VERY Large Pot for Bald Cypress

[WallyJ]

A few years ago my neighbor gave me a large 100 gallon pond tub/tank. I just stuck it into my storage shed until this year. I normally keep all my BC in water trays during the spring, summer and fall, and on the ground during the winter in zone 7b/8a (central Arkansas). This year I dug this large pond tub out and used it for the my 4 largest Bald cypress trees (biggest has about a 4-5" base). I placed bricks in the tub and placed the pots on these bricks so that the water level was about 1/2 way up the pot sides.

Next spring, It's actually time to repot these larger BC's and I'm thinking about putting them in this tub without a pot...in other words, use the tub itself as a pot (but with only the 3 larger trees). I would like to set this up to look like the "swamp" environment with the BC's actually sitting in the water up on the trunk 3-5". So my question is a way to keep the soil from migrating away from the roots (or root ball) which keeps the tree from moving around in the pot. I could put bricks under each tree, but my "aim" is to allow the roots and tree to have more freedom in growth (similar to being in the ground) instead of being restricted to a pot. A 100 gallon tub is a LOT of room. I'm looking to mimick a SWAMP look. The tub measures 52" long, 32" wide and 14" deep.

Any suggestions...if I do this, can I over winter in such a large "pot"? Or will I have to take them out and place in pots in the fall? The Bald cypress trees are approximately 4-5" base and 30-36" tall.

Thanks.

 

[WYoung]

A few years ago my neighbor gave me a large 100 gallon pond tub/tank. I just stuck it into my storage shed until this year. I normally keep all my BC in water trays during the spring, summer and fall, and on the ground during the winter in zone 7b/8a (central Arkansas). This year I dug this large pond tub out and used it for the my 4 largest Bald cypress trees (biggest has about a 4-5" base). I placed bricks in the tub and placed the pots on these bricks so that the water level was about 1/2 way up the pot sides.

Next spring, It's actually time to repot these larger BC's and I'm thinking about putting them in this tub without a pot...in other words, use the tub itself as a pot (but with only the 3 larger trees). I would like to set this up to look like the "swamp" environment with the BC's actually sitting in the water up on the trunk 3-5". So my question is a way to keep the soil from migrating away from the roots (or root ball) which keeps the tree from moving around in the pot. I could put bricks under each tree, but my "aim" is to allow the roots and tree to have more freedom in growth (similar to being in the ground) instead of being restricted to a pot. A 100 gallon tub is a LOT of room. I'm looking to mimick a SWAMP look. The tub measures 52" long, 32" wide and 14" deep.

Any suggestions...if I do this, can I over winter in such a large "pot"? Or will I have to take them out and place in pots in the fall? The Bald cypress trees are approximately 4-5" base and 30-36"

A few years ago my neighbor gave me a large 100 gallon pond tub/tank. I just stuck it into my storage shed until this year. I normally keep all my BC in water trays during the spring, summer and fall, and on the ground during the winter in zone 7b/8a (central Arkansas). This year I dug this large pond tub out and used it for the my 4 largest Bald cypress trees (biggest has about a 4-5" base). I placed bricks in the tub and placed the pots on these bricks so that the water level was about 1/2 way up the pot sides.

Next spring, It's actually time to repot these larger BC's and I'm thinking about putting them in this tub without a pot...in other words, use the tub itself as a pot (but with only the 3 larger trees). I would like to set this up to look like the "swamp" environment with the BC's actually sitting in the water up on the trunk 3-5". So my question is a way to keep the soil from migrating away from the roots (or root ball) which keeps the tree from moving around in the pot. I could put bricks under each tree, but my "aim" is to allow the roots and tree to have more freedom in growth (similar to being in the ground) instead of being restricted to a pot. A 100 gallon tub is a LOT of room. I'm looking to mimick a SWAMP look. The tub measures 52" long, 32" wide and 14" deep.

Any suggestions...if I do this, can I over winter in such a large "pot"? Or will I have to take them out and place in pots in the fall? The Bald cypress trees are approximately 4-5" base and 30-36" tall.

Thanks.

Pond baskets may help achieve this. Good luck!

 

[Michael P]

I used to grow bald cypress in a goldfish pond. At first I put them in a mortar mixing tub with holes drilled in the bottom and sides. The pond was 24" deep so the tubs were supported by concrete blocks so that the trees were at the depth I wanted. After the root balls consolidated I took them out of the tub and set them directly on a support that lifted them off the bottom of the pond to the same depth.

They grew very well and root pruning was a snap--lift them out of the pond, root prune as necessary and put them back. They stayed in the pond year round. I think you could do the same. The biggest problem was blowing over in the wind, solved by tying them to a heavy support much as you would tie a tree into a pot.

They looked VERY swampy. Some small wetland plants grew around the nebari. Unfortunately I don't have any photos, please show us pictures of yours!

 

[rockm]

Sounds like a huge hassle to me for not a lot of return. You’re going to have to put mosquito fish in it or some kind of skeeter control all spring and summer

Overwintering will be a hassle. You can probably leave the pot and trees alone as that much water will take a while to freeze completely. However I’d think there might be an issue of surface ice damaging trunks as water expands when it freezes. That might compress the cambium. If that pressure is great enough it could girdle the trunks. Don’t really know but it’s something to think about

If you remove the trees over winter you wil have to accommodate what will likely be a huge heavy root mass.

The impulse to try and mimic “natural” environments for BC usually misinterpret that environment. Swamps are not simply standing water. BC don’t really “prefer” growing in water. They prefer seasonally flooded soil. They grow in submerged situations because they CAN not because they necessarily “like” it. That ability allows them a competitive ecological advantage.

 

[Michael P]

Keeping a bald cypress in a small submerged pot long term is very different than what I did. The water was never stagnant, being recirculated constantly. The prevents anaerobic conditions in the root ball, and also prevents ice from forming over the entire surface of the water. An inexpensive submersible pump is all that is needed. I kept goldfish and/or mosquito fish in the pond at all times with no need for any other mosquito control.

Judging from the growth rate on my trees, they didn't merely tolerate constant submergence--they LOVED it! If I didn't keep up with pruning, an 18" tree could grow to 60" in a few months. I used plastic or metal stock tanks (plastic lasts much longer) resting directly on the soil or on pavement. The tanks were not buried.

Seeing the bald cypress rising from the water surrounded by blooming water lilies was pure beauty.

 

[rockm]

got my first BC in 1996. Have several now. Grown them submerged and not. They grow like weeds regardless. If you have less than great results by not submerging them you’re doing something wrong

 

[Michael P]

I've been growing them since 1997, both submerged and typical bonsai technique with good results. Maybe your extra year of seniority means something. Or maybe not.

The point of this discussion is whether or not Wally J can grow them successfully submerged without pots. I did and he can. His reasons are at least partly aesthetic as mine were.

 

[rockm]

Well yeah, I simply stated it's a hassle. you still have your planting?

 

[Michael P]

No, that tank developed a leak so I had to replace and move it. I split up the forest and gave two trees away. The remaining tree went into a pot where I am developing it in a flat top design.