Couldn't tell you that now, give me a few years. Would be happy to shake a tree out of a colander that has been in place for a single season to test the idea of the root tips being air pruned and dividing back a bit.
I don't know why it works, Vance provided a good explanation. All I know is that it does work.
Right. No... wrong IMO. I would nearly kill (or at least maim) to have the active root growth on some of my older pines as I do on the younger ones.
The seedlings up to 4 or 5 years seem to put a great deal of energy in to developing a mass of feeder and anchoring roots. I work just as hard to remove the fat anchoring roots and try to develop nebari and a pad of feeder roots. The same is not true on my older pines. I have to be slow and methodical in the same type development or I will kill the tree. I always bare root young pines as they seem to recover in a season. Not so on the older ones, even with a vigorous tree.
What makes you say this would not occur in a modified pond basket? No need to bare root here, just a quick slip pot will render results. I'm not saying to do it with all your older established trees, but why not try it on one which you want to develop better roots and is otherwise healthy. You have everything to gain, what have you got to loose?
Huh? My response was strictly directed to your comment about "age is not a factor in root growth". I read your response several times and if you explained or backed up that statement I didn't see the proof or facts. I can tell you that all of my trees would not benefit from this practice. Sometimes it's simply better to slap a tree in the ground and let it grow. Development is all about building trunks and nebari. Some trees build fine trunks in the ground. Faster than in a restrictive container.
Slapping a tree in the ground may or may not necessarily lead to faster growth, let me explain.
Are we in agreement that a healthy root system of fine feeders roots is more beneficial to a tree than large roots with just a few feeders? The large roots outside of anchoring the tree will feed it very little in comparison. Which in your opinion is conducive to optimal growth?
The ground has been the place to grow out trunks for many years now, and very little is known about the benefits of pond baskets.
What is the chief advantage of pond baskets? Maximum oxygenation! This does not readily occur in the ground, comparatively speaking.
What produces roots, feeder roots? A supply of oxygen water and nutrients. If all three required elements occur locally, what do you believe is happening below the soil? On the other hand while planted in the ground roots will search for these elements, resulting in long unwanted root growth with only a few feeders while searching for water and nourishment.
I believe that a
properly nourished tree will develop just as well if not better in modified pond baskets than they will in the ground. The caveat, proper nourishment, which I believe has not been accomplished at the same rate as other technical advancement in our craft.
Top growth is equal to bottom growth? I don't think I have seen that fact. I have seen it discussed but I have not seen it in stone.
A healthy root system will lead to a profusion of top growth. A profusion of solar panels rendering chlorophyl needs a place for storage, the root mass. If insufficient roots exist, they are created and the circle continues. Those are my beliefs anyway.
No need to preach to me about mesh pots Rick, I agree with their use. I have never said I do not and I have no idea where you got the idea I don't use them. I recommend them as often as I can and I have done so many times here on this site.
I'm not trying to preach, nor lecture you Graydon just trying to explain the benefits of modified pond baskets through my experience with them.
http://www.superoots.com/air_intro.htm