Ok here we go.....
I bought a potted living spruce tree for a outside Christmas tree.
However i have discovered it has very little roots, and this is not being helped by the high winds which are disturbing the roots and making it blow over and out of the pot!
So i have tied it up from all sides in the hope that will support it.
Any tips on how to keep it alive and how to encourage more root growth?
2006-12-03 05:25:16 · 14 answers · asked by Scarlet 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
Ok just to verify this is NOT a cut tree but a rooted tree.
Also it has been repotted into a very large pot, and is staying outdoors.
it has had a a good soaking and feed of very good fertiliser
2006-12-03 05:42:41 · update #1
Re pot the tree in the pot with tree compost ( most garden centres sell it ) But mix into the compost a good measure of bone-meal, ( bone-meal encourages good root growth) Keep the compost moist but not sopping wet. You are right to keep the tree supported, but it would help if you could place the tree in a spot that is sheltered from the wind to reduce the disturbance to the soil around the roots. Good Luck!!!
2006-12-03 05:46:40 · answer #1 · answered by alec A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was given a potted tree by a neighbour and used it for several years. I put it into a slightly larger pot each year and only brought it into the house for Christmas. The rest of the year it was kept outside and I made sure I watered it every day in the summer. This tree grew too large to bring into the house so I gave it to a friend who has planted it in his front garden where it thrives (he decorates it at Christmas time). Last year I bought a new tree in a pot but it had died by March. I discovered that this was not a pot-grown tree, but had been grown in the ground and then dug up (cutting through its roots) and put in a pot. I was absolutely livid as I'd been told it was pot-grown. The only way to keep a potted Christmas tree for several years is to buy one that is pot-grown from a reputable trader or garden centre. It's more expensive than a dug up and potted tree, but will last you several years if cared for properly. Don't forget to water every day while it is indoors over Christmas.
2006-12-03 05:37:29 · answer #2 · answered by debbie t 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've bee conned. That's not a proper rooted Christmas tree Someone has dug it up cut the roots and put it in a pot. I don't think it will survive. I have grown Christmas trees in pots that way all the roots are intact. I start off with a rooted cutting and put it in a small pot and has it grows I keep potting it up. This way the tree is healthy and wont drop its needles when in doors providing you keep it watered
2006-12-03 05:41:06 · answer #3 · answered by rocky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bound & hubby here:
The shear size of a "Christmas tree" mandates that it not be kept in a pot. To allow your tree adequate space for root growth, your pot would have to be well over 4 or 5 feet in diameter! If you can, plant your tree in your front or back yard. flood the hole with water and Miracle Grow for perenials ... if the wrap or bucket that holds the root ball is not natural (i.e.: burlap) remove it before you place the root ball in the hole, then fill-in and tamp the dirt around the tree's base. Water it frequently!
Good luck!
2006-12-03 05:37:07 · answer #4 · answered by gonefornow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water the tree every day. Avoid allowing the water level to drop below the cut end of the trunk. If it does, a seal will form and prevent any more water from being absorbed by the tree. You'll need to make a cut in the trunk if this occurs.Keep the tree away from the fireplace, vents and other sources of heat. Spray tree with an antitranspirant, which is a clear film that slows water loss from the needles.
2006-12-03 05:35:38 · answer #5 · answered by angel27 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like you need to repot it. Buy a bag of soil enriched with manure and repot it in a very large pot. You really ought to plant it in the ground if you can....trees are not meant for pots.
Feed it monthly and water the entire tree (branches and all). I suggest a bit of pea gravel and then a layer of sand to assist with drainage in the bottom of the pot. The sand will weight it a bit and also help keep water in the soil, but not too much.
Good luck!
2006-12-03 05:32:09 · answer #6 · answered by dancing_in_the_hail 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can always plant it in your lawn! If not planting it, you are probably doing all you can until there is better root growth.
2006-12-03 05:29:17 · answer #7 · answered by Michelle 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you can get root powder that stimulates growth. ask at a garden center they will be able to advise you.
2006-12-03 05:27:48 · answer #8 · answered by sxiecat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i just got mine the bloke i got it off reckons they drink 2 pints of water a day,this will keep it healthy and stop pines dropping
2006-12-03 05:28:34 · answer #9 · answered by STEVE T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
water it .put manure.and keep it inside the house.hope that helps
2006-12-03 05:41:17 · answer #10 · answered by Shaniqua 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋