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Re: How big a pot do I need?

Nan Sterman wrote:
> 
> Dear friends,
> 
> How big a pot do I need?  I'm planting perennials into pots and I wonder if
> anyone has a rule of thumb for determinng what size pots to use?  Do I
> choose one that is as large as the drip line of each plant, or some number
> of inches wider than the drip line?  Or do you estimate some fraction of
> the final size of the plant or the rootball?
> 
> Anyone got any suggestions for any methods other than experience and gut > feeling?

Nan

This is more of a set of general observztions rather than a specific
reply. While some of your perennials could be happy in quite a small
amount of soil because they don't have very extensive root systems,
small containers are hard to handle because they dry out so quickly with
sun and wind. Mainly for this reasom, apart from succulents and spring
bulbs, I would rarely go under a gallon size for any outdoor container.
For very small plants, like the many species of miniature cyclamen, for
instance, I find it best to group them in large but relatively shallow
bowls rather then pot them individually.

For really large perennials or small shrubs a MINIMUMs size would, in my
opinion, be around 2 gallons, approximately the  size of an average
household bucket.

Spring bulbs, such as tulips daffodils or hyacinths  can look very well
in really large pots (Say 4 gallons or more) and they can later be
overplanted with annuals for summer interest.

As to which size of container to use, you could probably get a good idea
by turning the plant out of its holding container and seeing how
extensive the root system is. It is probably best to allow just a few
inches of extra soil for growth and move the plant on later if it seems
to be becoming pot bound. On the whole plants in  pots end up somewhat
smaller than those in open ground, just because their roots are
restricted. However, this may be no bad thing as cramped roots often
stimulate extra good flowering.

Moira
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand/Aotearoa ("Land of the Long White Cloud")
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