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

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=

Note: this is a very old post, so no reply function is available.