Potted holly care

Holly is a tree that is widely used as an ornamental plant. Despite its thorns, its beauty and rusticity are astonishing. And it is that it grows slowly, but it can be kept as a hedge or isolated specimen in the garden, or even as a shrub or potted tree.

For this reason, it turns out to be very interesting to beautify a patio or terrace. However, What is the care of potted holly? It is important to know them because their needs as a potted plant differ a little from what it has when it is grown in the garden, so let's get to it.

Location

El holly In pot, it is sold a lot during Christmas, since it is when it produces its striking red fruits. When we arrived home, we can make the mistake of putting it inside, where yes, you can stay healthy for a few weeks but eventually you will weaken and die.

The reasons why this happens is that it is a tree native to the forests of Europe and Asia, where temperatures in summer are mild and where frosts and snowfalls are registered in winter. Namely, it is not a tropical plant that needs heat or protection. When we put it inside the house, we are depriving it of feeling the fresh air, the rain, the snow, and the passing of the seasons.

In addition to having it outside, it must be in a bright area for it will not live in dark places. Ideally, it should be in direct sunlight, but it can also be in semi-shade.

Watering the potted holly

If we talk about irrigation, this is a task that will have to be done from time to time. We will use rainwater, if that is possible, or failing that, water that is suitable for consumption, or that does not have much lime. (It is better not to use very alkaline waters, that is, with a pH higher than 7, to avoid problems)

It is not a very demanding tree, as it is able to withstand short dry periods well. Now when you have it in a pot it is necessary to water about 3 or 4 times a week during the summer, and in winter one or two weekly. If you put a plate under it, it is advisable, especially in winter, to try to remove any excess water after watering. In this way, the roots will not be flooded.

Soil / substrate 

As substrate or soil it is advisable to use universal substrate that is of quality, that is, that the water drains quickly and that it does not become too compacted even if it remains dry, and that it is also rich in organic matter, for example this one that they sell here. Another option is to mix mulch (for sale here) with 30% perlite (for sale here).

To improve drainage, you can even put a first layer of volcanic clay, clay, or even gravel (construction sand, 1-3mm thick).

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Holly, when it is potted, does not have more nutrients than those in the substrate. These are depleted as the roots absorb them, and If not fertilized, the plant will stop growing first and will become ill later. 

During the growing season, that is, in spring and summer, it has to be paid. Since it is in a pot, it is highly advisable to use liquid fertilizers, such as green plants (for sale here) or guano (for sale here), because in this way the holly can get the nutrients it needs quickly and efficiently.

Transplant

With the aim that it can continue its growth and development, one of the things we will have to do every 3-4 years is plant it in a pot that measures at least 5-7 centimeters more, both in depth and in diameter, than what it measures at this moment.

The transplant will be done if it is really necessary, something that we will know if the roots come out through the holes in the pot, or if when trying to remove the plant from said container it comes out with the whole root ball, without falling apart.

The steps are:

1. First, you have to choose a pot. It can be made of plastic or mud, but it must have some holes in its base so that the water will come out. Also, it should be about 5-7cm in diameter and deeper than it is now.
2. Later, we will fill it with a little substrate.
3. Next, we will carefully remove the holly from its 'old' pot. If necessary, we will give the pot a few taps to make it come out better.
4. The next step is to introduce the holly into its new pot, placing it in the center. If we see that it is too low, we will put more earth; and if on the contrary it is too high, we will remove.
5. Finally, we will finish filling and water.

Pruning

Pruning is necessary when you have a potted holly, and more if we do not have a garden and / or we are not interested in planting it in the ground. Fortunately, as it grows slowly it is not something we have to do often. In fact, rather than pruning, what will have to be done more often are pinching, that is, cutting the newest leaves to remove lower branches.

Otherwise, Beyond removing the branches that are dry or diseased, and reducing the length of those that are growing a lot, you do not have to do more. Although of course this will depend on our tastes and preferences: if we want it to be a small tree, we will remove the branches that sprout from the trunk as well; but if on the contrary we want it to be a dense and compact bush, then we will pinch the branches so that more emerge.

Clamping as such can be done throughout the year, but if entire branches have to be removed, it will be done at the end of winter. We will use pruning tools -scissors- that are clean, because although we cannot see them with the naked eye, there may be fungal spores on our tools, and if we use them without washing them before, the holly could become ill.

Has it been useful to you? We hope that with these tips you can enjoy your holly grown in a pot.