I think I'm learning that the general rule is only pot on a bit at a time. An Acer lady told me that at Hampton Court a couple of years ago. She gave me strict instructions about potting on a size at a time, and always before the end of July. Otherwise the plants exhaust themselves trying to grow roots to fill the pot. Not sure what they do when they get put in the ground, as they have a lot of space to fill there??
However, it seems to work, and also seems to be applicable to all plants, not just acers.
It is chicky. I only pot on when plants are well and truly established in pots and then just up enough to give then a little more growing space.
The problem is the compost. Multi purpose is just too water retentive and most people overwater. In the ground water disperses faster...as a rule, always an exception like clay tho....There are stones and other bits of debris in the ground too which help with drainage. Multi purpose actually isn't in my opinion. Far better to use John Innes which has soil in it and doesn't act like a sponge!
I've struggled a lot with potting-on compost being either too dry or too water-retentive. This year I ended up mixing my own 'recipe' and its worked a lot better for me with far better growth and stronger roots. My 'recipe' is 40% sieved multi-purpose, 40% John Innes No 2, 10% Perlite and 10% Vermiculite. I don't know why it works but it does. I previously was losing plants to mildew (particularly lavender and begonia) or, when I used the John Innes alone, was struggling with the soil drying out too quickly. I've also been using narrower, taller pots to encourage longer roots.
Posts
I think I'm learning that the general rule is only pot on a bit at a time. An Acer lady told me that at Hampton Court a couple of years ago. She gave me strict instructions about potting on a size at a time, and always before the end of July. Otherwise the plants exhaust themselves trying to grow roots to fill the pot. Not sure what they do when they get put in the ground, as they have a lot of space to fill there??
However, it seems to work, and also seems to be applicable to all plants, not just acers.
It is chicky. I only pot on when plants are well and truly established in pots and then just up enough to give then a little more growing space.
The problem is the compost. Multi purpose is just too water retentive and most people overwater. In the ground water disperses faster...as a rule, always an exception like clay tho....There are stones and other bits of debris in the ground too which help with drainage. Multi purpose actually isn't in my opinion. Far better to use John Innes which has soil in it and doesn't act like a sponge!
I've struggled a lot with potting-on compost being either too dry or too water-retentive. This year I ended up mixing my own 'recipe' and its worked a lot better for me with far better growth and stronger roots. My 'recipe' is 40% sieved multi-purpose, 40% John Innes No 2, 10% Perlite and 10% Vermiculite. I don't know why it works but it does. I previously was losing plants to mildew (particularly lavender and begonia) or, when I used the John Innes alone, was struggling with the soil drying out too quickly. I've also been using narrower, taller pots to encourage longer roots.