I have a Valencia Pride Mango tree (I think "grafted"--whatever that means) that I need to plant in a container ASAP.

Question 1: What is the recommended planter size container? I've heard 15 gallon, but then when I look for pots, they are not labelled by gallon size...rather in diameter.

Question 2: What is the best soil type to fill with. I've heard a lot of "No, no MiracleGro!" so I know to avoid that, but I've also heard that a volcanic-y soil is beneficial.

Suggestions?
Thanks in advance! I probably spent too much on this tree as a novice and really, really don't want to kill it!

It's often parroted that you should only move up one container size when "potting-up". The reasoning is, that when potting up to a container more than one size larger, the soil will remain wet too long and cause root rot issues, but it is the size/mass of the plant material you are working with, and the physical properties of the soil you choose that determines both the upper & lower limits of appropriate container size - not a formulaic upward progression of container sizes. In many cases, after root pruning a plant, it may even be appropriate to step down a container size or two, but as you will see, that also depends on the physical properties of the soil you choose.

Plants grown in ‘slow’ (slow-draining/water-retentive) soils need to be grown in containers with smaller soil volumes so that the plant can use water quickly, allowing air to return to the soil before root issues beyond impaired root function/metabolism become a limiting factor. We know that the anaerobic (airless) conditions that accompany soggy soils quickly kill fine roots and impair root function/metabolism. We also know smaller soil volumes and the root constriction that accompany them cause plants to both extend branches and gain o/a mass much more slowly - a bane if rapid growth is the goal - a boon if growth restriction and a compact plant are what you have your sights set on.
Conversely, rampant growth can be had by growing in very large containers and in very fast soils where frequent watering and fertilizing is required - so it's not that plants rebel at being potted into very large containers per se, but rather, they rebel at being potted into very large containers with a soil that is too slow and water-retentive. This is a key point.

We know that there is an inverse relationship between soil particle size and the height of the perched water table (PWT) in containers. As particle size increases, the height of the PWT decreases, until at about a particle size of just under 1/8 inch, soils will no longer hold perched water. If there is no perched water, the soil is ALWAYS well aerated, even when the soil is at container capacity (fully saturated).

So, if you aim for a soil (like the gritty mix) composed primarily of particles larger than 1/16", there is no upper limit to container size, other than what you can practically manage. The lower size limit will be determined by the soil volume's ability to allow room for roots to ’run’ and to furnish water enough to sustain the plant between irrigations. Bearing heavily on this ability is the ratio of fine roots to coarse roots. It takes a minimum amount of fine rootage to support the canopy under high water demand. If the container is full of large roots, there may not be room for a sufficient volume of the fine roots that do all the water/nutrient delivery work and the coarse roots, too. You can grow a very large plant in a very small container if the roots have been well managed and the lion's share of the rootage is fine. You can also grow very small plants, even seedlings, in very large containers if the soil is fast (free-draining and well-aerated) enough that the soil holds no, or very little perched water.

I have just offered clear illustration that the oft repeated advice to ‘only pot up one size at a time’, only applies when using heavy, water-retentive soils. Those using well-aerated soils are not bound by the same restrictions.

2) Re. your choice of soils: You may find that a thorough understanding of how container soils work will help you decide the best course. I grow everything woody in a soil others have named 'the gritty mix', which works extremely well. The principles behind why it works well can be found in the text at the embedded link I provided.

Al

Are you near one of these: Tampa, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach?
If so, Florida Silica Sand company has Turface MVP and a suitable gravel product (#10 filter gravel). I think I'd tend to shy away from limestone, but other inert types of rock would be suitable if the size is right. I actually prefer Cherrystone (quartzite).

You might wish to consider adding your USDA zone and a large city you're near, + your state, to your user info. It will be helpful to folks replying to your posts.

Al

Maybe you could post a picture of your lovely Mango and let Overcaffinated know what you use...Your's is just beautiful!!

Mike

FWIW, my Mango trees were in a 5 gallon nursery pot when I bought it and potted it into 20" and repotted it to a 24" where it is right now. The big one is 4 years old and the smaller one will be one year in Feb of next year. The small one is in a 20" and will remain there for a few more years, depending on fast it grows.

Valencia Pride is a very vigorous grower and gets very large when planted in the ground...might have been better had you picked a smaller or dwarf size mango tree for container growing...but since you already purchased it, my suggestion to you is keep an eye on it, you may have to prune them more heavily that you would a "dwarf" or semi dwarf variety. Best of luck, also there's a ton of info in the Tropical Fruits Forum...lots of members there grow them in Containers as well.

Mike wanted me to post these pictures...Some of these were taken last time it fruited.

I pruned this one pretty good after it fruited and the new growths are just started to harden off.

20" pot...smaller mango(Pickering) Dwarf

do you mulch on top of the gritty mix? it doesnt seem as pebbley* as the pics of the gritty mix iv seen?

your mango look great! hope my Carrie does as well with the gritty.

Hi Jodik!!! Hoping you are well and you are taking care of that back..I saw the latest rose pictures you posted and I must say, BEAUTIFUL...Thank you for that.

Mike

Slane, NO, I do not mulch my trees...it is in the gritty mix. The smaller tree was under an Oak tree...and the leaves were "molting",lol...so there's a lot of dead oak leaves on top. I think part of what you're seeing on the top picture are some of the roots...I planted it a little higher. I potted it up to the(24") container in gritty mix also just this summer.

Mike, You're hilarious!! "Bit himself",lol...

Marcus, I couldn't agree with you more! If you're going to plant a Mango tree or any fruit tree...taste is very important! I will say one thing about taste though...it is subjective. What you love I may not and vise versa. I love all my Mango varieties that I've planted. Glenn, Cogshall, Pickering, Keitt and Lancetilla. I've researched and tasted all of them except Lancetilla...but I've heard/read very good results with that one as well.

Strangely, I'm not a huge fan of mangoes... but if I were to grow containerized miniature fruit trees, taste of the fruit would be a huge consideration. Why bother with a dwarf tree that produced tasteless or bitter fruits?