My largest brug - abt 4 ft high in pot - is obviously root bound. Yesterday I noticed the water/fertilizer just poured right through so we put it in a larger tub of water to soak but I don't think I want to do that every day. It has many Y's and over 40 buds. Should I take a chance and repot it. It is in about a 12 gal pot now. There seems to be a lot of controversy on "the other list" as to whether brugs like to be root bound or not but I can't see the advantage if the water doesn't stay around.
Root bound brug
I'd move it up. If it's totally rootbound you're probably soilless. You're not doing it any favours having the fertilizer run out the bottom. After they get to a certain size they seem to be immune to transplant shock.
Poppysue, i am with Liz. I am certainly not one of those root bound people, i am an extra fertilizer person.
QUESTION: If brugs like to be root bound to bloom, how come they grow faster and bloom faster in the ground? this inquiring mind wonders, although i certainly don't think mine is the only way.
I think if i put a seed in soil at the end of February or first of march, took it from its birth pot with a large brug, put its lonely little several inch self in a 7 gallon pot, and it has several buds that will open in a couple of days, planting to blooming in four months there can't be a lot to the root bound theory. four months from birth to open blooms.
my theory is given enough fertilizer, water and sunlite, most brugs will grow and bloom in a short amount of time. some are slower, i think genetically. I am not an expert, this is my third brug summer, but i do know what works for me.
I am with Liz, when it gets so many roots in the pot its real hard to keep it watered, there is no room/soil left to hold any water.
This message was edited Sunday, Jul 21st 11:57 AM
I took some over 5' tall out of the ground in FL, packed them under plastic for a 6 hour trip to GA in over 90* weather and they are in the ground this morning and not wilting. I think you'll do fine potting it up:)
also snows seed, popped up 1/2 or so, moved south, is now a good 7 foot plus, has been blooming for several weeks.
Another advantage to not making them root bound before you have to.... when i root in large pots, the roots will grow straight down at least 5-6 inches, depending on conditions and variety, in just a few weeks. if you are rooting in a little 2" or 4" pot, started at the same time, those roots are curling around and not going straight down. now when you put your seedling straight in the ground or in a large pot, those roots are already much deeper and have an easier time reaching down to where soil may stay more moist and reaching out, instead of growing down and out and already being wrapped up. i think this helps in the moisture control thing, instead of the transplanting plant having all the roots closer to the surface they are already much deeper potentially and easier to keep watered good.
Brug roots in my experience don't go very deep but love to run lateral. if those roots are deeper when planted it's a plus.
I also have 2 6 foot plus seedlings in the ground where they popped up in February, they are doing the Y thing, if they weren't so close to each other and a mama brug they might have bloomed already, they've been fighting for food.
btw, i learned this from Brugman who as you know has had seeds started in the winter bloom and set seeds in the same year. not all of course, some brugs have their own time tables, but he is the one who taught me this and i have found him to be right. he rooted tee tiny little culebra cuttings in gallon pots.
it works for me too.
Poppy, it will still need extra water for a while until the roots get growing out in the new soil, at least mine i transplanted from 20 gallon to the ground last year did.
Poppy, it will still need extra water for a while until the roots get growing out in the new soil, at least mine i transplanted from 20 gallon to the ground last year did.
tig i am glad to here they are happy, hope they didn't lose their buds. it's rainy here again today.
I did an experiment with Datura this year. I kept potting one up into bigger pots and kept five of them in small pots. The one in the bigger pot grew big and flowered. The other five were root bound and stunted. They are still only a few inches high and no flowers.
I agree with Arlene and Snow, they like big pots!! My seedlings that I kept in small pots are still small, the ones I put in the ground or kept bumping up to bigger pots are y'ing and some have bloomed already. I experimented with a FP a couple of years ago. I put one straight into a 7 gallon pot, one in a gallon pot and one in a 4" pot. Guess which one grew and bloomed like crazy and which one didn't? BTW Arlene, I mulch with Osmocote, lol.
arlene, Shirleys Peach has decided to pout, but I think, am praying, that we might get a touch of rain. The cool would help. Spring Peach has buds I know, and I'm pretty sure that Versi has almost open flowers! (it's been a long time since I started at 6)
I got 6 more in the ground just now
tiG, I don't know what kinds of temps you have there, but I'd bet anything would droop here. Saying 90's and 100's today with heat index to 115 degrees. It is hard to just walk in the yard without sweating, let alone digging holes. I don't envy you the work.
Tig, i am sure she'll be fine, good hardy stock!!! i mist sometimes under those conditions. it's been overcast and raining a little all day here, what a relief!
Arlene, I'm so jealous. I'd love to see some rain here. Anything that would water the plants for me and cool down the air.
it's raining now, and that will help. I'm quite certain she'll be fine, I think she's jealous of the spot I gave the other two, but she doesn't know yet that's she's in a star much walked by place.