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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Roots of plants growing out through bottom of pots???

15 years ago

Can anyone tell me.....if the roots of my newly potted rushes are growing out through the bottom of the pots is why they have stopped growing? When I first re-potted them just before placing them in the pond this spring they were growing like crazy. Now they have stopped growing up and the roots are coming through the bottom of the pot. If I re-pot again and plug the holes on the bottom of the pots will this keep them growing upward instead of out the bottom? Do they typically do better being root bound in the pot? As far as growing up instead of out?

BTW the pots have mostly pea gravel and some clay soil. They are about 5 inches below the water surface. These are your average rushes like zebra rush....I cannot recall the name of the other one.

Thanks.

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Comments (3)

catherinet
15 years ago
Some of my marginals seem to get pot-bound really quickly. But if we're going to keep them in reasonably-sized containers, I think they just have to live sort-of pot-bound.
I think they're putting their energy into making roots, rather than growing upwards. What did you fertilize them with?
I would just leave them alone and use fertilizer that promotes top growth, rather than root growth. I think that means nitrogen more than phosphate....but I'm not sure.
Plants seem to do what they need to do, so maybe you took too many roots away and left too much top growth when you repoted?? I say just leave it alone for awhile and the top will eventually start growing again.
buyorsell888
15 years ago
I would leave them alone. You'll be dividing them and getting rid of excess soon enough.
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tmyers
Original Author
15 years ago
I will let them be and see what happens. Thanks for your help.

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