O crab, poor crab. Have a drink on me. (maybe)

[Mike Corazzi]

Cindy noticed my crabapple having droopy leaves a few weeks ago. I said PSHAW and watered it. The droop undrooped.
But today.... the whole damn tree looked droopy.
So, thinks me, I shall amend the soil with some water retentive potting soil.
But crabby has other ideas. He has no roots. Maybe a half inch around the top and another ...maybe... half inch on the bottom....

......WHERE...

THEY STOP AT MY STUPID STUNT OF GIVING HIM MORE LAVA TO ....DRAIN.... BETTER.

Yep, I had used a LOT of lava and NO roots had gone into it. Like a solid pack of rock that didn't entice any drinking from this notoriously thirsty tree.

Soooooo.... after spending all morning in the hell of the Dept of Motor Vehicles to renew a license to kill, ..... I get to spend the AFTERNOON in the hell of trying to FIX this shit.

Hopefully, it will. Now the pot has the standard BONSAI MIX top to bottom.

IF the roots can forgive me for my dumbness, perhaps they will see this source of NEW moisture and no murder will take place.

MAYBE ...........

Cuz he wuz so purdy.

 

[August44]

I want to understand this but you lost me. Please remember that I am old and don't hear well. Could you be a little clearer about what went on for me pls? Thanks!

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I want to understand this but you lost me. Please remember that I am old and don't hear well. Could you be a little clearer about what went on for me pls? Thanks!

Read the message to this beat, maybe??

 

[Mike Corazzi]

I want to understand this but you lost me. Please remember that I am old and don't hear well. Could you be a little clearer about what went on for me pls? Thanks!

Bad dirt. Tree no drinkee. Me worry.

 

[August44]

Read the message to this beat, maybe??

Crazy music. Now I rrrrrrrreally don't understand it!

 

[August44]

Bad dirt. Tree no drinkee. Me worry.

Call me when u sober pls

 

[Potawatomi13]

Soooooo.... after spending all morning in the hell of the Dept of Motor Vehicles to renew a license to kill, ..... I get to spend the AFTERNOON in the hell of trying to FIX this shit.

You cannot do this online like us? Just learned of this(HALLELUJAHHALLELUJAH!) here a few months ago night before going to DMV for long interminable line. Oh Joy, Oh rapture!

 

[Mike Corazzi]

That cuts off at age 70.

 

[Cajunrider]

Cindy noticed my crabapple having droopy leaves a few weeks ago. I said PSHAW and watered it. The droop undrooped.
But today.... the whole damn tree looked droopy.
So, thinks me, I shall amend the soil with some water retentive potting soil.
But crabby has other ideas. He has no roots. Maybe a half inch around the top and another ...maybe... half inch on the bottom....

......WHERE...

THEY STOP AT MY STUPID STUNT OF GIVING HIM MORE LAVA TO ....DRAIN.... BETTER.

Yep, I had used a LOT of lava and NO roots had gone into it. Like a solid pack of rock that didn't entice any drinking from this notoriously thirsty tree.

Soooooo.... after spending all morning in the hell of the Dept of Motor Vehicles to renew a license to kill, ..... I get to spend the AFTERNOON in the hell of trying to FIX this shit.

Hopefully, it will. Now the pot has the standard BONSAI MIX top to bottom.

IF the roots can forgive me for my dumbness, perhaps they will see this source of NEW moisture and no murder will take place.

MAYBE ...........

Cuz he wuz so purdy.

View attachment 485927

Best of luck.
I did the stupid shit of potting collected Mayhaw into pond baskets. Many of them died! Trying to repot the survivors now.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Call me when u sober pls

Sure. Post your home phone.

 

[Ruddigger]

Am I understanding this correctly? You previously added lava to the outside of your established root system, which was comprised of a different soil mixture. Then you’re surprised the roots didnt grow into the lava? This is a common outcome, and tangentially, why slip potting is a waste of time.

 

[rodeolthr]

@Mike Corazzi even in my "milder than yours" climate, I grow my apples and plums in heavier soil, since they are big water hogs. That said, they still need tons of water when it's warm. I think in a previous thread we talked about them quickly colonizing their pots with roots. Seems like that won't be an issue for you this year Though in reality, it should have a pot full of roots later this year since you've addressed your soil issues

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Am I understanding this correctly? You previously added lava to the outside of your established root system, which was comprised of a different soil mixture. Then you’re surprised the roots didnt grow into the lava? This is a common outcome, and tangentially, why slip potting is a waste of time.

NO! I had potted this crab in a HUGE ventilated pot last year THINKING it would not need a repot for a LOONNNGGG time.
BZZZZZZZ!!! WRONG !!
Peeked at the roots this year and....voila.... the roots simply FILLED that monster pot and since I know crabs drink like fish and DO need repots annually, and root butchery seems not to faze them, I thunk...... "gee, I can get good DRAINAGE with MORE LAVA !!!

So..... in goes the lava.

And takes up a bit over half the pot.
WHICH means STOP to the roots who see the barricade.

Soooooooooooooo..... pop out the tree, put in some good mix and pop the tree back in and....

.....................see what happens...........

 

[Mike Corazzi]

@Mike Corazzi even in my "milder than yours" climate, I grow my apples and plums in heavier soil, since they are big water hogs. That said, they still need tons of water when it's warm. I think in a previous thread we talked about them quickly colonizing their pots with roots. Seems like that won't be an issue for you this year Though in reality, it should have a pot full of roots later this year since you've addressed your soil issues

YES!!!
The roots didn't "COLONIZE" the big pot.
It was a full and complete JUNTA that CONQUERED THE ENTIRE POT !!!