Bigger pot faster growth?

[Taverna78]

Before joining Tis site and meeting you all we have always taken suckers or branches that were caught under mulch fir some time that made roots and put them right into 3&5 gal pots. Never started at 1 gal pots because we never known Tis. My question is you transfer out of cup because is root bound then transfer out of 1gal pot for same reason. If a trees growth slows because is root bound would it grow faster say from 1gal pot to 5 gal because the roots have more room to spread out and really soak up the good stuff it needs in the soil to help it grow with every root rather than just the roots exposed outside of the root ball?

Also when pinching tree this is only for older trees yes? Not in 1 gal pots and would pinch air layer permote rapid root growth to the air layer root bag? And when you actually "pinch" tree you pinch off new fig or leaf and lastly do you sever the stem of the pinched part or say it's a leaf do you just pull it downward to break clean off the tree to where the white liquid drips out?
I break off leaf by mistake and with stuff come out. I taste it and is amazing. Sweet at first but after moment I can really taste the supplement I use when I water them. "It taste like supplement smells.

Grazie for you help
Ps I still have few Bi39 left if anyone want to trade

[rusty hooks]

We have graduated to another level Mike...breaking leaves and sucking sap.....we are truly derranged..........

I'm right there with you on the question....as a matter of fact I was about to embark on a bit of a trial myself...

up potting a kadota mid season....with great trepidation.....from a 4 gallon to a 15...for the very reason you've described...so aptly

BTW....2 BI-39's with roots set....up potting to gallons today

[Taverna78]

Ahaha! I don't think I will taste again until fig ready but was really interesting !

Reason I think Tis is because all my tree in ground large or small grow much MUCH bigger and faster in the ground then pots. Even with a 1gal pot I think I want to try put right in 5 gal pot and see what happens. I think I will keep the soil mixture "airy" just because a bigger pot mean more water. And I don't want to over water them but I would like to compare growth between large and small pot.

Congratulation on the Bi-39's! Maybe pot one in bigger pot right from the start!

[Kelby]

Bigger pots definitely see more growth in 1 season. In ground more yet. This year all my rooted cuttings went either right in ground or into #10 pots.

Of course this is dependent on fertilizer, water, etc, but the extra root space translates to more potential above ground growth.

[Taverna78]

Belle... I start to transfer my 1gal pots Tis weekend

[AmericanFigLover]

Be careful when transferring to a bigger pot. If you put a too small of a plant in a too big of a pot the plant could drown.

[Kelby]

A good point, watch your potting mix!

[Taverna78]

Grazie I will make sure it will be ok

[figgary]

I agree with Kelby. Here are 2 photos of my Black Madeira, a supposedly slow grower. 1 photo taken on July 18, when I planted my 1 gallon BM into a half wine barrel, approx. 30 gallon size. 2nd photo was taken November 7. Pretty good growth in less than 4 months, I think.

[rusty hooks]

your mix is "special" too Gary....makes a whole lot of difference.....I'm switching over to a comp of your mix this week....for a lot of the trees

[Taverna78]

Belle

[Bijan]

Your growing mix is a big factor and there is a balance that needs to be found. I prefer a very loose growing mix with a low perched water level. A small tree in a large container means a lot of extra watering. On the flip side... A heavier mix with a higher perched water level means less space in the container for the roots to grow in.

[Brian M]

Gary I wish I could send you my little Stalled out uc Davis black Madeira tree. You could work your magic lol

[figgary]

Want my address, Brian?

[Brian M]

Yes! PM me

[greenfig]

My UCD BM planted in the ground past February is one of the fastest growers this season. I have never expected that based on the bad rep. It seems all it needs is more room, full sun with lots of water and good soil

[Taverna78]

Well maybe I just plant in the ground like my others and just dig up in the fall. I was looking for the convince of a pot just so I could keep a few around my house. But being my flower bed is very small and packed with flowers (association won't let me grow outside the bed) I didn't want to put my special trees at the farm 20 miles away. I suppose that if I put in larger pot the more watering wouldn't be a problem. It's better than overwatering them.

[drphil69]

Sometimes you may get slower initial vegetative growth as the roots expand into the pot. Pete had a post on this recently, and recommended going from 1 gallon to 5 gallon. I go from cup to 1 gallon because they are started in house, not much room. Last year I went 1 gallon to 3 gallon but they got root bound in a month or so... now I go from 1 gallon to 5 or 7 gallon, just to reduce the number of times I have to re-pot.

[Taverna78]

Makes sense.

[rusty hooks]

This "perched water" is where the SIP's come in strong....older fig trees around this part of the country were planted by very smart Italian and Portugese farmers and they put them over or very close to springs...for a reason....they knew what they wanted and where they grew best

There is a town on the California Delta called "Locke"...and along the bank of the dike for the town are planted Mission figs...rooted in the bank of the dike with their toes in the water of the Sacramento river....they look "marvelous"...ask HarveyC....he probably picks fruit there....it's a stones throw from his place.......(well maybe a little more, but not much)

http://www.scrapbookpages.com/photoe...e/Locke02.html
see the dormant tree in the background of the welcome sign...guess what that is

Figs love water ready for the taking...but not too much....only when they want ....and how much they want...but at the ready

if you have a spring....and a spot nearby with a vacancy sign out.......I'm just sayin