Box Balls growing in solid clay?
LeadFarmer
Posts: 1,382
in Plants
I bought quite a few Box Ball plants from Tescos last week. They are healthy looing plants but I decided to pot a few of them on into bigger pots. Which is when I noticed they are growing in what appears to be solid clay!!
Heres the healthy looking plant...
And when removed from pot...
And with outer layer of compost removed...
None of the roots had grown into the outer compost, perhaps they were only recently planted into pots? But I was suprised to find they were growing well in what looks and feels like heavy clay. Any thoughts?
0
Posts
My thoughts are that you need to look after them very carefull until the roots grow into the ground/compost. They will have been grown in heavy clay soil and removed with probable damage to pot up. Box grows in some of my heavier patches of soil as well as the opposite extreme, (I don't have any good soil)
In the sticks near Peterborough
And my other thought is that there's a small root in relation to the top growth, and that perhaps it had more before it was dug up
In the sticks near Peterborough
Your probably right nutcutlet. If they can grow in clay then they must be tougher plants than I thought and may not need the care and attention I assumed? But I will keep an eye on them, thanks.
AND
You'll cope I'm sure but I don't think that's suitable to sell to the average tesco customer and they should know about it.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Yes! email Tesco about it
My thoughts are that as sometimes happens the grower ( which won't be Tesco) has dug these up from the field in which they were grown and potted them in a pot reasonably suited to their size. That explains the 2 types of soil. This happened fairly recently so there hasn't been much time for the roots to get stuck into the potting compost. Whilst this may not be ideal the do look healthy specimens and I can see why you were happy to buy them.
I would leave them in the current size pots to give them chance to get rooting.Keep them out of direct sunlight and keep watered but not waterlogged. Perhaps the occasional weak feed of Tomorite or similar, something that will encourage root growth rather than leaves. Have a fresh look in late summer/early autumn and if they look healthy and are growing strong roots then repot onwards.
Have faith... they are nice plants, and tough as old boots.