Have just bought 2 climbing roses that are currently in 5cm little pots. I want to grow them along my deck railings. I can't seem to find out the size pots I would need for permanent placement. I was thinking about 40-50cm? Would that be sufficient?
harrislucinda,
Nov 22, 9:34pm
just buy a big one there are cheap plastic type about i have many plants in big pots here and on wheels so i can wheel in thru the winter But dont go for black as that draws the heat yes 40 t0 50 cm will be big enough for a rose as have a rose in a pot also
rose-murray,
Nov 22, 9:35pm
Here is some info, but you wouldn't be able to grow anything but a small climber in a pot and I think eventually you would ned to transplant it into the ground http://www.rosemagazine.com/pages/containers.asp
piquant,
Nov 22, 10:08pm
5cm little pots are what they call tubes. They are designed to grow on rooted cuttings. If you put a cutting into a bigger pot, it will in all probability - die. It needs to develop roots in order to sustain itself. This is why good growers go through the number of transplants that they do - in order to get a good, substantial plant with a good root system. I don't know how many times I have tried to explain this - that it truly is really bad practice to be selling growing on lines to the average gardener. Because they really don't know what to do with them or how to treat them in order to get, eventually, some sort of a growable plant. When will people realise that some of these 5 and 7 cm tubes are being sold at outrageous prices to an unsuspecting public. The sellers are, in all probability, not the growers and are at least doubling their outlay. I get really cross that learner gardeners, and those that don't know - are not only getting shafted but they face disappointment after disappointment because the plants are not sufficiently grown to support themselves, and they fail. It's an insult to the growers in the industry that do do the right thing and it's bringing us into disrepute. And then people wonder why we have all this legislation!
jan2242,
Nov 22, 11:04pm
Many thanks for the replies. Piquant, thank you, I will take your advice and plant into a slightly bigger size pot. Now I know why soo many plants I have bought, have died. And you are right, this isn't good practice for home gardeners like me as we waste so much money on plants that die. Your advice is most welcome.
docsportello,
Nov 22, 11:12pm
Unless it's a patio climber, I think 40-50cm would be the minimum. But you can get cheap big plastic pots as mentioned from the warehouse or Bunnings in sizes bigger, around the $25 mark.
shanreagh,
Nov 23, 12:01am
Yes growing on to increasing sized pots is the correct way. As well, planting little plants in huge pots can lead to sour undernourished soil eventually. So carefully move from one sized pot to another and eventually you will get to a pot size suitable for longer term. Even then make sure you keep up the soil conditioning and repot from time to time. .
When you transplant from pot to pot don't forget to put broken crockery etc stones in the bottom of the pot. I just used to cover the bottom but since watching a flatmate who had a degree in landscape architecture do it, I now do as she did and fill the bottom one quarter to third of the pot with shards, broken pottery and stones and then tub mix.
colin433,
Nov 23, 9:01am
My sugestion is that if you want the pot to look something spectacular, then buy the bigger pot, but also do as piquant said, and pot on gradually into bigger and bigger pots, meanwhile, fill the large pot, plant the smaller in in it, and the poting mix between the two pots acts as insulation. DON'T whatever you do, decorate the top with limestone chips. I planted three flower carpet roses in huge ceramic pots, and put the chips around them on the top. Before long I had sad looking roses, one almost died, and it dawned on me that maybe the limestone was the cause. I removed the limestone, put a fork in under the roses and dumped them all into buckets with holes in the bottom. They sat for most of last season out the back, recovering, then about six months later I buried the buckets in one of my raised beds, so they are insulated, but look as though they are planted in the actual raised bed. They look magnificent this year, I'm thrilled, and now it's impossible to tell which was the sickest since they were all pruned during the winter. here is one of my roses https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/678509488.jpg
jan2242,
Nov 24, 2:09am
beautiful rose colin433. Thanks for all the ideas folks.
paora-tm,
Nov 24, 7:50am
Once a plant has grown really strong roots does it really matter how big the next pot is?. What size pot is equal to planting something straight into a garden?
paora-tm,
Nov 24, 7:54am
Not quite sure what you are saying or what we should be aware of? Are people selling small plants to buyers expecting plants which are bigger than they receive?
piquant,
Nov 24, 9:22am
I am saying that when you look on TM for plants - often they will be notified as being in 5cm pots ( usually at the end of the blurb). Most people wouldn't grab a ruler and think - hell, that's small! I'm paying $6 or $8 for that! It simply wouldn't probably occur to them. But what these plants are - are what is termed "growing-on lines" or GOL's and were initiated for the nursery industry to grow large numbers of plants in half the time it takes for them to take cuttings and get them rooted or sow seed and get them to big enough to be potted on. So, you have some businesses that that is all they do - take cuttings etc and grow them on to tube size. So, production time for the nursery is effectively reduced to the time it takes for them to pot on to a larger pot and grow on in the nursery until the roots are well established in the new pot and the top growth has increased sufficiently for the plant to become a saleable item. My point is - that the 5cm tube (or GOL) often does not have sufficient root structure to be able to be planted out in a permanent position and survive. What people should be doing with them is to pot them on (as you would in a nursery) and look after them until they have grown to the state where they could be planted out and have a good chance at survival. My point is - why would you pay that when you have to do all that extra work when for maybe $1-2 more you could get a fully grown plant that could go straight into your garden. It's about being aware of what they are buying. My philosophy on life , and the way I was brought up, was basically "do unto others. " I firmly believe we have a duty of care to do the very best we can in whatever we do and to be fair and equitable in our dealings". I have to say (and excuse my French) but I often feel I'm shovelling sh*t uphill. I just hate to see people ripped off. That's it.
piquant,
Nov 24, 9:29am
Well, that depends - if you are planting into the garden, then probably no, because the roots have the ability to spread in search of food and moisture. But in a pot situation, it is quite different. There has to be sufficient food - and moisture to be able to sustain the plant, usually for a fair few months, like over summer, for example. So, yes, pot size does matter. Generally speaking, I wouldn't recommend anything under say, 1 litre pot to be planted out. I'm talking perennials here - not bedding plants.
paora-tm,
Nov 24, 10:07am
Crikey, that was a longer answer than I was expecting. I appreciate the time and effort you put into it. Thank you. :)
piquant,
Nov 24, 8:14pm
That's perfectly alright! There is absolutely no point in making a statement and then answering a question with a yes or a no. It doesn't explain anything! If you know the reasons and understand the point, then you will, in future, make more informed choices. It's the same in any field - we all have a tendency to think that everyone should know what you, yourself knows - and in this world of abbreviated titles for all and sundry it's small wonder anyone knows about anything! At least - that's the way it seems!
ruie,
Nov 24, 9:13pm
piquant . thanks for passing on your knowledge & expertise via your posts. I enjoy reading all your gardening posts 'cos they are always so informative . I actually miss them when you haven't contributed! It was nice to see 'paora-tm' thank you for your time & effort 'cos often people don't, which must be disappointing.
ruby2shoes,
Nov 25, 2:57am
I have a Cecile Brunner climber. can I grow that in a pot or does it have to be planted out. I didn't realize it got so big. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
piquant,
Nov 25, 3:25am
You are most welcome ruie. It's nice to know they are appreciated by some! It's a whole different world out there now - one which I don't care for in a lot of ways - people have such busy lives and they just take things for granted. Mind you - when I think back to all the things we used to do with our time - we were far more productive than anyone of today's busy people. They all seem to be tweeting, facebooking and all manner of things I've never even heard of (and frankly, don't want to!) We used to sew, cook, mend things, create things, knit, paint. Write, read, - oh and the list goes on! I pine for the days we spent like this, with our families and friends - life was so much simpler then! All part of getting older, I suppose.
piquant,
Nov 25, 3:28am
ruby2shoes. Your Cecile Brunner will thank you for being planted in the ground! I've never felt it's a good thing to put roses in pots because they do get neglected, and people forget to take them out in winter and root prune and give a new lot of mix and top up the feed three of four times a year.!
colin433,
Nov 26, 8:45am
A lot of good sense there piquant, I for one have taken note. In spite of the fact that I've been gardening for about 60 years, things have changed for me now, and mostly I grown in pots and tubs. I certainly find it quite different from the days when you could bung something in the ground and it would be away laughing. Mildew seems to be my biggest problem these days, mainly due to planting petunias that I love, but so does the mildow Mrs C
ruby2shoes,
Feb 6, 8:00pm
aaah, I had a feeling you were going to say in the ground. Struth, I'd better make a plan. thanks!
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