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How does one optimize the benefits of RootMaker Pots?

 
Posts: 88
Location: South Central Mississippi
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If memory serves, Geoff Lawton stated that the use of RootMaker style pots increase the growth rate of a tree by a factor of three.

[url=]http://www.rootmaker.com/[/url]

I have several bare root fruit trees that I was able to pick up on the spur of the moment.

I'm not altogether ready to plant these trees out to their permanent location so I was thinking about potting them up.

I have a sufficient quantity of 3-gallon RootMaker pots.

This got me to thinking - I don't KNOW what I'm doing.

That prompted some questions. A cursory search failed to the yield answers. So, I thought I would throw it out there in hopes that someone with better knowledge might be able to answer.

Here are the questions I had:

Is a 3 gallong pot an appropriate size for a one year old, bare root fruit tree?

Is it the optimal size?

How long should the tree stay in the pot to optimize root growth?

To optimize growth rate/vigor, should the tree be started in a 3-gallong pot and moved to a five gallon pot later?

If so, when?

If time isn't how we judge when we need to move to the next bigger pot, what is the criteria we should use?

What is the protocol for using RootMaker pots to optimize tree growth/survivability?

Is there a point of diminishing returns?

Is the use of RootMaker pots even the best way to go? I have plenty of normal pots in sufficient quantities of every size realistically desirable for such a project. Would the trees be better served in larger size standard pots rather than the 3-gallong RootMaker pots?

Thanks in advance for any help anyone is able to give.
 
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George what an awesome question!

I love searching and I found a neat video that describes the "air pruning" and why the holes are so important. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ptgJn15TmRM

The guy goes on to invite us to his facebook page.
 
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