Which Type Of Container To Use

[Millet]

The choice of container, whether plastic or terracotta (clay) is obviously up to the individual. Bear in mind, however, that a plastic container, although more practical, causes the soil to heat up more in the hot weather and get colder in winter.  A terracotta container on the other hand,  will enhance the beauty of the plant, is more resistant to temperature change and allows the medium to transpire more efficiently.

[LaCasaVerde]

Glazed terra cotta pots slow transpiration and seem to work better for me. Less prone to chipping and cracking as well.

[Slicko]

Also the cost difference is quite substantial especially if funds are limited and the number of trees to be potted is high.

Mick

[Tropheus76]

I use rogue hydro grow pots. I am less concerned with appearances and they add nothing to the weight when I have to move them.

[adriano2]

I use terracotta for balcony trees. Being pretty fragile, one of them already broke. However i would never replace it with plastic. It looks better, and to me the most important, it absorbs excess water.

[daytripper]

You cant get any air pruning pots in terracotta which I see as its biggest disadvantage.  Your roots will just be circling around the pot.

[Millet]

I personally really like air root pruning containers, and I use them almost entirely.  I believe the best looking container is the terracotta.  It was mentioned that the terracotta transpires, which to my way of  thinking is an advantage.  Roots circle inside any container, (except the air root pruning containers), but that is because they have not been transplanted on time. Each to their choice.

[Vlad]

Millet, some say not to use terra cotta pots because evaporation of water through the walls chills the roots and this is undesirable. What do you think?
Also, is there any substantial difference in performance between the various air pruning pots?

[Millet]

It all depends at what temperature you maintain the medium. The optimum temperature for citrus root growth is about 79F and the minimum temperature at which citrus roots will elongate is about 54F (with some variables).  Shown below is a link to a very good web site concerning citrus roots and temperatures.  About Root Pruning Containers (RPC), I really can't answer your question, because the only RPC brand that I have ever used are the ones manufactured by Root Maker Corporation.  Root Maker makes a very good product, they work very well. I recommend them.

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/repositoryfiles/ca911p13-59079.pdf

[cory]

Thank you for directing us to this interesting article Millet.

Cory

[Viking Guy]

I prefer plastic while tree is in up sizing stages for numerous reasons.  Once tree reaches the largest pot I plan to place it in, I move to terracotta for other reasons.

In some cases, I use both.  I will have a tree in a plastic pot and place it all inside a slightly.larger terracotta pot for appearance.

[Millet]

Viking, they also make ornamental plastic containers that look very much like terracotta.

[Viking Guy]

As long as they're soft and uncrackable, then those could be ideal.