to pot on or not to pot on... that is the question

[oldmoleskins]

I read today that research has shown that if growing for specimen potted end results, then you get a better plant if you use the final size pot from the start, rather than pot on in small increments as usually suggested.

Any thoughts?

It obviously doesn't work if you're striking dozens of cuttings cos of the space required - but if you're planting up one or two...?

OM.

[andy]

I haven't kept up with "recent developments" in the nursery area but when i worked at the massive ammenity nursery in Brighton, we'd always pot on in increments.

I suppose it would also depend on the type of plant being potted on....for example, i'd be fairly happy potting a fast growing plant such as a brugmansia or musa from a 5" (13cm) straight into its final sized tub....which might be quite large. There would posibly be an initial arrest of growth until the plant realised that it had the space but it would then grow like mad.

However, some plants do like being pot bound before potting on (sanseverias, some orchids for example) and you'd only ever pot them from a 5" to a 6" etc.

The biggest problem with potting rooted cuttings into a final size pot is water logging.....if people can get everything right (drainage, compost, watering, shade etc) i can't see why it can't be done.

[Mowhay]

One of the "old hands" has always advised to sow tomatoes into 3 inch pots and then pot on into the full sized pots straight away? Don't know if it is the correct way but it works for me.

[Chuckles]

Mmmmm I can see the logic in it OM but agree with Andy, it would depend on the plants in question. Like Mowhay I have done Toms from 3" pots to full size but in general I normally go through 3 sizes of pot whether I'm growing a plant from seed or cutting. As soon as I see roots poking out the bottom I pot on.

[oldmoleskins]

Well, the plants under discussion were stephanotis floribunda and mandevilla suaveolens - ie relatively 'difficult' ornamentals, but I see no reason why (space-saving apart) it shouldn't work with the ubiquitous tom too... after all, if they're destined for pots you have to find space for the large pots sometime, and this way you just cut to the chase.

Of course, what it does is remove the feeling that you're somehow following a ritual, the pleasurable fiddling with stock that's part of gardening as we enjoy it - but if potting-on is really a waste of time...

OM.

ps, btw, Mowhay, it was an 'old hand' that was offering this advice: Mr D Beaton, head gardener, Shrubland Park nr Ipswich... old hands think alike!

[Mowhay]

My goodness OM I am humbled by the provenance (SP?) of the advice and will defer to a tried and tested method.

[andy]

For the two species above (both which i've grown in the palm house at work), i would almost certainly pot them from seedlings/rooted cuttings into 3" pots first, they're both fairly slow growing species and not particularly root heavy. The chance of over watering is too real for my liking if potted direct into a large pot/tub.

Toms would be a different kettle of fish as they're so fast growing and they need lots of water.

just my experience OM.