A grasslike, shade-loving perennial, mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus spp.) Can suffer from root diseases. “Gyoku-ryu” (Ophiopogon japonicus “Gyoku-ryu”) is a mini cultivar that grows 1 to 2 inches tall. “Gyoku-ryu,” which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 10, grows best in partial or full shade and well-draining soil. Other dwarf varieties of mondo grass include “Kyoto Dwarf,” which grows 3 ins tall and grows in USDA zones 6 through 9.
Right Plant, Slow Place
The wrong growing conditions cause difficulties for mini mondo grass. In bright places and heavy soils, mini mondo grass grows poorly and might wilt, turn yellow and fall. It does not tolerate whole sun or reflected heat, such as from hardscaping or walls and in summertime, when it is actively growing, mini mondo grass is susceptible to drought. Plants may also suffer from over-watering, especially when growing on clay soil or poorly drained soil. Soil temperatures below 10 degrees Fahrenheit severely damage mini mondo grass roots. In late winter, its leaves can become ragged, but this is a portion of its natural growth pattern.
Root of the Problem
Miniature mondo grass may suffer from a root disease, called pythium root rot, but biological controls offer you a solution. A bacterial infection that causes burnt-looking leaf suggestions, yellowing leaves and rotting origins, pythium root rot is a severe disease in mini mondo grass that often develops in heavy soils with poor drainage. Biological pesticides control Pythium splendens, the bacteria that causes the infection. Put on long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, socks, shoes and safety glasses, and dilute a product containing Gliocladium virens strain GL-21 in a speed of 1/3 fluid ounce each 1 gallon of water. Water each 10 square foot of garden bed using mondo grass with 1 gallon of this solution. Apply it on a dry day and don’t water the area for 12 hours. Rates and procedures vary among manufacturers, so follow the directions on the label.
A Snip in Time
Pruning and fungicides treat anthracnose in mini mondo grass. Causing brown or reddish-brown patches along the leaf edges and suggestions, anthracnose is a frequent disease in mini mondo grass. Wipe rubbing alcohol on pruning shear blades or garden scissors to sterilize them, and remove infected foliage if the infestation is light. To take care of heavy infestations, wear protective clothing and dilute a product containing 50 percent thiophanate-methyl in a speed of 2 1/4 to 3 teaspoons per gallon of water at a garden sprayer, and spray on the mondo grass when symptoms appear. Apply the merchandise every seven to 14 days for as long as the infection symptoms demonstrate, or according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Shady Business
Miniature mondo grass thrives in well-draining, moist soil in partial shade or full shade. Water plants often so the soil is continually moist but never soggy, and disperse 1/2 inch of garden compost evenly over the expanding region in early spring, to provide micronutrients and help protect against root diseases. Apply a slow-release organic fertilizer in late spring, such as a 4-2-3 granular fertilizer applied at a speed of 4 cups each 50 square foot, or according to the manufacturer’s directions.