I am about to pot up my beautiful little Panama Hawk seedlings. They have been growing in 1 quart pots and I am sure I see tiny roots trying to escape from the drain holes. For any other plant I would move up to a 1 gallon size pot but I am unsure about these guys as that would only give me another 2 inches at the most for the tap root. However, if I move them to 3 gallon pots that would, in my opinion, be way too much potting medium for those little roots. These bionic plumies are such fast growers. Of course I could start with the 1 and move up again shortly. Can they handle that much handling?
What do you think? 1's or 3's? Thanks
repotting ?
I say 1 gallons,
Always pot up in small increments.
Over potting will result in too much moisture being held in the bottom of the pot
root rot could easily follow.
The tap root will curl eventually and when she ages enough youll have to cut it back anyway.
This will encourage the fine mesh like roots which are better for a potted plant anyway.
Be sure to use a fast draining mix of about 2/3 coarse sand, perlite or chicken / turkey grit.
This is a small crushed form of marble.
I just started using it and I love it!
Good Luck!
1 gal....8))...I keep many of my seedlings in 16oz stryro cups...can write on them...easily punch holes ...cheap...and take less space...etc.
This message was edited Jul 18, 2006 7:17 PM
Thanks, that is what I thought but I wasn't sure. Those seedlings are so healthy and I want to keep them that way. I had plenty of those tall 1 qt. pots on hand or I might have used styrofoam cups like you do Bob.
Michael, that grit is wonderful for rooting all kinds of plants but we can't get it here. Ground oyster shells are used for chicken grit around here and it is not the same. Whenever we venture north I pick up a few bags of that real grit. alice
alice sometimes i have sea shells mixed in my "mix"....i really think it helps..even though might be some salt in it
You are rught Bob, the ground shell also adds calcium which is needed to help plants utilize nitrogen. However, the tiny pieces of shell are pretty flat and they don't seem to add the same type of drainage that the "true grit" which looks like huge pieces of sand.
I dont believe that small bit of salt will hurt.
Plumeria are know to grow on saside cliffs where they surely get hammered in storms by ocean spray.
I dont reccomend adding salt deliberatley but a small amount from shells isnt an issue as far as my reading has proven.
Just rinse them first in a small strainer. No biggie!
Heck im even willing to add beach sand to a few seedlings as an experiment just to see how they react.
The neatest looking plumies in the wild grow in the most adverse conditions.
This tree is no weeping violet, she a survivor. ;^)
I agree with everyone. Definitely transplant to individual one-gallon containers. You can repot to three-gallon or five-gallon containers next spring or summer. My GordonHawk seedlings went from a community container to individual one-gallon containers about a month ago. The growth has slowed down now, and they won't need another larger container until next year around this time.
Thay all went into 1 gallon pots and are doing well. I was not aware their growth will slow down. Up to now their rate of growth was so fantastic I thought perhaps that would continue. I always learn so much here. Thanks everytone.
Clare,
Isnt that funny?
My Gordon Hawks put on the brakes most suddenly as well!!
They are stout and quite healthy but just kind of loving the summer with no striving for the sun LOL!!
Ardesia,
There is always so much to be learned.
Plumeria needs differ in every zone quite a bit.
We are always continually teaching and learning from each other.
It is so nice to have such a wonderful resource like we do here at Daves.
Amen to that.
I meant to ask you at what point yours slowed down. How many true leaves? Mine are working on their 4th set right now.
Hey if you going to use those cups i would get the plastic lids you see when you order a take out meal and turn the cup upside down and cut a hole in the bottom. Plant your seedling in the bottom and the shape of the upside down cup will force the roots to go out and down which will make her have a very healthy root system..
This is a old hydroponics trick...
Ardesia, I'll have to get back to you on that. I think they have their third or fourth pair of true leaves. I agree with Michael that they are stout, healthy-looking seedlings.
Lopaka, that is a good idea having the wider part at the bottom. Makes for a sturdier pot that way also; you would not have the cups falling over as easily.
Now let's see if my feeble brain will remember that trick next time I plant seeds. LOL