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| Earlier this year I wrote about our dwarf Nagami Kumquat in a pot, sunken into the potting soil in which I planted it 5 years before. We plan to plant it in the garden later in fall, but first I wanted to re-pot it into new soil. I chose a modified 5-1-1 mix, using Orchid bark (small pieces, from OSH), perlite, peat and lime. The roots were a mess but we did our best to rinse and trim them and get them well-seated in the new mix. We also re-potted our new Dwarf Meyer Lemon into the same mix. Then, we let them rest in the shade for a week or so before moving them into a spot that gets mostly sun. We've kept them well watered with a weekly feeding of Foliage Pro.
Well, here's a pic I took of it last weekend, and also a pair of Meyer Lemon pics. They seem very happy and I think we did good --- thanks to all the help in this forum. Starting next month, I plan to re-pot all of our container plants into the gritty or 5-1-1 mixes. I've already planted a few into a cactus mix (because that's what I had on hand), and those plants already seem MUCH happier. The Kumquat... the plant is COVERED with blossoms!
The Meyer Lemon...
... and another one of the Meyer Lemon, with a little helper -- actually 2, can you spot the other one?
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Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a (My Page) on Thu, Sep 8, 11 at 11:38
| Awesome, Jenn, I love a happy ending! The 5-1-1 is my "work horse" around the yard, but the Gritty will buy you more time Josh |
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| Thank you, Josh! Except for seasonal veggies, how long would you say your 5-1-1 pots last before you need to re-pot? |
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- Posted by greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a (My Page) on Thu, Sep 8, 11 at 19:28
| Well, it really depends. Something I do that increases the longevity of my mix is using uncomposted fir bark. I've never pushed my mixes beyond two years because I've always needed to move up Some caveats, however. High and low temperatures, frequent watering in hot areas,
Josh |
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- Posted by meyermike_1micha 5 (mikerno_1@yahoo.com) on Thu, Sep 8, 11 at 22:26
| Oh, you must know how I feel about the combination of Citrus trees and these wonderful mixes! Great work and beautiful citrus you have there! Mike |
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| Way to go, Jenn. You've done well. Good job! Al |
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| Thanks, Josh. We will plant the Meyer and the Kumquat in the garden later in fall. We live in a former citrus grove and have a very happy old Tangerine (Dancy??) tree that thrives, so they should be happy in our soil. In the ground, we won't need to worry about re-potting every couple of years -- our backs aren't getting any younger. :) Mike and Al: Thank you! |
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| For best success, make sure you correct root issues that carry the potential to cause problems before transplanting. Girdling, encircling, intertwined, and J-hooked roots, as well as those roots growing back toward the center of the root mass should go at transplant time. Al |
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| Al: Thanks for the advice; we'll be sure to do that. In fact I've thought about that step whenever I think about where to transplant it. Would we also need to remove any of the foliage? |
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