(I am double posting this since I don't seem to be getting much action in the Texas Gardening Forum where I originally posted it. If this breaks a DG website rule I appologize, but I couldn't figure out in which forum it belonged)
I have two citrus trees, one a Myer lemon and the other a Satsuma orange, a pomegranate tree and three blueberry bushes that I would like to move from their current containers to more permanent ones. I was wondering if there is a rule of thumb to determine the appropriate container size, such as the tree's height and width at maturity or some other determining factors? I’m concerned that the plastic containers they are in currently will crack and split open after a few years of exposure to the heat and cold. And I don’t know if they should be repotted now or if I need to let them grow larger since they will probably be moving to a substantially larger container than they are in currently. As far as type of container, should I buy wood, ceramic, terracotta, fiberglass, resin, clay, or something else? I want a container that is not real heavy in case I need to move it around but looks nice and will withstand harsh weather conditions. On first thought I wanted to try and go cheap (or “frugal” as my dad used to call it) since I will need to purchase six of them. However, I would like for them to last for quite a while so I am willing to consider any and all price ranges. Your experiences, opinions and pictures would be appreciated.
Size matters, so I've heard
(this the second of my two double postings on this same topic)
I briefly perused the internet last night looking for containers made of resin or fiberglass since those materials seem to offer what I am looking for: strong and sturdy but lightweight, weather resistant and will last a long time. I was shocked at the prices as the sizes I believe I will need are from $70 to $170 each. I may need to rethink my "quality at any cost" notion. It will be helpful when I can determine the size containers I need based on the feedback I receive on this thread. Here is the website with the least expensive but attractive containers I have found so far:
http://www.simplyplanters.com/planters/planters/ignaroundresinplanter.cfm
I don't know what size you'll need, but if 12" x 12" x 12" is big enough, and you'll never have to move it, there is a $5-$10 option.
Get five paving stones, around $1 each, 12" sqaure and around 3/4 inch thick. They're made of concrete. I like brick-red, but there's also gray, especially if you rub them smooth against each other and paint them.
Put down some plastic so runoff will drain away.
Arranging a slight tilt might be nice, so you know where water will drain to.
Drop one paving stone flat on the plastic, where it will stay forever and ever.
Chip 1-4 corners of the base so there will be a gap for drainage.
Chip one or two corners of most of the other four, to increase the size of the drainage gap.
You might want all drainage to occur out the back, then only chip 11/2 the corners.
(You could be fancy and cut slits with an angle grinder or some carbide tool, or whack gently with a hammer so it crumbles a little at a time. with a hammer.)
Apply mortar or a line of "concrete glue" from a tube that fits a caulk-gun (the glue might be $4-5).
Put the lIne of glue along one edge of one paver, and prop it upright upon the base.
Repeat 4 times, also glueing the upright pavers to each other where they meet.
You might want to clamp or tie the sides together, ir lean heavy thigns against them until the glue sets.
Now you have a 1-cubic-foot concrete box that weighs around 100 pounds.
Fill it with 100 pounds of damp soil, add a tree, and voila!
But unless you are Superman or have him on speed-dial, that planter is NOT moving anywhere, any time time soon.
On the other hand, it will prevent Volkswagons and small armored vehicles from trespassing onto your back porch.
Corey
This year I purchased large, deep 18 inch ceramic planters at Sam's for $40 each. I don't know how large your citrus trees are, but these planters look to me to be large enough for the blueberries for sure.They came in a few different glazes. I chose a dark brown that looks great with my reddish-brown brick. I have four of them in front of the house in between each column. Once filled with potting mix and annual plants, they are heavy as hell and haven't budged even during the last couple tornado-like windstorms we've had here in Chicago. Aesthetically, they are lovely and I get compliments on them all the time but I have no idea how DH is going to move them into the back 3-season room for the winter. ;) Prior to this purchase, I searched high and low for reasonably-priced, nice-looking, large resin or plastic pots and most I've seen have been cheesy-looking and/or overpriced.
Corey- I love the paver planter idea! I may need to add that project to hubby's honeydo list. Thanks for the idea!
You're very welcome. Some post in some DG forum gave a link to someone who gave clearer directions.
(If you re-inforced it somehow, you could use the thinner 8x16" pavers, for an 8" tall box or a 16" tall box! Even so, put rollers on it BEFORE adding soil if you ever wnat to move it!
Someone else on DG pointed out that even if cinder blocks are ugly, you can paint them with ANYthing, even watered-down indoor latex housepaint - and don't need primer. She made some beautiful RBs with "sand" colored cinder blocks.
Maybe you don't even need to sand them smooth first, but it's very easy to rub one cinder block or paver against another, and they sand the rough spots off each other very quickly. Then blow or wash the dust off before painting.
Corey
What some people do here with their figs, is they plant them in whisky barrels and keep them on flat dollies with casters to roll in & out of their garages. I've seen some remarkably big figs in some driveways, 3-4 feet tall easy. A method to keep in mind.
Big decorative pots are going to be expensive. If you find it gets crazy, there's always those black professional nursery pots. Granted, they're not pretty, but they're made to bake in the sun, and you may be able to find them cheap or even free if you call around to some local landscape businesses, check Craig's List, eBay, etc. There's a special spray paint available now, that sticks to plastic too, if you want to try to jazz them up a bit.
Whenever you have a plant in a pot, you're going to have to repot and change out the potting soil, maybe root prune, etc. You may want to look over the Container Forum, lots of good info there~
hrp50, how old/big are your citrus trees? That will determine the size of the pots you'll need. It is important not to put your trees in oversized pots or you'll end up with poor moisture control. 'Tis better to start w/appropriate sized pots and bump them up to bigger pots as the trees grow.
I'd also stay away from the black nursery pots. Nedweenie, in Texas it gets very hot, not like in England where you are and the black pots really soak up the heat to the point of damaging the root system. I'd sure use the black pots in a cooler area though.
"As far as type of container, should I buy wood, ceramic, terracotta, fiberglass, resin, clay, or something else?"
You can use any of those but keep in mind the wooden ones, ceramic, terracotta, clay ones will be very heavy if you choose to move the trees around. Also, from a watering viewpoint, the plastic pots will reduce the amount of watering vs clay pots which tend to breathe and allow water to leave.
Lastly, since you'll want to bump the trees up to the next size pots every couple of years be sure to pick a pot that is slightly smaller at the bottom than at the top. This makes it much easier to pull the tree/root system out since it'll make the potting soil/root system more angled.
Hope this helps.
Shoe
>> those black professional nursery pots. Granted, they're not pretty, ...
>> There's a special spray paint available now, that sticks to plastic too, if you want to try to jazz them up a bit.
Or save metallic or plastic gift-wrapping paper, or buy decorative adhesive-backed contact paper. Glue cutout pieces to the pot and shellac over them, or just wrap it around the pot and glue & tape it in place. Replace as needed.
It even has a fancy name: "decoupage". I was saddened to learn that had nothing at all to do with low-cut evening gowns.
Corey
The 2 cirrus trees are about 4-5' tall and in 3 gallon container and the pomegranate about 3' tall and in a 1 gallon container. I believe that all will eventually grow to 10' to 12’ tall.
Rick, you are full of good ideas. Are you an inventor?
I must go now since I'm throwing a party in my hospital room at 6 PM to thank my nurses and techs that have helped me the past week and a half. Looks like I'm going home on Sunday! Yahoo! Too bad that they wouldn't let me rent a margarita machine.
>> throwing a party in my hospital room at 6 PM to thank my nurses and techs ...
>> Too bad that they wouldn't let me rent a margarita machine.
And you say that I have good ideas? That's the best idea I've ever heard for managing one's health care.
Corey
It was 103 degrees in "cool" New England yesterday. (Wicked hot, LOL!) But I hear ya, Shoe. TX heat is...serious business. Not like CT or WA's!
Another idea I had was to check out the local commercial kitchen suppliers. They have all kinds of huge plastic bins that might be within the budget. A few drilled drainage holes and you're in business~
"It was 103 degrees in "cool" New England yesterday. (Wicked hot, LOL!) But I hear ya, Shoe. TX heat is...serious business. Not like CT or WA's!"
Hah! I hear that, nedweenie. But I must confess, your moniker tends to make me think of my Irish ancestry and quickly seeing "Windsor" by your name I actually thought British Isles/England! Only just now did I notice Windsor, Ct. But at least with the heat in CT don't you wish you were where I placed you! :>0 (I hope Windsor is at least near the coast so you have a breeze.)
hrp, I hope your party was a success. More importantly I hope you get to go home tomorrow. Oh yeh, Corey, you're mailing the magaritas to hrp for his home-coming, right?
Shoe (burning up in this heat!)
Oh, I know what you mean!
Hot, hot hot! Today is a heat wave here too.
Why, they say it'll go over 70 today, and it's already 67!
Corey
You Dawg you!! :>)
Ya'll must be really suffering over your way!
Shoe (thinking of moving to Corey's in the summer, back here in the winter. I can be bi-coastal, a term I recently heard on an old television show!) :>)
(I'm bad, I know.)
It went "all the way" up to 83 degrees indoors, which we call "hot" ... I'm spoiled!
Corey