Soak tree roots in alfalfa tea before planting?

17 years ago

Has anyone tried this method before? i'm currently brewing alfalfa tea and the thought occured to me since i just purchased a tree, why not soak the root ball in it? Wii it work or not?

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Comments (5)

jeanne_texas
17 years ago
I bought Climbing Rosa "Joseph's Coat" in a body bag because it looked pretty good considering and I was having a hard time locating one locally...I soaked it in my Alfalfa Tea for two day and potted it up..so far so good...will let you know how my experiment went...Jeanne
lou_spicewood_tx
Original Author
17 years ago
Wow. Two days! I was thinking of just saturating the root ball after a few minutes. Hmm... I did a search for it in the forum and couldnt find anything. I wonder if anyone even though of it...
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Since the tree was pulled out of it's source of water and nourishment, the clock has been ticking away as it is drying out and has a limited survival opportunity. If you were to let the remaining roots promptly plunge into a pool of nutritious water and soak for a day or two to recharge, the plant would have a full tank of fuel before starting the next challenge. No longer having a complete set of roots, the tree will not be able to supply all the intact branches with their usual provision of fluid. Pruning away about a third or so of the upper branch structure has value.A longtime fruit pro told me, that for a bare root peach tree, to remove all branches until you are left with a 3 foot tall 'whip'. As the roots grow and new shoots develop, remove all new shoots except for 3 or 4 near the top that are growing in different directions. These will become the eventual large scaffold branches that all peach branches will grow out from. I spike the pool water with Super Thrive, but other water-soluble fertilizer can help also. I keep the pool fluid for the tree to get more doses slowly poured on it every now and then after being planted.
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jeanne_texas
17 years ago
GMTA..LOL..we both thought of it..Body bag roses aren't known to be the best to get started..so I thought hmmm...I know what alfalfa Tea does...So maybe I can give this one a better chance...Roses need to be soaked for at least 12-24 hours and can stay days in water prior to planting ..rehydrating is essential for bareroots and most people lose them because they don't rehydrate well enough before planting....I would never put the pellets in the planting hole as I have heard people say they got root burn and killed their plant...I put Alfalfa Tea on all my Fruit trees...they love it...jeanne
Kimmsr
17 years ago
24 hours would be the maximum amount of time you would want to soak plant roots since they need access to air as well. Unless the roots are really dried out 4 to 6 hours should be enough time to rehydrate them. Teas are a good thing to soak roots in.
lou_spicewood_tx
Original Author
17 years ago
I guess there is no really harm in soaking tree roots (coming out of container) in alfalfa tea/seaweed liquid mix after all.

Just not looking forward to the smell of alfalfa tea....

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Soak tree roots in alfalfa tea before planting?

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jeanne_texas

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Soak tree roots in alfalfa tea before planting?

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jeanne_texas

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