Martin,

Thanks for sharing. I know you will be happy with Dr Tapla's soil recipe. I have noticed a significant difference in the growth and health of my plants in Dr Tapla's mixture.

Regards
Vinnie

Martin,

When re-potting, I remove all of the old growing mix. I do this to prevent compression of the old growing mix. I have experienced this a couple of times with trees purchased from nurseries which had been potted up without root work.

You may want to employ the same technique with the trees grown in the MG potting mix so that the finer particles don't block up the pores in your new mix.

~james

James, your right i thought about that when i had the roots out like in picture,i did remove a little more after picture but not much more i was afraid as 1 of them was more compact than the others it was real fine fine soil and seem packed tight i did lossen and remove some though.I was afraid to try doing that as the plants are young i did not want to shock em to to much . Not this winter as they will still be growing (hopefully) indoors but the next winter when i repot them into bigger pots and they are dormant i will do that. You know it probably would have been best to wait till then to do anything at all with the new soil but i dont know i just did not want them knats in house so i try this way, now if knats do come i will have to figure something out(oh boy).

How would someone go about removing all the old potting soil? could I just soak the rootball & gently spray it with
the garden hose, I never have did that procedure!

Thanks Guy's
Cecil

Cecil,

I work as many of the roots free with bamboo chopsticks as I can. I've tried other implements made of wood, plastic and metal, but I find there is something easier about the chopsticks. Also, the bamboo seems to be smoother and doesn't snag on the roots as badly. After I remove all of the growing mix (or as much as I'm going to get off), I dunk the root ball in a bucket of water to clean them off.

In extreme cases, where the roots are bound a bit, I'll use a sharp stream of water from a garden hose to work the mix out of the roots. However, I don't use this method very often since it can cause damage to the roots.

Martin, one of the things I have done to simplify my life is to use my growing mix as the medium I use for rooting cuttings and air-layering limbs. Usually they spend a relatively short period of time in the smaller containers before they need to be potted up. Since the mix is the same, and it retains it's structure for the better part of two years, I can make the first move without the need for root work (if I choose).

~james

Thanks James

Cecil

Thanks for the advice all, i used to do that James about useing same soil miracle grow which i actually had luck with rooting my plants, what i would do would be drench the little cup without plant. Next day i would make hole and stick stick in it, would not have to water for a good amount of time long as i kep air movement nothing spoiled maybe just luck. These little guys i should have waited till the next winter not this 1 as the roots are still tender except the one .I bought them and had no choice of the soil so i did not have a choice int that regard, but i understand what your saying as thats what i also do. Now what i screwed up was i thought afterwards they were in shade which they were for later on but then this morning when i came back from Doc appoitment the sun was hitting them and the bigger of the 3 wilted bad, so now i made sure there in total shade for sure. Luckily our eve's are cool if not cold so should help recover, i think they will be fine with tiime. Anyhoot i think except for a couple more hopefullyforthcoming i won't have to mess with little ones anymore just larger tree's 1 by 1 if i go that route. Thanks again for information and idea's.
Martin

I thought Dr Tapla advocated letting the plants go dormant as opposed to keeping them growing indoors during the winter?

ejp3, he probably did but for plants i imagine that were hardened off , mine are not, their to young and might not make it going dormant so i did not want to chance it. As for the grow light it will be used for my vegtables, after this winter i probably will have no more use for it in winter only early spring for sprouting some of my vegtables i grow all mine useing seeds.