Re: [Aroid-l] Your input please? rootbound.

From: Ernesto Collosi <ernestocollosi at hotmail.com> on 2010.09.08 at 00:01:07 Hannon=2C I live in San Diego=2C Ca.=2C looking for philodendron williamsii=2C can you be of help in this endeavor=2C thank you. Ernesto Collosi=2C 619-398-5922 =3B >=3B Date: Sat=2C 4 Sep 2010 22:28:58 -0700 >=3B From: othonna@gmail.com >=3B To: aroid-l@www.gizmoworks.com >=3B Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Your input please? rootbound. >=3B >=3B Steve=2C >=3B >=3B Yes=2C some rainforest plants are rootbound in the wild if they are >=3B lodged in small crevices or holes in limestone=2C e.g.=2C various >=3B Amorphophallus. >=3B >=3B I am a strong advocate of maintaining plants=2C any plants in pots=2C >=3B under rootbound conditions for the reasons that others have given here >=3B and more. It boils down to the health of the roots=2C which is really >=3B the greater part of horticultural method. You will notice that a plant >=3B is at its best when it is well along after repotting=2C becoming >=3B pot-bound=2C yet before it is really cramped. This ideal state does not >=3B last more than a year or two in many cases=2C unfortunately. >=3B >=3B The rootbound condition necessitates more frequent and more thorough >=3B watering (a good thing for many aroids) but otherwise should not be a >=3B problem for the grower. Shortly before a plant is simply obnoxious >=3B because it dries and wilts all the time=2C it should get a bigger pot. >=3B >=3B Naturally there are exceptions=2C such as fast growing plants or aquatic >=3B aroids=2C that can be "overpotted" with no ill results. If plant health=2C >=3B time of year and other conditions are ideal then it may be fine to put >=3B a large pot-bound Philodendron in a 6" pot directly into a 5gal tub if >=3B it is a large species. >=3B >=3B I would add that the firmness of the container is important too. Roots >=3B seem to need physical resistance=2C and I have generally had much better >=3B results with very firm=2C stiff pots (good polstyrene=2C clay=2C wooden >=3B boxes=2C etc.). Any squishy-soft pots are thrown away. As a consequence >=3B of "greater efficiency" in modern injection molding I have lots of >=3B plastic pots 10 years old or more that I value highly. >=3B >=3B Particle size of potting media is another consideration=2C in addition >=3B to others. It is a complex topic that is not often properly addressed. >=3B Best of luck with you article! >=3B >=3B Dylan >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B On 02/09/2010=2C ExoticRainforest <=3BSteve@exoticrainforest.com>=3B wrote: >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B Some of you know that I love to chase down the sources of horticultural >=3B >=3B beliefs. If you have ever spent time on any plant forum you know the common >=3B >=3B advice is to keep your plants root bound=2C or at least when you repot give >=3B >=3B the roots only an "extra fingers width" on each side the pot.. My question >=3B >=3B is where do that advice originate? Why do we believe it? Is this really >=3B >=3B good growing advice or just an old wives tale? Are plants in the rain >=3B >=3B forest root bound? >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B I understand that nursery men prefer to start their plants in small pots >=3B >=3B and allow the roots to fill it before stepping the seedling up to a larger >=3B >=3B pot.. My understanding is they do this in order to encourage a hearty root >=3B >=3B system first. But it appears some growers may have taken this advice to >=3B >=3B excess and always keep their plant's root bound. Should we always keep our >=3B >=3B aroids in pots so small their roots are for ever crowded=2C or give them space >=3B >=3B to grow? >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B We always have new growers looking for good growing advice. If you have >=3B >=3B adopted a small pot policy please tell us why. If you are an experienced >=3B >=3B grower and prefer a tight pot method I would enjoy knowing the reasoning. >=3B >=3B Many of you don't know that I have written for years for a variety of >=3B >=3B magazines and I have another train of thought in this area. I am now >=3B >=3B working on a new article to explain about aroid growth=2C a plant's need for >=3B >=3B oxygen around its roots as well as how to keep their root systems healthy. >=3B >=3B This discussion will help me to formulate my article. >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B If you are new to growing=2C please chime in. >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B Thanks! >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B Steve >=3B >=3B www=2CExoticRainforest.com >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B _______________________________________________ >=3B >=3B Aroid-L mailing list >=3B >=3B Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com >=3B >=3B http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B -- >=3B Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial >=3B fire=2C--- conscience. >=3B - George Washington=2C from his copy-book when a schoolboy >=3B _______________________________________________ >=3B Aroid-L mailing list >=3B Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com >=3B http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l --_52c03c55-41ca-417d-a73e-e537a686db5c_-- --===============5162102091923931932==

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