skip to main content

What root system looks like after growing in Rootmaker

lou_spicewood_tx

14 years ago

This one is taxodium... It was absolutely destroyed by my neighbor's little beagle a week after it was planted. I replaced it with another taxodium. Anyway, that's how it looks when grown in rootmaker container. You can see how fibrous it is with no circling roots at all.
{{gwi:421838}}From rootmaker

Rest of the pictures are from shantung maple growing in 5g rootmaker container for 2 years which is one year too long.

Again, you can see how fibrous it is with no hint of circling roots after 2 years.

{{gwi:421839}}

{{gwi:491748}}

{{gwi:491751}}

Comments (8)

alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama
14 years ago
Aren't those containers pretty expensive? I've looked at their website and it seemed you have to buy huge quantities in order to get them.

I have some stuff I'm going to try next year called MicroKote, you paint it inside of containers yourself and it supposedly prevents spiraling, we'll see.
lou_spicewood_tx
Original Author
14 years ago
Unfortunately yes but it's not like I'm giving them away. I just grow them and plant them at neighbors, schools, etc.

I recall stumbling across this wholesaler grower going out of business selling a lot of rootmaker containers at reduced prices so maybe if you look around, you may find some, who knows?
Related Discussions
Do you grow roses named after people you don't like?
Q
Comments (150)
I'd probably hesitate a moment or two if the rose name evoked a negative reaction. And the marketers are aware of this. They don't want to have a namesake which most people would avoid. For example, years ago there was a cute lil' rose bush named after someone in the royal British family. "Fergie" to be exact. Welllll, soon after the introduction of that rose the real Fergie was photographed poolside while having her toes sucked by someone (not her husband). Needless to say this created a hubbub in the news and a somewhat negative association with the rose shrub. The marketers quickly changed the name of the shrub to "Sunseeker". That cracks me up every time I think of it. But while we have grown accustomed to the names of our roses, non-rose fanatics are simply unaware and my friends find it wildly amusing when I say something like, "That's George Burns! Isn't he looking good this year?" What IS in a name anyway? My last name is Butcher and it's prevented me from seeking employment as a baby sitter, veterinarian or even a medical examiner. But it is a great name for a hockey player.
...See More
Looking for a small tree with a nonaggressive root system
Q
Comments (6)
scotjute What an interesting choice ... I did some research on this plant and found that it is native to oklahoma and in fact even to my county where I live but I have never seen it around. I seen lots of Prunus americana which is a suckering shrub but Mexican Plum is a NON suckering form of Plum and is a highly praised,,, read this site tree.edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st511 It was praised on almost every site I looked at my only cocncern would be the mess when fruiting but I have another place in my yard that it would be prefect for but finding one may be a challange ! There is only one native nursery I know of here in Oklahoma and it is about 60 miles from where I live but thats no problem but I have been there several time but have never seen this there. I may have to find some seed. Thanks I love finding new fasanting plants...
...See More
What's your growing area look like
Q
Comments (27)
Well they still call it shade cloth your question in a sence is kind of like saying a scewdriver is a nail. Hard to answer question from you thanks for the challenge On a good note all I can offer are options the choice is ultimitly yours http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/category/covering?gclid=CP_v69S528QCFZUdgQodDG8A9g Then you add Humity to the eqation ? Wouldn't that be best dealt with by haveing plants in the hot house that alreay enjoy higher humidty ? Yet there is no easy way out for us is there ? You want succulents. Airid plants for higher humidity Sounds easy enough to me rigth now I'm thinking a decent size dehumidifier and a fire fighters sized air fan or three. Yes there are some very elaberate air control climate control systems out there as well but your talking 10-15 K $$ to buy and apx 150 $$ more per month to operate
...See More
No branching on tree seedlings grown in Rootmaker pots
Q
Comments (34)
I decided to pot-up the seedlings because some of them in Rootmaker and in standard pots had roots showing at the bottom. As shown in the photo below, the two trees in the Rootmaker pots lack the larger white roots seen in the standard pots and appear to have more small fibrous roots. Prior to transplanting from the standard pots, I untangled the larger roots at the bottom and spread them out, thus increasing the overall length of the root ball about 3 fold. In conclusion, I will not use Rootmaker pots for two reasons: No or only a few branches compared to trees grown in standard pots. Smaller root system. The larger white roots seen at the bottom of the standard pot, when untangled, turned out to be rather long. I believe that these long roots will give rise to fine roots and root hairs. And in the end, the root system in the standard pot will be more developed than that in the Rootmaker pot. By the way, this experiment was continued by transplanting trees from Rootmaker pots into 1 gal. Rootmaker pots http://rootmaker.com/retail/21 and trees in standard pots into 1 gallon nursery pots https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0095ZD6M0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. All pots were painted white to minimize root damage from high temperature due to solar heating.
...See More
lou_spicewood_tx
Original Author
14 years ago
I had to get rid of a couple of oak trees - bur and mexican white oak because of terrible root system-

{{gwi:421840}}

{{gwi:421841}}

That's after 2-3 years in the ground and they were still shifting around. They started out as 5g size. I thought I had fixed girdling/circling roots but obviously not as I couldn't see them deeper than what I could fix. Seems oaks do worst in smooth sided containers compared to some tree species.
pineresin
14 years ago
Nice examples!

"This one is taxodium... It was absolutely destroyed by my neighbor's little beagle a week after it was planted"

That's worth replanting. It'll resprout well from the base.

Resin
lou_spicewood_tx
Original Author
14 years ago
Resin,

I thought it might but that $%#@! dog completely stripped all bark off all the way to the roots. Just no bark at all. chewed it in half and ripped them apart. What a little vicious dog!
Embothrium
14 years ago
I see a number of circling roots on the outside of the ball. So while mostly not deformed, "no circling roots at all" is not true in this case.

And the oak certainly looks like what is too common. Once woody roots harden into place, that part of the root stays in that position unless corrected by a person.
lou_spicewood_tx
Original Author
14 years ago
Ok. I suppose not "rootbound" would be the better term than not circling roots at all. Still much better than the ones grown in conventional containers.

Taxodium roots seem to be very aggressive. I've seen large ones in big conventional containers and the roots were deformed all over places. Very scary.
Embothrium
14 years ago
>Still much betterDefinitely.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Georgia Peach Grows California Roots

By Vanessa Brunner

Southern Glamour and Bay Views Combine in Lush San Francisco Home

ARCHITECTURE Roots of Style: Where Did Your House Get Its Look?

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Explore the role of architectural fashions in current designs through 5 home styles that bridge past and present

EARTH DAY Grow a Beautiful Garden With Ecofriendly Greywater

By Greywater Corps

Reducing home water waste means lower bills and a healthier planet. Here's how to set up a greywater home irrigation system that can help

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own European and Asian Pears

By Marianne Lipanovich

Try these trees for their good looks, delicious fruit and wide range of sizes — plus you can espalier them

GREEN BUILDING Living Roofs Put Down Roots

No longer solely the domain of hippies — or hobbits — a green roof can be a hardworking partner in making your house sustainable

COOL-SEASON CROPS Cool-Season Vegetables: How to Grow Parsnips

By Marianne Lipanovich

This unfairly maligned root vegetable is the ideal choice for a winter garden, sweetening with the frost and having a long storage life

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE Roots of Style: Classical Details Flourish in 21st-Century Architecture

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Columns, friezes, cornices ... if your home has features like these, it may have been influenced by ancient designs

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE Roots of Style: Pueblo Revival Architecture Welcomes Modern Life

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Centuries-old details of adobe construction still appeal in the desert Southwest, adapted to today's tastes

GARDENING GUIDES Herb Garden Essentials: Grow Your Own Delicious Mint

By Marianne Lipanovich

Pull out a pot for this one. Mint's spreading habit and hard-to-kill nature can be a blessing — if you're properly prepared

ARCHITECTURE Roots of Style: Prairie Architecture Ushers In Modern Design

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Twentieth-century Midwestern architects gave us broad-shouldered homes inspired by the landscape and modern times

Sponsored

More Discussions

Spring for your fig tree

7

Bursera Fagaroides?

4

Weeping White Spruce Growth

15

Is This a Sandbox Tree?

1

Dappled willow tree damaged by deer

3