http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?14633-Need-help-advice-info-on-Ilex

 

[M. Frary]

I worked in Connecticut a couple years ago and stopped at a nursery to take a look at what they had. I looked at a Japanese Maple . It was a lace leaf model 4' tall and they wanted $450.00. So when you say $30.00 is a good price you are not lying. How do people on the east coast afford to get decent material without having to sell your firstborn?

 

[october]

I worked in Connecticut a couple years ago and stopped at a nursery to take a look at what they had. I looked at a Japanese Maple . It was a lace leaf model 4' tall and they wanted $450.00. So when you say $30.00 is a good price you are not lying. How do people on the east coast afford to get decent material without having to sell your firstborn?

Yes, this subject has been covered quite a few times. I believe the Northeast has some of the highest prices on trees in the country.

Hi Paradox,
This was a great find. I think after some chopping work, this could become a very nice bonsai. Also, for $30 you can't go wrong.

Rob

 

[Neli]

Yes, this subject has been covered quite a few times. I believe the Northeast has some of the highest prices on trees in the country.

Hi Paradox,
This was a great find. I think after some chopping work, this could become a very nice bonsai. Also, for $30 you can't go wrong.

Rob

You did very well!

 

[Paradox]

So does anyone have any information/advice about when it is best to repot, when to chop back, how much I can chop off safely or anything else pertaining to Ilex I should know?

Thanks

 

[Poink88]

So does anyone have any information/advice about when it is best to repot, when to chop back, how much I can chop off safely or anything else pertaining to Ilex I should know?

Thanks

I will share what I do with my ilex vomitoria (yaupon holly). Whether it applies to yours, I am not sure.

I collect yaupon year round...so basically I think it can be repotted anytime. I think it is best to repot when the low temps in your area is around 45*F.

I chop the roots and top of yaupon really hard and they bounce back. For reference some that I collected were 6 feet and only a few remained close to 18" after. Most are less than 12". From ground, I moved most of them in a 12" x 14" x 5" dish pans...and the trunks are averaging 6" near the base.

One thing that I noticed is that yaupon is prone to fungal attack and the ones I lost were due to fungus. The ones that started to deteriorate were easily saved by spraying Daconil. I treated all trees collected after and have not lost any.

Bark can be damaged easily so be careful when wiring.
Big branches are not bendable.
They ramify fast and perfect candidate for clip and grow.
They love acidic soil. I add more bark on my soil mix and use miracid or holly tone for fert.

I hope this helps.

 

[Paradox]

Thank you Dario.

I imagine it cant be all that different. Ive been reading about care of Ilex as landscape plants but obviously Id prefer info from people using them for bonsai. Most of what Ive read says do the work on them early before they start popping growth. If youve dug them even when its warmer with few issues then that is useful.

Ive read that they dont seem to like having their roots disturbed.
What is your experience with root reduction and your Ilex?

The low temps here at night are around 40 or so right now.
Im thinking of repotting and reducing it this weekend. If I keep it in the garage after that for a week or so, the temps should be fine to bring it back outside.

In any case, I really want this one to survive so I would like to research it as much as possible to do everything right now hopefully.

 

[Poink88]

Ive read that they dont seem to like having their roots disturbed.
What is your experience with root reduction and your Ilex?

As posted, I chopped them really hard to almost no fine roots and they bounced back. I've read the same that you pointed out, but my experience is nothing but.

I am guessing the root work problems described are cold related + fungus.

 

[Paradox]

Lol sorry, I read it fast, got distracted and somehow missed the word "root"

Thanks again

 

[Paradox]

Update:

Looks like this one is going to make it.
It survived the brutal winter (possibly outside cant be sure) and my brutal repotting.
I repotted it on April 12/13 to make it more manageable. I cut probably 2/3 - 3/4 of the root mass but there were tons of fine roots. I also reduced the foliage mass. I kept it in the garage for a little over a week then moved it outside during the day and back in at night if temps were going to drop below 45 deg F.

It took a while and I thought it might be dead but it started showing signs of new growth in the last week.
Ill just let it grow this year, feed it and re-evaluate some time late winter for the next step.

Thanks for the help Dario. I was a bit unsure of what I could/should do with this guy.

 

[Poink88]

Glad it helped.

What I found helpful on Ilex repot is to almost defoliate the tree when I do hard rootwork. One that I left lush foliage deteriorated...leaves slowly dried and taking the branches with them as they go. In contrast, bare trees sprouted like gang busters in less than a month.

It is weird that way.

The other killer is fungus so watch out for it esp if you see dieback which usually shows/manifests at smaller twigs (though most originate from the root zone). Usually the bark under is slowly dying at that point but not easy to detect due to the bark.

Would love to see the "reduced" tree.

 

[Paradox]

I dont seem to have many issues with fungus fortunately, but Ill keep an eye on it.

Its pretty ugly right now. I chopped the main trunk back to less than half the total height.
I didnt defoliate it and it has lost some leaves but it is making new ones at the tips of most branches to I think it will be ok.