NorthernMan
Member
One thing I learned from working at a nursery all my life is that plants will send the roots to the edge of a bucket and then wrap around the outside edge. Nurseries will start a plant in a small container so the roots will use the soil in the center and then transplant to a slightly larger bucket and allow the plant to fill in that space and transplant to the next size.
When a seedling is started in a huge bucket the roots won't use the soil in the middle but will spread to the edge. By starting small and transplanting them to the next size and then the next size the plant will take advantage of the soil in the middle and you won't need as big a bucket. Roots always spread until they hit resistance and then they will thicken up and use the soil in the middle.
Its more time consuming to transplant them from small to medium to large but the roots will make good use of all the soil and not just the outer edge. When growing in containers I've always started with a Solo cup to a 1 gallon to a 2 gallon then a 3 gallon to a 5 gallon for the season. When I break the root-ball apart after harvest the entire root-ball has even distribution of roots. I've seen some of my buddies root-balls who grows his plants in 7 gallon buckets from seedlings and the center has barely any roots at all, its like a 3 gallon pot worth of soil in the center with barely any roots, and all the roots are formed around the outer edge. I'm a believer in transplanting when the roots have filled in the soil they have. Working with nursery plants was my job for 25 years and if it works for all types of ornamental plants the same principle applies to weed.
When transplanting from one size to the next, the roots that are growing around the root-ball need to be cut gently all the way around the root-ball, vertically sliced every couple inches so the roots will grow outward and stop wrapping around. This may seem like it will harm the plant to some people but that is not the case. By gently slicing the outer layer of roots that are becoming root bound, which will strangle the plant if left alone, you will actually be promoting root growth. Just as when you cut the top of a plant and that cut promotes the growth of new top, the same principle is at work under the soil with the roots. Gently slicing the roots around the edge of the root-ball will encourage more root growth and the roots will grow toward the outside edge. When they hit the edge of the new bigger bucket, they will again begin to wrap around which is fine for a while. When the plants have used up the soil of the new bigger pot, its time to transplant to a bigger bucket again. Same thing, gently cut the roots that are wrapping around with vertical slices every couple inches around the root-ball and transplant to a bigger bucket.
I know someone will be thinking that nurseries transplant from one size to the next for the purpose of selling the plants, bigger bucket= more money. While that is true that is not the only reason they do it. They do the same thing with plants and trees that won't be sold for years. It would be easier and less labor intensive to put ornamental plants in a 3 gallon bucket as a seedling but thats not the best way to grow the plant. If its a dwarf evergreen that grows slowly it would take a couple years before the plant was ready to sell and it would be root bound around the outer edge while the middle of the root-ball would be wasted soil and the plants wouldn't be as healthy because they would be being strangled. Roots always go to the outside until they hit resistance, then they thicken.
Starting in a huge container will just allow the roots to grow through all the soil in the middle without filling it and using all the soil which is a waste of soil.
When a seedling is started in a huge bucket the roots won't use the soil in the middle but will spread to the edge. By starting small and transplanting them to the next size and then the next size the plant will take advantage of the soil in the middle and you won't need as big a bucket. Roots always spread until they hit resistance and then they will thicken up and use the soil in the middle.
Its more time consuming to transplant them from small to medium to large but the roots will make good use of all the soil and not just the outer edge. When growing in containers I've always started with a Solo cup to a 1 gallon to a 2 gallon then a 3 gallon to a 5 gallon for the season. When I break the root-ball apart after harvest the entire root-ball has even distribution of roots. I've seen some of my buddies root-balls who grows his plants in 7 gallon buckets from seedlings and the center has barely any roots at all, its like a 3 gallon pot worth of soil in the center with barely any roots, and all the roots are formed around the outer edge. I'm a believer in transplanting when the roots have filled in the soil they have. Working with nursery plants was my job for 25 years and if it works for all types of ornamental plants the same principle applies to weed.
When transplanting from one size to the next, the roots that are growing around the root-ball need to be cut gently all the way around the root-ball, vertically sliced every couple inches so the roots will grow outward and stop wrapping around. This may seem like it will harm the plant to some people but that is not the case. By gently slicing the outer layer of roots that are becoming root bound, which will strangle the plant if left alone, you will actually be promoting root growth. Just as when you cut the top of a plant and that cut promotes the growth of new top, the same principle is at work under the soil with the roots. Gently slicing the roots around the edge of the root-ball will encourage more root growth and the roots will grow toward the outside edge. When they hit the edge of the new bigger bucket, they will again begin to wrap around which is fine for a while. When the plants have used up the soil of the new bigger pot, its time to transplant to a bigger bucket again. Same thing, gently cut the roots that are wrapping around with vertical slices every couple inches around the root-ball and transplant to a bigger bucket.
I know someone will be thinking that nurseries transplant from one size to the next for the purpose of selling the plants, bigger bucket= more money. While that is true that is not the only reason they do it. They do the same thing with plants and trees that won't be sold for years. It would be easier and less labor intensive to put ornamental plants in a 3 gallon bucket as a seedling but thats not the best way to grow the plant. If its a dwarf evergreen that grows slowly it would take a couple years before the plant was ready to sell and it would be root bound around the outer edge while the middle of the root-ball would be wasted soil and the plants wouldn't be as healthy because they would be being strangled. Roots always go to the outside until they hit resistance, then they thicken.
Starting in a huge container will just allow the roots to grow through all the soil in the middle without filling it and using all the soil which is a waste of soil.
I have always wondered why the many transplants instead of just into final pot. Now I know and will do this way. Thanks