Ground Planting in Colanders

[Scott Roxburgh]

It appears that some nurseries plant into colanders for a few years then let some of the roots escape into the soil.

Field of future shohin JBP at Japan Bonsai in White Rock, B.C.

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[Josh]

This is a tea tree I had recovering in a tub of water after potting it into a colander. Apparently it liked it I pruned the exposed roots off and put it back into the water. Will be interesting to see how this develops.

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I was going to put this into the ground to grown on but think I might try leaving it in the water and just keep pruning the roots and see how it goes.

Josh

[Ray M]

Hi Josh,
I put my natives in a water tray for the whole of summer. They shoot roots out very, very well.

Regards Ray

[Ray M]

Hi Scott,
Thanks for the photo. Those pines look very healthy.

Regards Ray

[Drac0]

Hi Josh,
I put my natives in a water tray for the whole of summer. They shoot roots out very, very well.

Regards Ray

All natives or just selected ones?

[Josh]

Hi Josh,
I put my natives in a water tray for the whole of summer. They shoot roots out very, very well.

Regards Ray

All natives or just selected ones?

Most of my natives spend most of their life in water. I just repotted a redgum recently and it went straight into a tub of water. In 2 days it was shooting everywhere. I can't think of any native I don't put into water.

Josh

[Ray M]

Hi Josh,
I put my natives in a water tray for the whole of summer. They shoot roots out very, very well.

Regards Ray

All natives or just selected ones?

Hi Drac0,
I do the same as Josh. It doesn't matter what native I have they go into a water tray. I will take a photo of the type of trays I use tommorow. The trees will usually drink a full tray of water each day.

Regards Ray

[Drac0]

Maybe that's why my re-potted Sydney Red Gum ain't looking so good.......

Looking forward to pics, got a lot of natives coming into my collection in the future so want to give them every chance to thrive.

[Ray M]

Hi Josh,
I put my natives in a water tray for the whole of summer. They shoot roots out very, very well.

Regards Ray

All natives or just selected ones?

Hi Drac0,
I do the same as Josh. It doesn't matter what native I have they go into a water tray. I will take a photo of the type of trays I use tomorrow. The trees will usually drink a full tray of water each day.

Regards Ray

Hi Drac0,
I have added the photos of the trays. I purchase these from the two dollar shops. They are the trays that pots stand in. You can buy the trays separately without the pots. The plastic is quite good, it stands up to ultra violate light very well. The photos show a few sizes I use. I'll quote the internal measurements.

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Regards Ray

[Drac0]

Thanks Ray, was expecting some strange & wonderful setup but seems the basics cover the job easily.

Will probably move my natives to trays before more hot weather hits.

Cheers

[Drac0]

Quick question. Do you water them until the tray fills or just fill the tray & let them soak up what they want? Suppose I'm still a little unsure about leaving them with their feet too wet.

[Ray M]

Quick question. Do you water them until the tray fills or just fill the tray & let them soak up what they want? Suppose I'm still a little unsure about leaving them with their feet too wet.

Hi Drac0,
I water the tree the same as other trees. After watering I fill the trays with water. You will be surprised how much water they will drink during summer. During the winter I observe the trays, if the tree is not drinking at least half the tray I will lift it out of the tray and water normally.

Regards Ray

[neville.james]

Ray you have me thinking.
I have been working with native Plum Pine- (Padocarpus Lawrencei) & Alpine Mint Bush - (Prostanthera cuneata ) and they get root-bound so quickly.
This way I can train and grow at same time.
Thanks.

[Ray M]

Ray you have me thinking.
I have been working with native Plum Pine- (Padocarpus Lawrencei) & Alpine Mint Bush - (Prostanthera cuneata ) and they get root-bound so quickly.
This way I can train and grow at same time.
Thanks.

Hi neville.james,
The great thing is that there are no hard walls for the roots to hit against and start curling around. When the roots grow out through all the holes they will be burnt off buy the sun. If you want to place them in a bigger pot you can put the colander into a larger colander to allow the roots to grow into more soil. You can also place the colander in the ground and lift it every now and then and prune the roots, then place it back into the ground. When planting colanders in the ground remember to only plant at a depth that leaves the lip of the colander above the ground.

Regards Ray

[Meagi]

Ray I have planted nearly everything this year in to colinders.
I poked around in a few Japanese maples and English elms
I'm am amazed at the nice white root growth ,roots are growing out every direction and heaps of them
Will be interesting to see the amount they put on this winter when reporting time comes
Thanks for the idea I think air flow plays a huge part in this correct me if I'm wrong but will continue using this method
Cheers