Hello, my name is Dave and I'm a turface user.

[Shima]

which isn't too surprising since both are forms of hi-fired clay).

Really? Pumice is glass. When clay is high fired it turns to glass?

 

[Dav4]

Someone needs to start a "turface users support group", and I suppose a "floor dry users support group." And while we're at it, why not an "I like procumbens foliage" support group for good measure.

Dave, I've got some juniper stock like that, which also needs to go into the ground. Problem is, my grow bed is pretty much full and I've already appropriated most of the former veggie garden.

I'd never give up tomato growing space...even for bonsai.

 

[0soyoung]

Really? Pumice is glass. When clay is high fired it turns to glass?

Oops. My error.
Pumice is largely silicate (silicon dioxide is quartz, though 'glass' is also an amorphous solid state of other compounds). Clay, on the other hand are largely alumina (though also used to describe fine powdered/gooey stuff).

Thanks for pointing out my mistake.

 

[vaibatron]

I still use Turface fractionally, in my mixes, because it's cheap and accessible.

In my experience, boxwood is the only tree that I've grown in a turface heavy based mix that produces sturdy, durable, non-fleshy "cotton candy" like roots.

 

[mcpesq817]

Coarser soil produces a very different kind of root system.

View attachment 99104

Over time, how do you think these very different root systems will contribute to the development of the nebari?

The pictures I posted above are one year in turface after the tree is pulled from the ground. Once dug, the roots are usually a mess on most trees, and you're not left with many feeder roots. To me it seems that the turface works to get you a healthy root ball that first year. After the first year, I put the tree in a different mix and look into ways to improve the nebari. Maybe I waste a year in doing so, but the tree survives and I'm not in much of a rush.

In your picture, is that one year after digging? If so, really nice roots. What are you using aside from pumice (and what size particles)?

 

[markyscott]

The pictures I posted above are one year in turface after the tree is pulled from the ground. Once dug, the roots are usually a mess on most trees, and you're not left with many feeder roots. To me it seems that the turface works to get you a healthy root ball that first year. After the first year, I put the tree in a different mix and look into ways to improve the nebari. Maybe I waste a year in doing so, but the tree survives and I'm not in much of a rush.

In your picture, is that one year after digging? If so, really nice roots. What are you using aside from pumice (and what size particles)?

First - not my tree, but I've worked on it a bunch and I have several of its smaller cousins. Wish it was, but I don't think it's ever been in the ground. Or at least it hasn't been for a very long time. It's growing in equal parts of pumice, akadama, and lava. All sieved to 1/4" to 3/8".

Because it's been in training for so long, it's not really a fair comparison. But my point was not to criticize or to suggest you were doing anything wrong. I just wanted to take the opportunity to point out that there's a difference in the way roots grow in different substrates. I believe that difference can have an impact on the development of your tree.

 

[mcpesq817]

Thanks for sharing Scott - that's quite a nice rootball. I certainly agree on the use of different substrates.

 

[markyscott]

Thanks for sharing Scott - that's quite a nice rootball. I certainly agree on the use of different substrates.

Thanks. You'll find more info on the root work that tree has undergone in this thread.