Copper lined containers

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
escambiaguy Atmore, AL(Zone 8b) Dec 26, 2006

Have any of you tried growing trees in copper lined containers? I just purchased some 3gal containers that have "SpinOut" lining. They seem like they would be useful for starting pines, oaks, maples, etc.

Post #3026923
Quote
UUallace Cincinnati, OH Dec 27, 2006

Copper would be toxic to certain plants, such as pines. Others may thrive. My guess Maple and Oak would be okay. It may prevent them from getting root bound by stopping root growth when they reach the copper. Free aluminum is toxic to Rhododendrons. Zinc (i.e. glavanized) is toxic to others.
Larry

Post #3027019
Quote
Decumbent Cincinnati, OH(Zone 6b) Dec 27, 2006

The Spinout seems to work, in my experience. Plants in these pots don't seem to suffer circling roots like plants that don't. So on young taprooted seedlings, I think it provides a benefit. On everything else, I think Spinout only buys a little extra time before a plant needs potting up, but that's all, because the I don't think that a huge mass of fibrous root systems all bound up throughout a container is all that much better.

A problem with Spinout I have encountered is that if a plant has remained in a Spinout treated pot too long, the Spinout lining comes out all entangled in the root system. I'm not sure if after this amount of time this latex-like film is still containing any copper or other active ingredients or not. But it's a question, and an annoyance.

I don't see the point of using Spinout treated pots with normally fibrous-rooted plants, like anything from the Ericaceae Family. It wouldn't help anything and it could hurt.

Scott

Post #3027243
Quote
escambiaguy Atmore, AL(Zone 8b) Dec 27, 2006

My main concern is with big rooted trees like oaks and pines. I had some oaks that grew in a pot only one year that had large circling roots. I wouldn't leave them in these pots longer than one growing season anyway. Nurseries do use copper lined container "blocks" to start Pinus palustris seedlings because of the huge taproot. I couldn't find anything that stated copper was toxic to pines.

Post #3027329
Quote
f6r22 Plano, TX(Zone 7a) Dec 27, 2006

escambiaguy,

I have been using root control fabric bags that have been painted on the inside with spinout for a just a year now for growing my maples. I cannot say if they worked for me or not yet, but there is tons of experiments that have been done to prove that they help, and I have heard good things about this from other growers.
Google spinout and read some articles.

xman

Post #3028187
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Trees, Shrubs and Conifers Threads

Go to all Trees, Shrubs and Conifers threads
BACK TO TOP