AaronThomas
Omono
Okay… so I have read several posts on the subject of using 100% pumice… some dating back to 2013 and still can’t find a clear answer…perhaps there isn’t one. I found a thread where Ben aka Beng asked why not use 100% pumice as a substrate for some trees. Lots of great info and some great links provided by @JudyB and several others.
The reason I’m curious is because I currently have 7 Montezuma Cypress. 6 started last year and 1 started in 2017. 3 in 100% pumice, 3 in 50/50 Lava and fine orchid bark and one in the ground that is thriving but it doesn’t count.
The 3 in pumice are doing exceptionally well… lots of new growth and overall seem pretty healthy… I repotted 1 this season and there was a ton of new root growth. The other 2 have not been repotted this season.
The 3 in the lava/orchid bark mix are slow to push new growth… the two I started last year each have had a section of trunk that has died off and the one that was started in 2017 died at the top…. I will mention this is the tree that the kids chopped with what I originally was told was a freak frisbee incident but now have learned was a plastic Samurai Katana. None have been repotted this season.
I can’t imagine this is some sort of a coincidence… Other than the difference in substrates, I have treated each tree the same. Same watering schedule same feeding schedule same sun exposure.
Bad orchid bark? Each potted tree came from a different bag of bark... Not to mention the Elms don’t seem to mind it… Maybe something with MC and pine bark? Probably unlikely...
I guess this is a 2 part question... 1) Can I grow my MC in 100% pumice? Or a combo of pumice and lava? 2) What would cause the die back in the trees grown in the 50/50?
Sorry for the long winded question.
Thanks!!!
The reason I’m curious is because I currently have 7 Montezuma Cypress. 6 started last year and 1 started in 2017. 3 in 100% pumice, 3 in 50/50 Lava and fine orchid bark and one in the ground that is thriving but it doesn’t count.
The 3 in pumice are doing exceptionally well… lots of new growth and overall seem pretty healthy… I repotted 1 this season and there was a ton of new root growth. The other 2 have not been repotted this season.
The 3 in the lava/orchid bark mix are slow to push new growth… the two I started last year each have had a section of trunk that has died off and the one that was started in 2017 died at the top…. I will mention this is the tree that the kids chopped with what I originally was told was a freak frisbee incident but now have learned was a plastic Samurai Katana. None have been repotted this season.
I can’t imagine this is some sort of a coincidence… Other than the difference in substrates, I have treated each tree the same. Same watering schedule same feeding schedule same sun exposure.
Bad orchid bark? Each potted tree came from a different bag of bark... Not to mention the Elms don’t seem to mind it… Maybe something with MC and pine bark? Probably unlikely...
I guess this is a 2 part question... 1) Can I grow my MC in 100% pumice? Or a combo of pumice and lava? 2) What would cause the die back in the trees grown in the 50/50?
Sorry for the long winded question.
Thanks!!!