Optimum Time to Up Pot Seedlings

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:49 am

Someone asked recently what is the best stage at which to up-pot seedlings from community pots/baggies.

My experience shows " W A I T ".

The following two photos show SAME AGE Wodyetia bifurcata (Foxtail) seedlings.

The stunted one at right has never really recovered from potting up when its first spear was only a couple of inches long (I was impatient!)
The foxtail in left photo was placed into its own pot right after a SECOND flush of leaves.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/5640579485/" title="DSC04655 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/564 ... 3d6375.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04655">

Anyone else have timing experiences to share?

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:15 pm

wow, that's a big difference!

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:32 pm

Wow is right!

Any idea why the results are so dramatic?

I just potted up my Adonidia (another thread) and still think they needed it.
But seeing this, I'll wait on my many Sabal minor seedlings. --Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:57 am

Any idea why the results are so dramatic?

The little guy was started in a yoghurt cup and had a J-root, while the other one was in one of those Big Gulp 10-inch high cups.

What really surprised me was that after potting them all up and fertilizing, the little guy seemed to remain in "suspended animation" for an entire growing season (while the others zoomed ahead).

It's sure a dilemma if you're starting palms in baggies as root damage is common when coaxing them apart.

But I read on another site that most species of young palms prefer to be somewhat rootbound in a pot.
So potting up too soon theoretically might have no advantages.

Or maybe it's just Foxtails?
I'd be interested in learning what other people have found to be the best time to pot up.

Barb