Overpotting culture

[Berthold]

I've seen seriously rootbound plants which could then reduce the surface area for nutrient uptake, so If I can get fast growth by successfully overpotting, without dividing or the plant suffering in any way, where's the limit?

Gary

The limit is defined by the genetics of the species of the plant. Have a look for the largest plant clusters You find in nature and You know about the limit.

 

[Rick]

Since I've gone to baskets for a lot of plants the physical limit of root growth doesn't appear to be diffined by the edge of the container (as in a pot). For some of my plants that are pushing out of the 1st basket, I've nested into a bigger basket. So far they are going to the edge of the bigger basket too, and (for the Kolo's) probably ready to go a size up!

 

[Rick]

A small note is that during my experimenting I decided to put extra holes in the sides of my pots. The size depending on the pot size. This has made the drying of the media more even especially with the good air circulation.

Gary

Transition to baskets:wink:

 

[Rick]

While I am on the subject of large pots I will throw another open question.

By attempting to grow a larger root system, is this taking anything away from the bloom ie, putting it's energy into growth instead. As the plant grows in size will it produce larger spikes or is that in the DNA of the plant?

Gary

DNA will define the ultimate size of flowers and spikes.

But larger roots support larger leaves, and ultimately plants that are more resilient to disease and culture upsets. When the plant goes into sexual reproductive mode (i.e.flowering) its going from a position of good health and not the last gasping effort to get its genes into the next generation before colapsing (the "bloom itself to death theory").

 

[Rick]

The bigger multis do seem to thrive in the bigger pots.

Back when I was using MSU at 1/2tsp/gall I couldn't get multis to survive in pots unless drastically underpotted.

I have old ST posts of blooming (18 -24") size supardii and stonei in as little as 2" pots! Attempts at moving them to greater than 4" killed the roots and I'd have to start over again in a small pot (or they died).

With reduced K I got succesful root growth in larger pots (when I still used pots) but still had to be careful on water and potting mix age/condition.

With reduced N I'm getting to use big pots and almost as much water I can throw at them.

 

[Carper]

Over the last several months Rick, my feed strength has gradually reduced anyway as I'm getting just as good results. My only concern with basket culture is that when the roots appear outside the medium, do you repot as they seem to die when fertilized directly. My kovachii is still in basket culture and I recently replaced the medium and it's on the go again and this seems the only method I can get use to keep it alive!!

I may try out the method on a few more for a trial.

Gary
UK

 

[Brabantia]

Over the last several months Rick, my feed strength has gradually reduced anyway as I'm getting just as good results.
Gary UK

You have reduced at which Nitrogen concentration and what is your feeding frequency?

 

[Carper]

You have reduced at which Nitrogen concentration and what is your feeding frequency?

It's around 20 ppm N I think and I feed approx. once a week but as the days shorten/lower light levels are now here in the UK, feeding will be from 7-14 days depending on the medium and when I feel the plant needs it. I am experimenting with foliar feeding at the minute with vg results which I intend to continue with at least weekly.

Gary
UK

 

[My Green Pets]

Thank you for this thread! I recently overpotted a roth from a 6-inch to a 10-inch pot and was not sure about it, but I feel more confident now!