Your input please? rootbound.

From: Hannon <othonna at gmail.com> on 2010.09.05 at 05:28:58(21390) Steve, Yes, some rainforest plants are rootbound in the wild if they are lodged in small crevices or holes in limestone, e.g., various Amorphophallus. +More I am a strong advocate of maintaining plants, any plants in pots, under rootbound conditions for the reasons that others have given here and more. It boils down to the health of the roots, which is really the greater part of horticultural method. You will notice that a plant is at its best when it is well along after repotting, becoming pot-bound, yet before it is really cramped. This ideal state does not last more than a year or two in many cases, unfortunately. The rootbound condition necessitates more frequent and more thorough watering (a good thing for many aroids) but otherwise should not be a problem for the grower. Shortly before a plant is simply obnoxious because it dries and wilts all the time, it should get a bigger pot. Naturally there are exceptions, such as fast growing plants or aquatic aroids, that can be "overpotted" with no ill results. If plant health, time of year and other conditions are ideal then it may be fine to put a large pot-bound Philodendron in a 6" pot directly into a 5gal tub if it is a large species. I would add that the firmness of the container is important too. Roots seem to need physical resistance, and I have generally had much better results with very firm, stiff pots (good polstyrene, clay, wooden boxes, etc.). Any squishy-soft pots are thrown away. As a consequence of "greater efficiency" in modern injection molding I have lots of plastic pots 10 years old or more that I value highly. Particle size of potting media is another consideration, in addition to others. It is a complex topic that is not often properly addressed. Best of luck with you article! Dylan On 02/09/2010, ExoticRainforest wrote: > > Some of you know that I love to chase down the sources of horticultural > beliefs. If you have ever spent time on any plant forum you know the common > advice is to keep your plants root bound, or at least when you repot give > the roots only an "extra fingers width" on each side the pot. My question > is where do that advice originate? Why do we believe it? Is this really > good growing advice or just an old wives tale? Are plants in the rain > forest root bound? > > I understand that nursery men prefer to start their plants in small pots > and allow the roots to fill it before stepping the seedling up to a larger > pot. My understanding is they do this in order to encourage a hearty root > system first. But it appears some growers may have taken this advice to > excess and always keep their plant's root bound. Should we always keep our > aroids in pots so small their roots are for ever crowded, or give them space > to grow? > > We always have new growers looking for good growing advice. If you have > adopted a small pot policy please tell us why. If you are an experienced > grower and prefer a tight pot method I would enjoy knowing the reasoning. > Many of you don't know that I have written for years for a variety of > magazines and I have another train of thought in this area. I am now > working on a new article to explain about aroid growth, a plant's need for > oxygen around its roots as well as how to keep their root systems healthy. > This discussion will help me to formulate my article. > > If you are new to growing, please chime in. > > > > Thanks! > > Steve > www,ExoticRainforest.com > > > _______________________________________________ > Aroid-L mailing list > Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com > http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l > > > -- Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire,--- conscience. - George Washington, from his copy-book when a schoolboy _______________________________________________ Aroid-L mailing list Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

From: ExoticRainforest <Steve at ExoticRainforest.com> on 2010.09.05 at 20:41:45(21396) Thanks Dylan! I especially like to read info from a good scientist. All of this just went into my file! Steve +More On 9/5/2010 12:28, Hannon wrote: > Steve, > > Yes, some rainforest plants are rootbound in the wild if they are > lodged in small crevices or holes in limestone, e.g., various > Amorphophallus. > > I am a strong advocate of maintaining plants, any plants in pots, > under rootbound conditions for the reasons that others have given here > and more. It boils down to the health of the roots, which is really > the greater part of horticultural method. You will notice that a plant > is at its best when it is well along after repotting, becoming > pot-bound, yet before it is really cramped. This ideal state does not > last more than a year or two in many cases, unfortunately. > > The rootbound condition necessitates more frequent and more thorough > watering (a good thing for many aroids) but otherwise should not be a > problem for the grower. Shortly before a plant is simply obnoxious > because it dries and wilts all the time, it should get a bigger pot. > > Naturally there are exceptions, such as fast growing plants or aquatic > aroids, that can be "overpotted" with no ill results. If plant health, > time of year and other conditions are ideal then it may be fine to put > a large pot-bound Philodendron in a 6" pot directly into a 5gal tub if > it is a large species. > > I would add that the firmness of the container is important too. Roots > seem to need physical resistance, and I have generally had much better > results with very firm, stiff pots (good polstyrene, clay, wooden > boxes, etc.). Any squishy-soft pots are thrown away. As a consequence > of "greater efficiency" in modern injection molding I have lots of > plastic pots 10 years old or more that I value highly. > > Particle size of potting media is another consideration, in addition > to others. It is a complex topic that is not often properly addressed. > Best of luck with you article! > > Dylan > > > > On 02/09/2010, ExoticRainforest wrote: > >> Some of you know that I love to chase down the sources of horticultural >> beliefs. If you have ever spent time on any plant forum you know the common >> advice is to keep your plants root bound, or at least when you repot give >> the roots only an "extra fingers width" on each side the pot. My question >> is where do that advice originate? Why do we believe it? Is this really >> good growing advice or just an old wives tale? Are plants in the rain >> forest root bound? >> >> I understand that nursery men prefer to start their plants in small pots >> and allow the roots to fill it before stepping the seedling up to a larger >> pot. My understanding is they do this in order to encourage a hearty root >> system first. But it appears some growers may have taken this advice to >> excess and always keep their plant's root bound. Should we always keep our >> aroids in pots so small their roots are for ever crowded, or give them space >> to grow? >> >> We always have new growers looking for good growing advice. If you have >> adopted a small pot policy please tell us why. If you are an experienced >> grower and prefer a tight pot method I would enjoy knowing the reasoning. >> Many of you don't know that I have written for years for a variety of >> magazines and I have another train of thought in this area. I am now >> working on a new article to explain about aroid growth, a plant's need for >> oxygen around its roots as well as how to keep their root systems healthy. >> This discussion will help me to formulate my article. >> >> If you are new to growing, please chime in. >> >> >> >> Thanks! >> >> Steve >> www,ExoticRainforest.com >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Aroid-L mailing list >> Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com >> http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l >> >> >> >> > > --------------050904000809060300060500 _______________________________________________ Aroid-L mailing list Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l --------------050904000809060300060500--

From: Theodore Held <oppenhauser2001 at gmail.com> on 2010.09.07 at 14:36:26(21409) Friends of plants, Related to this topic, and hinted at by a couple of responses, is whether or not a given species is averse to wet substrate conditions or not. One thing I don't know is what types (if any) of aroids can develop what is called aerenchyma tissue in roots. Aerenchyma consists of hollow tubes in root tissue that serve to conduct air down to waterlogged roots so they can breath. Plants that can do this (and I think it can be something that is induced when necessary rather than produced in all root tissue) have an obvious advantage. We might place one set of plants in the category of Susceptible to Root Rot and another into the category Not Bothered by Root Rot. Are the ones in the root rot category unable to produce aerenchema? Whether in the wild or in a greenhouse, sometimes the ground is wet and sometimes it is dry. For those species that are prone to root rot one wonders how they deal with a couple of days of rain. If a plant is prone to root rot, why not suggest to the horticulturist to simply shift to a looser medium? No real need for a small pot there. And using a porous pot in place of an impervious plastic one (or a vitrified clay pot with a beautiful glaze) would seem in order. But we do seem to see advice toward small pots and not so much toward porous ones. A mystery. +More Aside from aerenchema, there is also the issue of plant nutrition. Much of this stuff (perhaps the large majority) is absorbed through the roots. Roots can only extract what's present. In a root-bound condition, one suspects that available nutrients are depleted sooner or later - unless fertilizer is added by the grower. Another factor is space available. For commercial growers smaller pots mean denser plant growing and more efficient use of the same nursery. Little pots might be good as long as any adverse results don't show up - unless maybe after the things are sold. I like the flowering story, but wonder if there's any scientific evidence to support it. Please add comments to these off-hand speculations. Ted Held. On Sun, Sep 5, 2010 at 6:22 AM, Johannes Moonen wrote: > > Dear Alison, > thanks for your advice ! > my philodendron seedlings do good. > i don't replace them, so they all grow in one direction, the light. > is it worth turing them every or few weeks, so you have more symmetric > plants ? > thanks for your advice, Joep Moonen > On Sep 4, 2010, at 5:33 PM, STARSELL@aol.com wrote: > > Hi Steve, and All, > > One reason for small pots when starting most young > plants is to keep them from getting root rot in an overly moist > environment (small root system, people water -thus wet soil) and > it does not dry uniformly, staying very wet in the bottom. > > With re-potting, some plants will perform best only when they > are rootbound to some degree, and will cease to perform well when > they are very rootbound. Again, too large a pot can mean root rot > due to too wet soil. It takes some seasoning to gauge 'soil' mix for > plants, each one with it's own needs. One inch is the usual recommenda tion > for sizing up. > > One plant that I put into the largest pot I have, making sure that it is > always moist, sitting in some water are my treeferns. They are one pla nt > that will grow as large as possible in the smallest amount of time if > treated this way. > > There are some plants that I put in the largest pots immediately, without > intermediate potting up and they will perform similarly, but of course > without all the water. I think people just need to know what they have. > > There is little that I keep 'always potbound' though. > > Let us know. > > > Alison > > > > > > In a message dated 9/4/2010 3:19:49 P.M. Central Daylight Time, > Steve@ExoticRainforest.com writes: > > Some of you know that I love to chase down the sources of horticultural > beliefs. If you have ever spent time on any plant forum you know the c ommon > advice is to keep your plants root bound, or at least when you repot give > the roots only an "extra fingers width" on each side the pot. My quest ion > is where do that advice originate? Why do we believe it? Is this re ally > good growing advice or just an old wives tale? Are plants in the rain > forest root bound? > > I understand that nursery men prefer to start their plants in small pots and > allow the roots to fill it before stepping the seedling up to a larger po t. > My understanding is they do this in order to encourage a hearty root syst em > first. But it appears some growers may have taken this advice to exces s and > always keep their plant's root bound. Should we always keep our aroids in > pots so small their roots are for ever crowded, or give them space to gro w? > > We always have new growers looking for good growing advice. If you have > adopted a small pot policy please tell us why. If you are an experienc ed > grower and prefer a tight pot method I would enjoy knowing the reasoning. > Many of you don't know that I have written for years for a variety of > magazines and I have another train of thought in this area. I am now > working on a new article to explain about aroid growth, a plant's need for > oxygen around its roots as well as how to keep their root systems healthy. > This discussion will help me to formulate my article. > > If you are new to growing, please chime in. > > > > Thanks! > > Steve > www,ExoticRainforest.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Aroid-L mailing list > Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com > http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l > > _______________________________________________ > Aroid-L mailing list > Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com > http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l > > > _______________________________________________ > Aroid-L mailing list > Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com > http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l > > _______________________________________________ Aroid-L mailing list Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

From: Ernesto Collosi <ernestocollosi at hotmail.com> on 2010.09.08 at 00:01:07(21415) Hannon, I live in San Diego, Ca., looking for philodendron williamsii, can you be of help in this endeavor, thank you. Ernesto Collosi, 619-398-5922  HTML +More > Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2010 22:28:58 -0700 > From: othonna@gmail.com > To: aroid-l@www.gizmoworks.com > Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Your input please? rootbound. > > Steve, > > Yes, some rainforest plants are rootbound in the wild if they are > lodged in small crevices or holes in limestone, e.g., various > Amorphophallus. > > I am a strong advocate of maintaining plants, any plants in pots, > under rootbound conditions for the reasons that others have given here > and more. It boils down to the health of the roots, which is really > the greater part of horticultural method. You will notice that a plant > is at its best when it is well along after repotting, becoming > pot-bound, yet before it is really cramped. This ideal state does not > last more than a year or two in many cases, unfortunately. > > The rootbound condition necessitates more frequent and more thorough > watering (a good thing for many aroids) but otherwise should not be a > problem for the grower. Shortly before a plant is simply obnoxious > because it dries and wilts all the time, it should get a bigger pot. > > Naturally there are exceptions, such as fast growing plants or aquatic > aroids, that can be "overpotted" with no ill results. If plant health, > time of year and other conditions are ideal then it may be fine to put > a large pot-bound Philodendron in a 6" pot directly into a 5gal tub if > it is a large species. > > I would add that the firmness of the container is important too. Roots > seem to need physical resistance, and I have generally had much better > results with very firm, stiff pots (good polstyrene, clay, wooden > boxes, etc.). Any squishy-soft pots are thrown away. As a consequence > of "greater efficiency" in modern injection molding I have lots of > plastic pots 10 years old or more that I value highly. > > Particle size of potting media is another consideration, in addition > to others. It is a complex topic that is not often properly addressed. > Best of luck with you article! > > Dylan > > > > On 02/09/2010, ExoticRainforest <Steve@exoticrainforest.com> wrote: > > > > Some of you know that I love to chase down the sources of horticultural > > beliefs. If you have ever spent time on any plant forum you know the common > > advice is to keep your plants root bound, or at least when you repot give > > the roots only an "extra fingers width" on each side the pot.. My question > > is where do that advice originate? Why do we believe it? Is this really > > good growing advice or just an old wives tale? Are plants in the rain > > forest root bound? > > > > I understand that nursery men prefer to start their plants in small pots > > and allow the roots to fill it before stepping the seedling up to a larger > > pot.. My understanding is they do this in order to encourage a hearty root > > system first. But it appears some growers may have taken this advice to > > excess and always keep their plant's root bound. Should we always keep our > > aroids in pots so small their roots are for ever crowded, or give them space > > to grow? > > > > We always have new growers looking for good growing advice. If you have > > adopted a small pot policy please tell us why. If you are an experienced > > grower and prefer a tight pot method I would enjoy knowing the reasoning. > > Many of you don't know that I have written for years for a variety of > > magazines and I have another train of thought in this area. I am now > > working on a new article to explain about aroid growth, a plant's need for > > oxygen around its roots as well as how to keep their root systems healthy. > > This discussion will help me to formulate my article. > > > > If you are new to growing, please chime in. > > > > > > > > Thanks! > > > > Steve > > www,ExoticRainforest.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Aroid-L mailing list > > Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com > > http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l > > > > > > > > > -- > Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial > fire,--- conscience. > - George Washington, from his copy-book when a schoolboy > _______________________________________________ > Aroid-L mailing list > Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com > http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l --_52c03c55-41ca-417d-a73e-e537a686db5c_-- --==============Q62102091923931932=

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