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Rowan whip

JilbertJilbert Posts: 15
in Problem solving
Afternoon all

I’ve been lurking around for months and finally joined today. I’m very much a beginner but have learned so much from people on here already, so thanks :)

Our local council was giving away whips last October. I’ve got a rowan that I put into a pot to grow on. It’s grown rapidly over the past few months but it now leaning and I’m not sure what to do next. Repot and restake? Prune it in the winter? Any help much appreciated.


Posts

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    It should be in the ground rather than in a pot. At the very least it needs a bigger pot ideally using John Innes no3 based compost. You will need to be diligent with watering too.
  • JilbertJilbert Posts: 15
    Thanks, Steephill. When I picked it up they advised us to put it in a pot at first. I’ll see if I can find an appropriate place to move it to, or buy a much bigger pot :smile:
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I have two in pots (much bigger pots) that I bought at about 12" high and am growing on until I've got permanent planting places available. Smaller varieties though - Sorbus olivacea and Sorbus gonggashanica.
    If you aren't ready to put it in the ground yet, put it in a big pot with a soil-based compost like @steephill said, and tie in the main stem to the stake so that it grows upright (unless you want an "interesting" windswept shape). If you want it to be a standard tree eventually, you could start the training process https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=385 .


    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    It looks very healthy, but the pot's much too small.  Left to their own devices, trees make as much growth below ground as above.  If you look underneath, the roots are probably poking through the drainage holes.  If you can't give it a permanent home in the ground, next best thing is to put it in a bigger pot, with a saucer underneath during dry weather so it won't dry out.  And I think I'd move it away from the wall if you can.  Tall plants up against a wall tend to lean outwards looking for more light.  My rowan tree was self-seeded and I've never staked it.  Or given it any care at all, now I think about it!  It's other common name is mountain ash for a reason - it's happy to be exposed and blown about.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They need nothing special but they practically live in water, so that's the most important thing it needs.
    Ground is far better than any pot, although if you have to keep it in a pot, make sure it's big, and soil of any kind is fine, but not just compost alone, as already said.
    They certainly don't need cossetting.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JilbertJilbert Posts: 15
    Thanks everyone - all advice duly noted. I have to admit I’ve been a bit distracted by the veg plot and the excitement of harvesting things for the first time ever. I’ll sort it out ASAP - I’m pretty amazed at how it looks now compared to what I collected from a drizzly leisure centre car park :wink:
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