Grice, I had an Alberta Spruce on my balcony for years and didn't wrap it at all. Use Wilt-Pruf in the winter to protect against drying winds, and water if you have a warmish (40's) day and the soil is dry. Otherwise, I'd leave it out. Mine was planted in an old pickle crock. The only reason I don't have it anymore is that I decided to make a change and put a jackmanii clematis in the container. Actually, I think I had a sweet autumn clematis in it first, but I got tired of having to tie that one all along the balcony railing.

I have a couple of comments. But my main question is at the end. Quote: "If you have ever spent time on any plant forum you know the common advice is to keep your plants root bound, or at least when you repot give the roots only an "extra fingers width" on each side the pot." I have never seen anyone recommend that you keep a plant literally 'root-bound'... In so small a pot that the large roots are circling the pot, and having the root mass pretty much completely fill the pot. But it's also true that more non-pros have killed plants from serious and stupid "over-potting" than any other cause other than perhaps persistent over-watering. Take a small plant, put it is a much bigger "pretty" pot with a lot of cheap potting soil, water it once a week, and the small, shallow plant roots are trying to survive in a desert while the bulk of the pot-soil is moist. I *always* advise people to pot-up very slowly... after making sure that I have looked at the roots, and that the plant is not root-bound. I suspect that nursery staff start their plants in small pots because it eases time and labor, and reduces the expense and the watering, and allows them to toss cheap any that do not propagate or thrive. Those that do, they pot up a level. And perhaps again. But I strongly suspect that they hope to *sell* them before they become literally root-bound. And they don't, so things become root bound. There are some plants that like their feet a little more constrained, while others want to grow wild. But are you saying the there is some folk-practice among pro-growers that it is somehow *good* to keep the roots seriously constrained? I would be interested. LindaS

think of the rotting roots as compost for your new tree ... one would think that a better question a novice would ask .. is how do i plant the new tree ... the first answer is NOT IN AUGUST .... if you already have it... and it is potted.. sink the pot and all in the hole.. and come back in mid September ... and plant it when the nights are cool .. and the days are cooler than now.. you really cant disturb its water production capacity in the absurd heat of summer.. and expect it to thrive .... back to the rotting roots... you will probably have a cool mushroom show for a few years as the roots decay .. consider such a free show ... they are just feasting on the rotting wood from the dead tree ... good luck ken

are you absolutely sure on this ID ... there are a couple holiday type conifers.. which are sold as basically throw away ... .. plants after the holidays ...usually sold in 4 inch pots ... [google of the latin.. tells me this is one of them] if it was outdoors when you got it ... it is probably dormant ... and could probably be planted in mother earth ... subject to the horrible OH clay down in columbus ... i would NEVER try to winter over a conifer/tree.,... in a 4 inch pot ... i would.. at a min ... repot it.. with NO root disturbance.. to a one gal... with proper media ... i might even just sink pot and all in the larger pot ... its all about maintaining the roots dormant... on days temps spike.. as tiny pots.. warm fast ... trees ... of which conifers are ... like a sip of water ... and then near total drainage .... even in august.. in MI ... i might water mine once a month or so .... but then.. i dont have then in 4 inch pots ... let it near dry .... in between waterings ... and do fully understand ... a dormant tree does not need all that much water .... its also problematic.. that we dont know the media already in the pot ... media for production.. in a small pot.. can be wildly divergent from what you might need ... it might hold too much water on purpose.. and that purpose is NOT yours ... you are dreaming that your sunporch might only be a few degrees warmer ... i smoke in my attached garage ... and it can be 15 to 30 degrees warmer than outside.. on sunny days... in mid winter ..... and that wont be good ... you are spot on on the wind issue .... reducing that is good ... ken ps: dannaher... i meant to enable you ... i did not expect you to go asking them.. how to take care of a plant you bought elsewhere ... maybe the website will have info .... Here is a link that might be useful: galena.. westerville.. whatever ...