The Tropical Fruit Forum

Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: Mark in Texas on September 27, 2013, 10:26:01 AM

Title: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on September 27, 2013, 10:26:01 AM
Got in 2 beautiful condo mangoes (Mallika and Pickering) from PIN yesterday and put them in bottomless RootBuilder pots which I made up to about 24" D. Also shown is a Oro Negro in a larger pot in which I cut the cables, added about 3 more panels, and tied them together with cable ties.  That is the Rootmaker system - to expand the pots while inducing a large fibrous root mass.  The value is much higher vigor, production, smaller pot size because the root tips are terminated by air/light which induces a very fibrous rootball.   That allows for much greater root mass which translates to more uptake of water and salts.  The hundreds of extruded downward pointing nipples have 1/4" holes which directs the root out into the air whereby it's terminated (burned). Side benefit is NO root rot.  Click (zoom) on the 1st photo for more detail.  Root tip pruning is the only way to go for me, been doing it for years.  ;)

I'm into organics so my (open and airy) mix consists of 50% organics (composted horse manure, regular compost, pine bark mulch) and 50% in-organics (washed builders sand and coarse vermiculite).   Alfalfa horse cubes were soaked in water and this tea and pulp was used to add moisture to the mix.    Alfalfa not only contains beneficial minerals but an alcohol based growth hormone called triacontanol.   It took an entire tractor bucket load to fill those 2 mango pots.

I collect rainwater and use a small transfer pump and garden hose to water.  Works like a champ!

(http://s15.postimg.cc/5fletkq6f/Pickering_Mango.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/5fletkq6f/)

Pickering in the foreground, Mallika in the background.

(http://s15.postimg.cc/ti28og6tj/Mangos9_27_13.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/ti28og6tj/)

PIN Oro Negro in expanded pot, first time fruiting, holding 8 fruit.


(http://s15.postimg.cc/xbvoxlo5j/ONtree9_27_13.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/xbvoxlo5j/)

(http://s15.postimg.cc/b17txmqvb/Oro_Negro_Fruit9_27_13.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/b17txmqvb/)

Young Reed sporting a new haircut.   I veneer grafted the scion to a Florida pit raised as rootstock. Transfer pump on column.

(http://s15.postimg.cc/e5dwgoi9z/Reed9_27_13.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/e5dwgoi9z/)

Mark
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: nullzero on September 27, 2013, 11:48:04 AM
Mark,

Very impressive, excellent looking plants! I have noticed great results with the root pruning containers.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Tim on September 27, 2013, 12:11:29 PM
Congrats on the new acquisitions.  Very nice & healthy looking trees, I still don't see enough trees in your greenhouse btw
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: zands on September 27, 2013, 12:24:43 PM
The stork flew in from Pine Island bringing your two new babies. Pickering reputation of growing slow and mine confirms this. I got six mangoes in the second year in the ground, got 8 this year. You know the deal...Pickering puts more resources into fruiting instead of leaf and branch. Mine is still only 4 ft high
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on September 27, 2013, 04:25:14 PM
Yep, the stork was good to me and so was PIN.  I wish all nurseries had their level of plant quality and shipping excellence.  The plants are in pristine condition. 

Tim, I think I'm up a creek when my faves put on a few more years.  Got my pruning shears sharp and ready to go.  Glad to hear the Pickering is staying true to it's dwarfish rep.

nullzero, do you use their pots or make your own with RootBuilder?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: nullzero on September 27, 2013, 06:46:32 PM
Yep, the stork was good to me and so was PIN.  I wish all nurseries had their level of plant quality and shipping excellence.  The plants are in pristine condition. 

Tim, I think I'm up a creek when my faves put on a few more years.  Got my pruning shears sharp and ready to go.  Glad to hear the Pickering is staying true to it's dwarfish rep.

nullzero, do you use their pots or make your own with RootBuilder?

I use various sizes of superoots containers. From 3 gal to 12 gal. All plants have great root systems in them.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: CTMIAMI on September 27, 2013, 07:38:53 PM
Mark, nice dog.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: LEOOEL on September 27, 2013, 10:06:21 PM
You collect rainwater coming from the heavens, and then use a pump for irrigation, well, that sounds like a nice advanced system you have there, impressive. And, the fruit trees look very healthy, as if they can't wait to begin growing and producing. You're off to a great start, thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: bangkok on September 28, 2013, 04:41:50 AM
Mark, nice dog.

That's a raccoon who came to see what's going on in that fancy greenhouse. Mark forgot to put a shotgun behind the door. ;)

I like those pots but i guess they are not suitable for using outside on a concrete floor in full Thai sun. They will get soo hot and with all them holes will dry out really fast.

Mark you might have german motors but i still see electric wires hanging in the air. That it is not by german standard installed because you might trip over them and that can be dangerous. Those wires will be there for the lifetime of the greenhouse so it is worth to connect them to something solid for about every 2 feet.

I love those tree's and wished mine grew like these. Reed avocado is the one i really want to grow one day.






Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on September 28, 2013, 07:59:00 AM
You collect rainwater coming from the heavens, and then use a pump for irrigation, well, that sounds like a nice advanced system you have there, impressive. And, the fruit trees look very healthy, as if they can't wait to begin growing and producing. You're off to a great start, thanks for posting.

305 gal. Norwesco with a cheap (but effective) Wayne transfer pump I got off Amazon.  Water hose to the tank thru a side vent, water hose for the plants.   Rainwater collection systems are becoming very popular in the arid parts of Texas.  My dermatologist has a 43,000 gal. system that supplies his family of 6 including plant irrigation.

Thanks, I baby those trees even giving them an overhead shower by hand every morning.  Sheesh, what we won't do for our faves. :)   They recovered quickly after the mite attack.  I've got the best of both worlds, able to grow the finest wine grapes, stone fruits like peaches, pomegranates, olives, pecans, etc. thanks to a lot of chill hours...... and now I'm bringing the tropics indoors.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on September 28, 2013, 08:06:38 AM
Mark, nice dog.

That's a raccoon who came to see what's going on in that fancy greenhouse. Mark forgot to put a shotgun behind the door. ;)

Hah!  She does look like a raccoon.  Yep, one that got away.  Actually a rescue dog, a heeler, that was about to be put down because she wouldn't herd.  Shy, scared of her own shadow, obviously abused but with my love and socializing, she's coming around fast.

Quote
Mark you might have german motors but i still see electric wires hanging in the air. That it is not by german standard installed because you might trip over them and that can be dangerous. Those wires will be there for the lifetime of the greenhouse so it is worth to connect them to something solid for about every 2 feet.

Those are water hoses running to the water tank at the outside corner.   Except for the pump, everything is hardwired to code, including the German vent 'Lock' brand controllers and motors.   :-*

Quote
I love those tree's and wished mine grew like these. Reed avocado is the one i really want to grow one day.

Every year I try to find a source for Reed fruit out of California.  They should be ready about now.  Don't know why they're not more widely planted as the fruit is some of the best.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: bangkok on September 28, 2013, 09:24:24 AM
Every year I try to find a source for Reed fruit out of California.  They should be ready about now.  Don't know why they're not more widely planted as the fruit is some of the best.

Actually i have never eaten a Reed avo but that's about the best i will be able to grow in Bangkok. On the parts of the world where i stay i have never seen a Reed but mostly they don't mention the variaty so i have no clue what avocado i m eating.

Last month i had Fuerte bought in Germany which was okay and huge. In Holland they only sell Hass.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on September 28, 2013, 09:58:41 AM
Actually i have never eaten a Reed avo but that's about the best i will be able to grow in Bangkok. On the parts of the world where i stay i have never seen a Reed but mostly they don't mention the variaty so i have no clue what avocado i m eating.

Growers in California have a saying, "we sell the Hass and keep the Reeds for ourselves."
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: simon_grow on November 19, 2013, 01:20:03 PM
Hey Mark,

Do you know how long those air prune pots will last outdoors? I have the same type as you and I'm hoping they won't break down too fast in direct sun. Your trees look great, have they grown much in the last couple months?
Simon
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 20, 2013, 02:31:37 PM
Hey Mark,

Do you know how long those air prune pots will last outdoors? I have the same type as you and I'm hoping they won't break down too fast in direct sun. Your trees look great, have they grown much in the last couple months?
Simon

Simon, I think the pots would last "forever" but it's really not an issue as you can replace the entire pot around the rootball very easily just by cutting the cable ties tieing each end together (I use 3 ties - top, middle, and bottom).......putting a new "pot" around the rootball, plus follow the intent/design of this air pruning system and add a few panels to expand the pot's size.  I have gone from 2' diameter pots to 3' diameter pots and that's where I call it quits regarding any future upcanning and rootball expansion.  No mas....

Trees have really kicked butt the last few months and should fruit really heavily next year. We've been eating delicious Mex Limes via teas, margaritas and pies and FINALLY the grapefruit sent out a fine flush of foliage.  It sat dormant for most of the year, typical of my experience with Flying Dragon rootstock.   When they say low vigor, they aren't kidding.  Soon to harvest is - Moro blood orange (I quit counting at 40), Meyer lemons, Rio Red grapefruit and Oro Negro cados. 

5 new flushes on Pickering since planting in Sept.   Recently topped Mallika in the foreground:
(http://s8.postimg.cc/6yqs069mp/Mango_Nov2013.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/6yqs069mp/)

Pickering using "Illustrated Option" on my camera for the first time.  This is too cool!

(http://s15.postimg.cc/51spx4bl3/Pickering_Nov2013.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/51spx4bl3/)

Purty girls!   New leaves on Pickering are double in size over the previous flush.  Yay!
(http://s21.postimg.cc/90cywb37n/Pickering_2_Nov2013.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/90cywb37n/)

Oro Negro:
(http://s21.postimg.cc/9ladhypz7/Oro_Neg_Nov2013.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/9ladhypz7/)

Meyer lemons just beginning to turn yellow. Notice zinc chlorosis on older leaves:
(http://s8.postimg.cc/q32gzhg01/Meyer_Nov2013.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/q32gzhg01/)

Sharwil in the foreground Reed in the background:
(http://s23.postimg.cc/ay6tf84h3/Reed_Sharwil_Nov2013.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/ay6tf84h3/)

Reed in newly expanded pot:
(http://s14.postimg.cc/oki5emr8d/Reed_Nov2013.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/oki5emr8d/)

Happy gardening!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: xshen on November 20, 2013, 05:41:00 PM
Those root pruning air pots show promising results but they're a bit pricy.  Would you get the same result if you manually stick a machete into the pot and trim around edges to prune the roots?   I know this is a dumb question...
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Ethan on November 20, 2013, 08:04:03 PM
Nice results Mark, the trees look great.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: plantlover13 on November 20, 2013, 09:29:23 PM
so if i were to use these fabric things as containers that i would have to move around, how large a pot would be needed for avocados? I'm guessing it would be smaller than a non root pruning pot?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 20, 2013, 10:14:03 PM
Those root pruning air pots show promising results but they're a bit pricy.  Would you get the same result if you manually stick a machete into the pot and trim around edges to prune the roots?   I know this is a dumb question...

RootBuilder is, uh, "dirt" cheap.  Check out the price on a 105' roll.

You would not get the same result using a blade as you'd not be busting up the spin-out.  The root tip pruning pots prevent spin out in the first place and that's what you're after.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 20, 2013, 10:15:48 PM
so if i were to use these fabric things as containers that i would have to move around, how large a pot would be needed for avocados? I'm guessing it would be smaller than a non root pruning pot?

This is not fabric.  Buy a root pruning pot that has a bottom if you must move it or use a chemical root tip pruning paint on the inside of the pot - copper hydroxide in latex paint.   Yes, you can get by with a smaller pot due to the increased root mass surface area induced by roots that are tip pruned.  The rootball tends to be fibrous thoughout as opposed to being bunched up against the pot's side and bottom.

Thanks Ethan, webee having fun!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: plantlover13 on November 20, 2013, 10:24:04 PM
Those root pruning air pots show promising results but they're a bit pricy.  Would you get the same result if you manually stick a machete into the pot and trim around edges to prune the roots?   I know this is a dumb question...

RootBuilder is, uh, "dirt" cheap.  Check out the price on a 105' roll.

would you be kind enough to give me a link? i can't find the prices on their site and feel quite lost.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 20, 2013, 10:34:26 PM
https://www.google.com/#q=rootbuilder+pots (https://www.google.com/#q=rootbuilder+pots)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Zambezi on November 23, 2013, 02:30:20 PM
Great work Mark, the trees are looking really healthy.  8) The mangoes have settled in nicely!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 23, 2013, 02:48:15 PM
Great work Mark, the trees are looking really healthy.  8) The mangoes have settled in nicely!

Thanks.  If you're ever in the area please give me a holler.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: socal10b on November 23, 2013, 03:40:37 PM
Are these pots similar to superoots? Your plants are so healthy thanks
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: mangomandan on November 23, 2013, 04:43:19 PM
Hi Mark,     I'm curious as to why you use bottomless pots.  Do you never have to move your trees?

Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: simon_grow on November 23, 2013, 09:53:06 PM
Thanks for the information Mark! I love these pots already. The soil in the pot is drying up much faster than the soil in my conventional pots which is a good thing because I have lots of organic matter in my potting soil which tends to hold a lot of water. I'm also thinking about using these pots without the bottom so that the taproot can grow into the soil. By growing my plants this way, I hope I can benefit from faster warming of the soil and also decrease the risk of wet feet.
Simon
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 24, 2013, 09:30:08 AM
Are these pots similar to superoots? Your plants are so healthy thanks

Looks like a carbon copy but quite a bit more expensive than a roll of RootBuilder.  http://www.superoots.com/air_intro.htm (http://www.superoots.com/air_intro.htm)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 24, 2013, 09:33:48 AM
Hi Mark,     I'm curious as to why you use bottomless pots.  Do you never have to move your trees?

Nope, but you can buy the base or individual pots.   http://www.rootmaker.com/products_bases.php#jump (http://www.rootmaker.com/products_bases.php#jump)  Greenhouse ridge is 18', walls 10'.  I have heavy clay loam and fractured the soil with 2' deep subsoiler attached to the 3 pt. on my tractor before erecting the greenhouse.  Treated the future placement as I would a typical farm row.

Being that I'm in calcareous soil I worked in sulfur to open it up further with a digging fork.  Ca + S = calcium sulfate aka gypsum.

Here's what I use - http://www.rootmaker.com/products_expandable.php#jump (http://www.rootmaker.com/products_expandable.php#jump)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 24, 2013, 09:43:08 AM
Thanks for the information Mark! I love these pots already. The soil in the pot is drying up much faster than the soil in my conventional pots which is a good thing because I have lots of organic matter in my potting soil which tends to hold a lot of water. I'm also thinking about using these pots without the bottom so that the taproot can grow into the soil. By growing my plants this way, I hope I can benefit from faster warming of the soil and also decrease the risk of wet feet.
Simon

The deep roots will also harvest the nutrients and water that you applied to the top of your pot.  After backfilling my pots with a 50/50 mix of organics/inorganics I gently work in a handful of 18-4-9 Polyon with micros, 12 month release into the top.  Harrell's is the brand I use.  It's a Florida distributor, I think.

Yeah, it's next to impossible to over-water your plants and create a root rot issue.

To really kick it up a notch harvest rain water, they love it!  If interested I can take photos of my setup, it's easy peasy. ;)

Have fun!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Zambezi on November 24, 2013, 10:29:30 AM
Great work Mark, the trees are looking really healthy.  8) The mangoes have settled in nicely!

Thanks.  If you're ever in the area please give me a holler.

I will..:) 
hehe As long as I get to see those gorgeous horses of yours..:)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 24, 2013, 11:37:32 AM
I will..:) 
hehe As long as I get to see those gorgeous horses of yours..:)

Sure can.  Neighbor raises Friesian and they're for sale.  Bring your trailer with you. :)

This is Eros, a very vivacious stud stallion in a stall we put up during our Christmas selling season last year for the kiddies.  What a purty boy! 

(http://s7.postimg.cc/5yq8h8553/Pretty_Boy.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/5yq8h8553/)

They have an interesting history.  Very large draft horses that were bred for their strength, cunning, and speed to carry knights donned in heavy armor.

Mark
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Doglips on November 24, 2013, 01:41:14 PM
Can those pots be stacked vertically?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: MarinFla on November 24, 2013, 03:31:01 PM
Great Job.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 24, 2013, 03:54:03 PM
Can those pots be stacked vertically?

In the second link I gave they have what they call "double height".  Before using this system I got all worked having read how much cados needed perfect drainage so I added a 8" tall piece to the typical 16" piece.  Found out I didn't need it so I've been using one original only.                   

#30331   RB-30H   Double height (96 panels)

Curious, why would you want to double stack?  For the same reasoning as I had?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: CTMIAMI on November 24, 2013, 03:55:09 PM
Mark any of your Oro Negro turning dark? They are in So Fl a bit early this year.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 24, 2013, 03:57:01 PM
Mark any of your Oro Negro turning dark? They are in So Fl a bit early this year.

No.  Couple of hours ago I sent you a PM about when to pick.  Let it go black on the tree?  If so, any more hang time needed after full color change?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: CTMIAMI on November 24, 2013, 07:51:15 PM
Last year my Oro Negro was dropping fruit like a bomber after mid December. Last year it had its problem with scab but I would say this is not fruit that will stay in the tree long after it matures or turns dark.  I'm monitoring very close this year.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Saltcayman on November 25, 2013, 09:13:38 AM
Really nice results mark. I'll have to check those out
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Doglips on November 26, 2013, 04:22:03 AM
I will..:) 
hehe As long as I get to see those gorgeous horses of yours..:)

Sure can.  Neighbor raises Friesian and they're for sale.  Bring your trailer with you. :)

This is Eros, a very vivacious stud stallion in a stall we put up during our Christmas selling season last year for the kiddies.  What a purty boy! 

(http://s7.postimg.cc/5yq8h8553/Pretty_Boy.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/5yq8h8553/)

They have an interesting history.  Very large draft horses that were bred for their strength, cunning, and speed to carry knights donned in heavy armor.

Mark

or plowing fields.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Zambezi on November 26, 2013, 10:19:22 AM
Eros is a Beautiful stallion!!.. 8)

Quote
Neighbor raises Friesian and they're for sale.  Bring your trailer with you. :)

hehe It's so tempting!!  ;)

Thank you!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 15, 2014, 10:24:28 AM
Time for an update from this nefarious cranky old pHart.   To you old salty (tropical) dogs living in the warm great outdoors of Florida, SoCal, etc....... you'll probably find this a bit boring.  :)  To me that has never even seen a mango bloom before, it's a trip, man.   8)

PIN 3 gal. -> RootBuilder 20 gal. pot - a Pickering mango from PIN with at least 5 leafs flushes and 4 sets of blooms since planting last September....incredible.....

(http://s7.postimg.cc/wmhbuc453/Pickering_March2014.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/wmhbuc453/)

Young Pickering flowering, yay!

(http://s28.postimg.cc/w1uk9m8i1/Pickering_Flowers_March2014.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/w1uk9m8i1/)

Mallika radically topped upon receipt, just now coming out of dormancy with new foliar output top to bottom.


(http://s14.postimg.cc/mzc90oue5/Mallika_March2014.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/mzc90oue5/)

Sharwil flowering.  Notice short internodes.  The profile of this 2012 grafted tree suggests <small>.

(http://s17.postimg.cc/kyuswigej/Sharwil_Flowering_March2014.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/kyuswigej/)


....and finally a PIN Brogdon taken down to a stump to make a cocktail tree consisting of dwarfs - Hazzard, Rincon, and one secret scion come next spring.

(http://s8.postimg.cc/a9491jdm9/Brogdoncocktailtree_March2014.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/a9491jdm9/)

There is something about the Brogdon that none of my scions like and I've tried many a variety for a couple of years in a row.  I'm now on my third try with this stump this year and so far only the Hazzard looks like it's going to push.  When, I don't know.   >:(  It's been very cold this winter. Everything seems to be a month behind.  Mama natur rules.

Wife doesn't like mango but like Juan Pablo says (ABC recent bachelor),  "Dats OK.  I like dat!!!"    ;D
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: bangkok on March 15, 2014, 10:55:58 AM
Good job Mark! Now you became a real member of the forum since you have seen a mangoflower.

I see mangoflowers every day since the last 6 months and mango's are everywhere here now. I have seen the first avocadoflowers of my life this week.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 15, 2014, 11:56:21 AM
Good job Mark! Now you became a real member of the forum since you have seen a mangoflower.

I see mangoflowers every day since the last 6 months and mango's are everywhere here now. I have seen the first avocadoflowers of my life this week.

Yah sah, kinda purty.

What cados did you end up with?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Tropicaliste on March 27, 2014, 01:58:41 PM
Could someone give their opinion on a injection molded rootbuilder pot vs. the rootbuilder kit II?  If they do the same thing, but the IM rootbuilder pots cheaper, why get the kit?  For height?  I'd appreciate some input.

I've used fabric pots for the past few years.  By the name of "GroBag", but it dries quick, the fabric wicks away the moisture. These non fabric ones seem superior, glad the price has become more reasonable over time. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: LEOOEL on March 27, 2014, 07:34:34 PM
Congrats Mark in Texas, nice going.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: bangkok on March 28, 2014, 04:55:25 AM
Good job Mark! Now you became a real member of the forum since you have seen a mangoflower.

I see mangoflowers every day since the last 6 months and mango's are everywhere here now. I have seen the first avocadoflowers of my life this week.

Yah sah, kinda purty.

What cados did you end up with?

Just cado's Marc, a cado is a cado here. And if you don't ask for awooocadoooo then they will say: no have. ;D

I  have a Peterson, Booth7 and one the size/shape of a hass. The hass-like was flowering allready at 1.5 feet tall, another one i saw this week had a small fruit allready and was same size, grafted.

They are very hard to find in Thailand, you guys are so lucky with all those great variety's.


Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 28, 2014, 08:23:50 AM
Could someone give their opinion on a injection molded rootbuilder pot vs. the rootbuilder kit II?  If they do the same thing, but the IM rootbuilder pots cheaper, why get the kit?  For height?  I'd appreciate some input.

I've used fabric pots for the past few years.  By the name of "GroBag", but it dries quick, the fabric wicks away the moisture. These non fabric ones seem superior, glad the price has become more reasonable over time.

Not sure what the question is.  A 17" X 105' roll of Rootbuilder (that's the actual measurements) allows you to make any size pot you want and then later expand to whatever size you want just by adding more panels.  Cable ties are used as connectors.  You overlap one panel over the other by one or two rows of nipples.   If you need a bottom then you can get them on both.  Looks like to me the kit is just that.....a pot with a bottom disc but it all does the same thing - root tip prunes using air and light....and that's what you're after.

If you want to go cheap then go with copper hydroxide in a latex paint.  I can't find the link to the discussion here but here's how to make a product I've used for years, a knock off of Griffin's Spin-Out paint.  Just an (anal) correction to the MicroKote=Griffin's statement.  Two different products using different ingredients but with copper which induces the root tip termination effect.


Microkote used to be made under the brand-name SpinOut by Griffin L.L.C. until SePRO bought the rights. After the re-branding they added  other metals labeled as "nutrients". In my opinion this is all marketing; the roots will be stopped and not absorb anything near the Microkote layer - so really the only active ingredient is the chemical that stops the roots from growing further (this chemical is copper hydroxide which was the original ingredient in SpinOut).

Microkote is pricey ($28 for 8oz). But you should be able to make your own.

1) Buy some dry Copper(II) Hydroxide, this is used usually as a fungus pesticide. Interestingly, SePro stuff can be bought on ebay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/CuPRO-5000DF-Fungicide-Bactericide-61-3-Copper-Hydroxide-SePRO-3lb-foil-bag-/370622313276 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/CuPRO-5000DF-Fungicide-Bactericide-61-3-Copper-Hydroxide-SePRO-3lb-foil-bag-/370622313276)), this is probably the same stuff they put into Microkote. Other sources are     
KOCIDE 3000 (made by DuPont) or http://kingquenson.en.alibaba.com/productshowimg/424951536-200579235/Copper_hydroxide.html. (http://kingquenson.en.alibaba.com/productshowimg/424951536-200579235/Copper_hydroxide.html.)

2) Dilute the Copper(II) Hydroxide in latex paint. The original SpinOut was made with 13 oz/Gal of Copper(II) Hydroxide (source: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/28/5/527.6.abstract (http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/28/5/527.6.abstract)). Remember to account for the original concentration of dry Copper(II) Hydroxide in the pesticide bag (this is typically 50%, for which you would add 26 oz per Gal of latex paint).

Remember to read all the instructions on the bag when handling pesticides.


I don't like fabric pots.

Bangkok, you can get budwood from the U. of Riverside California free. Cost of shipping is gonna be high.  PM if you need more info.

Thanks Leo, everything is really kicking now with spring.  Never seen such a huge flush on a tree before - the new Pickering mango.  It's just solid in areas.  Hope your garden is well.

Mark
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Doglips on March 28, 2014, 11:19:39 AM
Can those pots be stacked vertically?

In the second link I gave they have what they call "double height".  Before using this system I got all worked having read how much cados needed perfect drainage so I added a 8" tall piece to the typical 16" piece.  Found out I didn't need it so I've been using one original only.                   

#30331   RB-30H   Double height (96 panels)

Curious, why would you want to double stack?  For the same reasoning as I had?

For plants with large tap roots.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Tropicaliste on March 28, 2014, 04:13:01 PM
Rootbuilder makes both.  Pre made injection molded 1 gallon pots, that have holes for air pruining, and they have kits of cable ties and rolls to assemble the quart or gallon size you want, but they don't quite look the same, for example the number of holes.  My question was whether anyone could compare the two, because the price is not too different.  I don't need more than 10 1gal pots, but if the injection mold pots are any less efficient than I'd buy the assemble at home kits. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 28, 2014, 10:30:02 PM
Rootbuilder makes both.  Pre made injection molded 1 gallon pots, that have holes for air pruining, and they have kits of cable ties and rolls to assemble the quart or gallon size you want, but they don't quite look the same, for example the number of holes.  My question was whether anyone could compare the two, because the price is not too different.  I don't need more than 10 1gal pots, but if the injection mold pots are any less efficient than I'd buy the assemble at home kits.

If you're wholesale you'll get a price break..... wink wink.  ;)  ;)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: NewGen on April 16, 2014, 04:16:08 PM
  A 17" X 105' roll of Rootbuilder (that's the actual measurements) allows you to make any size pot you want and then later expand to whatever size you want,..
Mark

I understand about making the diameter of the pot any size you want by just cutting a longer piece from the roll. What if I want a taller pot? Can I stack 2 pieces together to make a 34" tall pot?
Thanks,
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Tropicaliste on April 16, 2014, 04:54:34 PM
Well I never knew you posted back about the comment I made earlier, :) I'm going to go with your other suggestion and buy the Microkote, that'll save me from buying new pots, and does the same thing.  Thanks for that suggestion btw.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: NewGen on April 16, 2014, 06:14:12 PM
Wow, the shipping makes me think twice. I priced out a 5-gallon rootbuilder pot, $11.70, shipping is $12.84. more than the cost of the pot itself.  Thinking that if I buy a few, shipping would be less. So, for 3 pots, the shipping is $38.53, it's simply 3 times as much. I'll have to look for some place in CA to pick up.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: cmichael258 on April 16, 2014, 07:29:13 PM
Wow, the shipping makes me think twice. I priced out a 5-gallon rootbuilder pot, $11.70, shipping is $12.84. more than the cost of the pot itself.  Thinking that if I buy a few, shipping would be less. So, for 3 pots, the shipping is $38.53, it's simply 3 times as much. I'll have to look for some place in CA to pick up.

Shipping is free with Rogue Hydro:
http://www.roguehydro.com/ (http://www.roguehydro.com/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on April 16, 2014, 10:15:45 PM
I understand about making the diameter of the pot any size you want by just cutting a longer piece from the roll. What if I want a taller pot? Can I stack 2 pieces together to make a 34" tall pot?
Thanks,

Yep, but you don't need to, not unless you have a deep rooted type tree.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 08, 2014, 08:13:42 AM
I recently enlarged some of the pots, to their final size, by adding panels to the original pot wall.   This created a gap to backfill between the rootball and the RootBuilder plastic (shown on the right side of the photo) by about 5" all the way around.  That gap must have taken at least 40 gallons of soil for each enlargement, for each revised pot.  Notice the very aggressive and thick scaffold roots that had grown out of the bottom into native soil (white located at 6:30 and 5:30).  One on the left grew through the bottom row of the RootBuilder material.

 Also, there are many smaller white feeder roots at the perimeter of the rootball about to be terminated by air/light.

(http://s27.postimg.cc/fwyjtjr7j/Moro_Repot_June2014.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/fwyjtjr7j/)

Works as designed.

Mark
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 08, 2014, 08:45:36 AM
Oro Negro update, left 8 on and remaining 4 that finally ripened last month were sampled.   They are excellent with a fine taste, creamy but not mushy texture and when cut and half put back in the fridge in a baggie did not turn brown.  Cut flesh stayed perfectly yellow.  The 2 that fell off the tree had the best taste.  That's the good news.  The bad is the young tree did not bloom this year so I'll have no fruit for next year.

Clime rules - Florida eats their ON in late fall/early winter, I eat them in the late spring.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on June 08, 2014, 11:01:15 AM
Thanks Mark, on update of your long hang Oro Negro fruit it has renewed my hope for one day getting  my branch to fruit. Taste sounds yummy 8)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 08, 2014, 11:24:59 AM
Thanks Mark, on update of your long hang Oro Negro fruit it has renewed my hope for one day getting  my branch to fruit. Taste sounds yummy 8)

"Your branch"?  ON tree or a graft with other varieties?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: edzone9 on June 08, 2014, 11:28:25 AM
Told you Mark !, Its worth The wait.
Thanks to Carlos CTMIami , i was able to taste Monroe/ON , KNow i would like to Taste Catalina ;),,

Enjoy !..
Ed
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on June 08, 2014, 11:40:29 AM
O.N. is growing on a branch graft on muli-grafted or semi- branch worked over on Mexicola Grande tree. I'll have to take some pic's soon for show an tell!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 08, 2014, 12:06:39 PM
You were right Ed.  What is amazing is how fresh it stayed after being cut this time.  Have more to go, yay!

Yeah, I'd love to see the pix Scott.  What type of grafts did you do?   
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Millet on June 08, 2014, 05:56:54 PM
The Root Maker company's Roootbuilder-II Expandable Container now makes a taller version that is 30-inches tall and 96 panels long. -Millet
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 08, 2014, 10:10:02 PM
Millet, after adding panels to increase the height and observing the results I conclude that anything over the original 18" H is a waste and of no benefit to the plant material. This for citrus and avocado.  Mango remains to be seen.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on June 08, 2014, 11:06:41 PM
You were right Ed.  What is amazing is how fresh it stayed after being cut this time.  Have more to go, yay!

Yeah, I'd love to see the pix Scott.  What type of grafts did you do?

All were whip & tongue graft's, will try and take pic's tomorrow.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 18, 2014, 02:30:35 PM
Time for an update:

Griffin Spin-Out treated pot for an ON pit to use as rootstock:

(http://s28.postimg.cc/x5x797089/Griffin_Pot.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/x5x797089/)

Planted pit:

(http://s27.postimg.cc/lbnntfqcv/ONpit.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/lbnntfqcv/)

Typical effect - no root spin-out:

(http://s17.postimg.cc/o414ggswb/Rootball_2.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/o414ggswb/)

First Sharwil fruit:


(http://s28.postimg.cc/jzgy15jah/Sharwil.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/jzgy15jah/)

Pickering fruit left after dropping 50 or so?  3 gal. PIN tree planted last Sept.

(http://s9.postimg.cc/3yiiyo6ln/Pickering_Fruit.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/3yiiyo6ln/)

Joey avocado fruit:


(http://s30.postimg.cc/niydo5gfx/Joeyfruit.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/niydo5gfx/)

Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 30, 2014, 11:33:18 AM
Reed at about 10'.  Was about 4' tall last year. Very vigorous, also shows salts damage unlike the Waldin rootstock in the foreground.  This Waldin pushed after taking off a Brogdon on it last spring.  Will use it to graft a cocktail tree this spring. 

Waldin & Reed:

(http://s9.postimg.cc/bbo312job/Reedand_Waldin.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/bbo312job/)

Reed.  Hope to have a heavy bloom set next year:

(http://s28.postimg.cc/rony6t4t5/Reed12_2014.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/rony6t4t5/)

Reed Sept. 2013, no leaf scorch:

(http://s27.postimg.cc/fah5vlmdr/Reed9_27_13.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/fah5vlmdr/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: vanman on February 05, 2015, 10:28:31 PM
Hello.  This is my first post to this forum.  I am about to finish my greenhouse in zone 7a, (Tulsa, OK).  It is 12'x18'.  It has NG heat, electricity and water.  It also was hydronic radiant tubes deep (24") and more towards the surface (12").  I have avocados, citrus, mangos, longans and lychees in my workshop now with LED grow lights.  I think I read on your post that your trees are in air pots with no bottoms.  If this is the case do the roots go into the ground?  If they do, why do you need the air pots.  Will you ever consider pruning the roots?  I'm trying to get the most productivity out of my trees and I am intrigue by your set up.  I'm sure I'll have more questions.  Thanks in advanced.  Van
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: socal10b on February 05, 2015, 10:34:59 PM
Very healthy avocado trees Mark. your reed looks way bigger than my 15 gallon reed that was planted in ground in 2012. when did your sharwil flowered? mine just started to open the flowers.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on February 05, 2015, 10:55:20 PM
Man I'm I bad sorry Mark, I said I'd post some pic's of my or one of my multi-grafted Mexicola Grande tree's here you go,
(http://s18.postimg.cc/uk5yi5s79/grafts_010.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/uk5yi5s79/)

(http://s12.postimg.cc/47gu5qdrd/grafts_011.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/47gu5qdrd/)

(http://s21.postimg.cc/wd1aakypv/grafts_012.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/wd1aakypv/)

(http://s8.postimg.cc/41kloq4k1/grafts_016.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/41kloq4k1/)

(http://s11.postimg.cc/6awjq0oxb/grafts_017.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/6awjq0oxb/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on February 05, 2015, 11:02:44 PM
A few more just cuz ;)
(http://s10.postimg.cc/mfknk75d1/grafts_014.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/mfknk75d1/)

(http://s17.postimg.cc/nayobo3ij/grafts_015.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/nayobo3ij/)

(http://s14.postimg.cc/ku5amxi4t/grafts_018.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/ku5amxi4t/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: socal10b on February 06, 2015, 12:24:56 AM
@robert, do u have different variety on each branches? Ur multi grafted tree looks awesome.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on February 06, 2015, 10:12:43 PM
Socal, no not every branch but there are many different varieties on this M.Grande tree I'll have to count them up one day. Thank's for kind post. 8)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 25, 2015, 09:35:34 AM
Merry Christmas from Texas, ya'll!

Christmas fruit - Oro Negro & Sharwil cados, Meyer lemon, Moro blood orange, key limes and other goodies.

(http://s30.postimg.cc/lu9ccaam5/Oro_Negro.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/lu9ccaam5/)

(http://s12.postimg.cc/xbe2p7d3d/Moro.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/xbe2p7d3d/)

(http://s22.postimg.cc/tme9vdnwd/Sharwil.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/tme9vdnwd/)

Newly grafted Sweet Tart pushing, in spite of it being winter here.


(http://s8.postimg.cc/r4dcjmehd/Sweet_Tart.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/r4dcjmehd/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: knlim000 on December 25, 2015, 12:31:27 PM
i'm thinking of using chicken wires. Make the chicken wires into a box(box because i have too many gophers) , then use black weed cloth on the inside of chicken wire. Then add barks and compost for the mango tree.  What do you guys think about this method?? 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: fyliu on December 25, 2015, 12:54:00 PM
Gophers can chew throgh chicken wire. I was told to use quarter inch hardware cloth. That's the stuff used to reinforce concrete. I don't have gopher problem yet. The wires are thicker than chicken wire. I've heard chicken wire recommended in many places too.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 25, 2015, 12:55:52 PM
i'm thinking of using chicken wires. Make the chicken wires into a box(box because i have too many gophers) , then use black weed cloth on the inside of chicken wire. Then add barks and compost for the mango tree.  What do you guys think about this method??

I think you ought to save your self the risk that it will fail, your time and money, and buy a tried and true root tip pruning system.  The cloth will not direct the roots into air and light and will eventually rot.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: knlim000 on December 28, 2015, 11:57:39 PM
how about this crate as a pot for the mango tree? I'm thinking of putting barks at the bottom and sides, then place mango in the middle.  It looks like the gopher will not be able to get thru or chew thru the plastic at the bottom.

http://www.milkcratesdirect.com/black-square-milk-crates (http://www.milkcratesdirect.com/black-square-milk-crates)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 29, 2015, 07:49:11 AM
Good article on the system.  http://www.gardenspout.com/news/are-all-root-pruning-containers-same-and-why-should-we-use-them (http://www.gardenspout.com/news/are-all-root-pruning-containers-same-and-why-should-we-use-them)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: fyliu on December 30, 2015, 01:16:54 PM
Yeah, I tried homemade cloth bags and they dry out too fast. Gave up on that and used the cloth to line the bottom of the rootmaker.
Rootmaker 2 is cheaper if you get it somewhere like alibaba. $3-4 a foot here is kinda expensive for the roll, but I'm still on that roll now.

Knlim000, you should get a 3 gal rootmaker and whatever others you want to use for evaluation. Then you'll know what its capabilities are so you can compare it with your home made solutions. It's hard to design a similar or better/similar device if you don't have a good feel of how the existing one performs.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: knlim000 on December 30, 2015, 01:56:33 PM
fyliu,mark-
thanks for the info and good suggestion. I will try experiment with the crates and rootmaker first .
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on February 28, 2016, 09:10:06 AM
Fruit porn, raw footage just filmed.   ;) The Sharwil had been cut the day before - almost no browning & is finally rich and creamy, 2nd year bearing. We juiced a bunch of Moro blood oranges. Rich, SPICY flavor with an interesting spicy skin aroma of clove & cinnamon.  Will be at their peak of goodness in about 2 weeks.  Meyers, key limes, Rio Red and more cados coming on strong.  Greenhouse is buzzing with hundreds of bees hitting the citrus & cado flowers.  Mango come soon mon. 


(http://s21.postimg.cc/j1ls7qh1v/Farm_Fresh_To_Your_Table.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/j1ls7qh1v/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: simon_grow on February 28, 2016, 09:32:24 AM
Beautiful harvest Mark. I've been testing out many of the root pruning products and I'm switching all my containers to MicroKote treated. I've found that both the fabric and the pots with the holes in them are big water wasters and the pots with the holes in them get a lot of the topsoil washed out.

The MicroKote treated containers work like normal containers but with the added benefit of root pruning. Thanks again for recommending the product.

Simon
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on February 28, 2016, 09:52:20 AM
Thanks Simon, it's been fun and that's what it's all about. No question about it, root pruning via copper ions (i.e. MicroKote) is the most efficient and bulletproof root tip pruning system out there. Been using these systems for 20 years or so.  I have used Griffin's Spin-Out for years and it's usually 100% effective plus you can reuse the pots a couple of times.  Root tip pruning via air/light can be "iffy", don't care what the good Dr. Whitcomb claims.   :D   

My citrus trees on Flying Dragon rootstock are quite small (3-4' tall, 6 years old)  but producing very well. Will be expanding those RootBuilder pots soon.  Am pulling the Rio Red grapefruit in lieu of planting a Sweet Tart in its place. Grapefruit on Flying Dragon come out about 40% smaller than on other stocks.  Plus that rootstock goes dormant for us in November and stays that way until at least March!

Good luck!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on February 28, 2016, 10:00:13 AM
Oro Negro is next. This shot was taken about 2 weeks ago.

(http://s12.postimg.cc/d7ubeh6qh/Oro_Negro_Feb.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/d7ubeh6qh/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 14, 2016, 09:31:07 AM
One tractor bucket of my custom soil mix later, an aching back and a (small) Sweet Tart and a Plantagram Lemon Zest are finally in their permanent home. I paid special attention to the LZ rootball by first making vertical slices about 1/2" deep down the pot sides and into the rootball to terminate any side root spinout & make it easier to lift it out intact.  I then cut back a thick tap root flush with the bottom of the rootball that had begun spinning around in the bottom of the pot. Pots were topped dressed with washed builders sand which is also a part of the soil mix.  They'll be mulched with pine needles.  Note very heavy flowering on the Gwen cado to the right of the LZ, just beginning its leaf flush and good fruit set.

(http://s29.postimg.cc/f4n8ewgg3/Lemon_Zest_March.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/f4n8ewgg3/)

(http://s7.postimg.cc/xmuzpt39z/Sweet_Tart.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/xmuzpt39z/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 14, 2016, 09:37:18 AM
Number of pollinators visiting the greenhouse was crazy yesterday. I had different kinds of moths (open photo showing cool moth probicus & the nearby fly), butterflies, weird looking flies, honey and bumble bees. Most of the new avocado grafts are pushing on my Frankencado - Sir Prize, Pinkerton, Holiday, and the one shown pushing well - Ardith.  I can't believe it as last year everything failed on this (Waldin) rootstock last year with 3 attempts!

(http://s22.postimg.cc/nm17okerx/Pollinators.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/nm17okerx/)

(http://s11.postimg.cc/suz35d2r3/Pollinators2.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/suz35d2r3/)

(http://s15.postimg.cc/woj128flj/Pollinators3.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/woj128flj/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on March 14, 2016, 11:19:50 AM
Nice pic's of pollinators at work in your G.H. Mark, hope the Ardith avocado works well for you. I had one outside but lost to cold. I'll have to try again one day! ;)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 14, 2016, 12:10:19 PM
Nice pic's of pollinators at work in your G.H. Mark, hope the Ardith avocado works well for you. I had one outside but lost to cold. I'll have to try again one day! ;)

JF and everything I've read on it states it's excellent.  Had a lady visit my greenhouse yesterday for some goodies and her Mom who recently moved from Israel to Texas said it's great, Israel's best.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on April 06, 2016, 09:20:54 AM
Batting a thou!  Unlike last year, ALL avocado grafts took including the Stewart just now pushing on a Joey rootstock.  This double wedge graft even went thru a light freeze a couple of weeks ago.  Need to find a way to shade it a bit.
 
(http://s8.postimg.cc/5b0pdqyxt/Stewart_Graft.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/5b0pdqyxt/)

I knew some would be much more dominant than others.  Ardith (one in the center) is really vigorous with long internodes compared to the Pinkerton, Sir Prize, Holiday on the same rootstock. Ardith is now about a foot tall and branching vigorously.

(http://s16.postimg.cc/q6nb491b5/New_Grafts.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/q6nb491b5/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Vernmented on April 06, 2016, 11:04:51 AM
One tractor bucket of my custom soil mix later, an aching back and a (small) Sweet Tart and a Plantagram Lemon Zest are finally in their permanent home. I paid special attention to the LZ rootball by first making vertical slices about 1/2" deep down the pot sides and into the rootball to terminate any side root spinout & make it easier to lift it out intact.  I then cut back a thick tap root flush with the bottom of the rootball that had begun spinning around in the bottom of the pot. Pots were topped dressed with washed builders sand which is also a part of the soil mix.  They'll be mulched with pine needles.  Note very heavy flowering on the Gwen cado to the right of the LZ, just beginning its leaf flush and good fruit set.

(http://s29.postimg.cc/f4n8ewgg3/Lemon_Zest_March.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/f4n8ewgg3/)

(http://s7.postimg.cc/xmuzpt39z/Sweet_Tart.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/xmuzpt39z/)

I LOVE the root pruning. Those pots seem really big, but it probably doesn't matter since they are bottomless right? Do you amend the soil that is the floor of the greenhouse?

Thanks Simon, it's been fun and that's what it's all about. No question about it, root pruning via copper ions (i.e. MicroKote) is the most efficient and bulletproof root tip pruning system out there. Been using these systems for 20 years or so.  I have used Griffin's Spin-Out for years and it's usually 100% effective plus you can reuse the pots a couple of times.  Root tip pruning via air/light can be "iffy", don't care what the good Dr. Whitcomb claims.   :D   

My citrus trees on Flying Dragon rootstock are quite small (3-4' tall, 6 years old)  but producing very well. Will be expanding those RootBuilder pots soon.  Am pulling the Rio Red grapefruit in lieu of planting a Sweet Tart in its place. Grapefruit on Flying Dragon come out about 40% smaller than on other stocks.  Plus that rootstock goes dormant for us in November and stays that way until at least March!

Good luck!

What iffy effects have you seen with the rootmaker system? I am in early stages with their products but everything seem to be work very well.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on April 06, 2016, 11:23:32 AM
Nice looking successful graft's going there Mark, congrats wish you good luck growing all of those varieties. I thought I lost Ardith, well I did loose a small grafted tree but still have a branch graft growing well so now can start another tree. 8)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on April 08, 2016, 05:32:24 PM
I LOVE the root pruning. Those pots seem really big, but it probably doesn't matter since they are bottomless right? Do you amend the soil that is the floor of the greenhouse?

What iffy effects have you seen with the rootmaker system? I am in early stages with their products but everything seem to be work very well.

I didn't amend the native soil except to add a bit of sulfur to it.  System works as designed.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: kingoceanos on April 09, 2016, 07:26:02 AM
Have you had any problems with bugs this year? The spider mites have been driving me crazy this year:(.  Do you have a favorite products that can be used on smaller indoor/outdoor Edible plants? Gotta be safe my pets get into everything:)
Thanks
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on April 09, 2016, 08:52:02 AM
Have you had any problems with bugs this year? The spider mites have been driving me crazy this year:(.  Do you have a favorite products that can be used on smaller indoor/outdoor Edible plants? Gotta be safe my pets get into everything:)
Thanks

Small outbreak of scale and whiteflies. Try dormant/horticultural oil.  I found I have to add a surfactant to it.  Best product for mites is Forbid 4F.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: kingoceanos on April 09, 2016, 10:49:39 PM
Thanks for the tip. I will check it out.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 08, 2016, 08:21:57 AM
Frankencado is really taking off - 6 scions of Holiday, Ardith, Pinkerton, Sir Prize on a Waldin rootstock.


(http://s33.postimg.cc/6e2nmt5d7/Frankencado_June6.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/6e2nmt5d7/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 08, 2016, 08:26:55 AM
Greenhouse is a work in progress - upgraded my greenhouse with replacement of Dyna-Glas Palram SolarSoft85 which was way too shady for a north facing roof, replaced north roof and roof vent with clear Lexan and installed a downward pointing HAF to get the heat collecting at the 18' peak back down to the ground.

(http://s33.postimg.cc/tuxs0qe0b/Clear_NRoof_Polycarb.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/tuxs0qe0b/)

(http://s33.postimg.cc/4el6g6pnv/North_Wall.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/4el6g6pnv/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on June 08, 2016, 11:00:34 AM
Mark, that is one beautiful G.H. very nice set-up! ;) 8)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 08, 2016, 02:09:30 PM
Mark, that is one beautiful G.H. very nice set-up! ;) 8)

Thanks Scott, it's the only way I'll grow tropicals unlike hundreds of Texans who grow outdoors mainly in pots and come winter haul pots indoors or into a greenhouse.  But you'd be surprised how dedicated and successful some are doing growing AND fruiting lychee, cherimoya, atemoya, jaboticaba, wampee, mango, etc.   Glad to hear your Ardith pulled thru.  Never tried it, ever tasted Ardith?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: onur on June 08, 2016, 04:25:31 PM
Number of pollinators visiting the greenhouse was crazy yesterday. I had different kinds of moths (open photo showing cool moth probicus & the nearby fly), butterflies, weird looking flies, honey and bumble bees. Most of the new avocado grafts are pushing on my Frankencado - Sir Prize, Pinkerton, Holiday, and the one shown pushing well - Ardith.  I can't believe it as last year everything failed on this (Waldin) rootstock last year with 3 attempts!

(http://s22.postimg.cc/nm17okerx/Pollinators.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/nm17okerx/)

(http://s11.postimg.cc/suz35d2r3/Pollinators2.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/suz35d2r3/)

(http://s15.postimg.cc/woj128flj/Pollinators3.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/woj128flj/)

Hi Mark!

Can the pollinators come in your green house easily? Do you do anything special to attract them?  :)

Thanks
Onur
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on June 08, 2016, 06:31:06 PM
Mark, that is one beautiful G.H. very nice set-up! ;) 8)

Thanks Scott, it's the only way I'll grow tropicals unlike hundreds of Texans who grow outdoors mainly in pots and come winter haul pots indoors or into a greenhouse.  But you'd be surprised how dedicated and successful some are doing growing AND fruiting lychee, cherimoya, atemoya, jaboticaba, wampee, mango, etc.   Glad to hear your Ardith pulled thru.  Never tried it, ever tasted Ardith?
No Mark, haven't tasted Ardith yet! :(
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 09, 2016, 08:34:26 AM
Hi Mark!

Can the pollinators come in your green house easily? Do you do anything special to attract them?  :)

Thanks
Onur

By design, absolutely, by the hundreds attracted by the heady aroma of blossoms, especially citrus. During the spring they come and go thru a large open roof vent and a wall to wall guillotine 4' H horizontal wall vent.

Last month with newly planted Sweet Tart, fruiting Mallika, new Frankencado, bearing Reed.

(http://s33.postimg.cc/3sbsxzy8b/Greenhousetrees_May.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/3sbsxzy8b/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Peekaboo on June 12, 2016, 07:25:21 PM
Hello mark! I'd love to to try your custom soil mix can you give a fraction details for each ingredients for 30 gals of soil? Much love brother!

I already have with me blood,bone meal,and coarse perlite
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 13, 2016, 08:15:04 AM
Hello mark! I'd love to to try your custom soil mix can you give a fraction details for each ingredients for 30 gals of soil? Much love brother!

I already have with me blood,bone meal,and coarse perlite

I wish I could but it's pretty much whatever I have stockpiled or on the shelf.  I use about 50/50 inorganics and organics and am not picky like I said.

Inorganics: washed builders sand, lots of vermiculite

Organics: fine pine bark mulch, peat moss, commercial humusy potting soil

I toss in a bit of bone and blood meal and add a slurry of horse nuggets, alfalfa meal to moisten the batch. Don't know if it works or not (haven't run a control group) but alfalfa contains a complex alcohol, triacontanol, the is supposed to increase plant health and production.

Just cut and ate half this Reed that I accidentally knocked off the tree.  Oil is still a little low but it was quite yummy. Should be excellent by Sept.  These are big avocados.

(http://s31.postimg.cc/6j5r9ox7b/Reed_Fruit_June12.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/6j5r9ox7b/)

(http://s31.postimg.cc/su7eevymv/Reed_Fruit_June12_2.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/su7eevymv/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 09, 2016, 09:30:43 AM
We have a lot of these little black spiders. They are such good hunters they even catch/feed on red wasps and bees.  Here's one feasting on one of my pineapples.

(https://s32.postimg.cc/qfilhs2nl/Spider_Grasshopper_2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/qfilhs2nl/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: simon_grow on July 09, 2016, 10:34:29 AM
That's awesome Mark, that guy looks like a giant version of the jumping spiders we have over here. I have Black and Brown widows that kill most my larger bugs but they are too poisonous for my kids to be around so my wife asked me to kill them all. Now I have a bunch of Alligator and Bluebelly lizards that do most the hunting in my yard. I also release a couple egg pouches of Praying Mantids every year.

Do you get spider mites in your greenhouse? If so, how do you keep them in check? I overwinter some Miraclefruit and newly grafted plants in my garage and get spider mites within a month. They don't do much damage but I can imagine they would if in a greenhouse situation.

Simon
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 09, 2016, 02:17:00 PM
We have a grasshopper outbreak so any help is welcome. They have a white dot on their head and are great jumpers.

Yes, I do have mites being that the greenhouse is in the middle of a field surrounded by weeds.  I use Forbid 4F for spider mite control.  It is the silver bullet for all phases of mite development, from the eggs thru the adults.  Expensive but well worth it.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Jon on November 22, 2016, 09:34:02 PM
Hi Mark!

Can the pollinators come in your green house easily? Do you do anything special to attract them?  :)

Thanks
Onur

By design, absolutely, by the hundreds attracted by the heady aroma of blossoms, especially citrus. During the spring they come and go thru a large open roof vent and a wall to wall guillotine 4' H horizontal wall vent.

Last month with newly planted Sweet Tart, fruiting Mallika, new Frankencado, bearing Reed.

(http://s33.postimg.cc/3sbsxzy8b/Greenhousetrees_May.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/3sbsxzy8b/)
Hi Mark,
I just came across this post of your awesome greenhouse and rootbuilding pots.
Hope your beautiful dog and stallion are still with you and doing well.
How are all of your tropical fruit trees doing?
Jon
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 23, 2016, 08:06:04 AM
Hi Mark,
I just came across this post of your awesome greenhouse and rootbuilding pots.
Hope your beautiful dog and stallion are still with you and doing well.
How are all of your tropical fruit trees doing?
Jon

Hi Jon, thanks for writing and the nice "hey".  Everything is doing well except for the Sharwil cado and that's OK as I have 8 varieties of the best cados and need a spot for a rollinia or cherimoya.  Should get fruit off the Sweet Tart and Lemon Zest, Meyer lemon is loaded, Key limes are abundant, blood orange is doing good, July pineapples were over the top, etc.  Oro Negro will be ready in about 2 months.  Reed avocado is producing well.  Am keeping that beast at about 10-11'.
 
(https://s16.postimg.cc/i0b9wj0dt/Oro_Negro_Nov16_3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/i0b9wj0dt/)

Neighbor's Friesians are doing well and so is my sweet dog....thanks.  "Happy hour" V

(https://s12.postimg.cc/636zuvteh/Patty_s_Happy_Hour_2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/636zuvteh/)

(https://s11.postimg.cc/ulupuit1r/Pineapples_July31.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/ulupuit1r/)

Key lime pie!

(https://s17.postimg.cc/jlijkqdob/Keylimepie_2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/jlijkqdob/)

Are you growing tropicals and if so how?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Jon on November 24, 2016, 05:21:31 PM
Hi Mark,
I just came across this post of your awesome greenhouse and rootbuilding pots.
Hope your beautiful dog and stallion are still with you and doing well.
How are all of your tropical fruit trees doing?
Jon

Hi Jon, thanks for writing and the nice "hey".  Everything is doing well except for the Sharwil cado and that's OK as I have 8 varieties of the best cados and need a spot for a rollinia or cherimoya.  Should get fruit off the Sweet Tart and Lemon Zest, Meyer lemon is loaded, Key limes are abundant, blood orange is doing good, July pineapples were over the top, etc.  Oro Negro will be ready in about 2 months.  Reed avocado is producing well.  Am keeping that beast at about 10-11'.
 
(https://s16.postimg.cc/i0b9wj0dt/Oro_Negro_Nov16_3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/i0b9wj0dt/)

Neighbor's Friesians are doing well and so is my sweet dog....thanks.  "Happy hour" V

(https://s12.postimg.cc/636zuvteh/Patty_s_Happy_Hour_2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/636zuvteh/)

(https://s11.postimg.cc/ulupuit1r/Pineapples_July31.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/ulupuit1r/)

Key lime pie!

(https://s17.postimg.cc/jlijkqdob/Keylimepie_2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/jlijkqdob/)

Are you growing tropicals and if so how?
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the reply, and let me start by a Hearty Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your family( 2 & 4 legged ).
I should first let you know I am a caretaker for many wonderful Animals of many types. Most would have been destined to lab experimental programs.
My close friend lives in Alice, TX, and over the past 30 years has helped me maintain the health of my many friends, all of which are tame as a kitten.
Just a bit bigger! Lol
Lately have been trying to help this beautiful Humpback, that came into NY HARBOR , and then went east and got stuck on a sandbar.  40,000 lbs plus, lots of unbelievable brave compassionate people have been trying to help in any way possible.   Very sad, internal damage and severe weakness signals a serious morbilla virus of sorts.
Now, I have just set up a grow room inside our home, with several of our tropical pets.
Massive t-5 lights are suspended horizontally and vertically, as well as overhead.
Drains and running water as well as many dedicated outlets.
Temp range is 80-90 and 40-60% humidity.
Lights are on 16 hours a day.
I now have : most from seed
Haden mango seedling
Sweet Tamarind
Jackfruit (unknown variety, but sweet)
Rollinia
Guanabana
Sweetsop(white)
Jabotacabo
Just started september 7, 2016.
Since I have never used lights before, this has become quite interesting.
Humidifier just added because heating system dries out everything.
Wife is mad a bit, she does not like heat like I do, and the house thermostat is in this room.
May have to set up auto watering with safety shut off, because my students will have a hard to me watering correctly.
Having lots of fun.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 25, 2016, 08:20:18 AM
Wow, bless your heart for having a kind soul!  Good luck with Humpback, sheesh.  Would think that takes a lot of botanical know how and of course courage.  All my pets over the last 40 years have been rescues, and my best friend.

Garden sounds like a hoot. Perhaps a wife pleaser of getting a wireless thermostat set up some where else might work. Don't know is the Nest products would fit the bill, sure do if you're the owner of a B&B and want control when the guests turn the temp setting down to 55F in summer.  ;)

Being a newbie you'll be tweeking your garden for quite a while until you got it where you want it.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Jon on November 27, 2016, 03:44:40 AM
Wow, bless your heart for having a kind soul!  Good luck with Humpback, sheesh.  Would think that takes a lot of botanical know how and of course courage.  All my pets over the last 40 years have been rescues, and my best friend.

Garden sounds like a hoot. Perhaps a wife pleaser of getting a wireless thermostat set up some where else might work. Don't know is the Nest products would fit the bill, sure do if you're the owner of a B&B and want control when the guests turn the temp setting down to 55F in summer.  ;)

Being a newbie you'll be tweeking your garden for quite a while until you got it where you want it.

Good luck!
Thanks Mark,
I appreciate your kind comments.
Thanks also for your good thoughts about the young humpback. Ended with euthanising the Humpback, was just to weak. Even when the tide changed, could not move.
Nest sounds like an option, and a wireless thermostst is the next purchase   
I think I will try the rootbuilder pot system.
Will this work indoors? Just need a big pan to catch the water.
Regards
Jon
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 27, 2016, 08:30:44 AM
Jon, sorry to hear that news!  At least he didn't have to suffer anymore.  Doing an autopsy?   :(

Regarding root pruning, it's perfect for indoors.   Was designed by the forestry trade many years ago. You could use MicroKote or similar, RootMaker, or Smartpots, all resusable.

Good luck and stay in touch!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Jon on November 28, 2016, 10:25:19 PM
Jon, sorry to hear that news!  At least he didn't have to suffer anymore.  Doing an autopsy?   :(

Regarding root pruning, it's perfect for indoors.   Was designed by the forestry trade many years ago. You could use MicroKote or similar, RootMaker, or Smartpots, all resusable.

Good luck and stay in touch!
Thanks Mark,
You are also a very kind soul.
The poor Humpback was euthanized. I can't seem to understand why the feds did not let anyone near, or even to shu off the gulls, that were feeding off during low tide.
It was one of the saddest days of my life, and I'm not a youngin.
God willing, NY LAWS WILL CHANGE.
We knew the potential danger, turned out to be a young one at 33' and 20-25,000 Kilos.
Ordered some rootbuilder and smart pots.
What is the best way to buy the rootbuilder II , ?
Waiting till I get them to repot.
Gotta have A talk with Rommie, our rhesus monkey, who thinks it's funny to throw seeds into the pots so that when they grow I have no idea what is growing and why.
He seems to get quite a kick out of it while Shemp, our yellow Naped Amazon parrot, screams my name and asks what I am doing, pretty much all during the day.
  I usually answer with "I have no idea ".
Please also keep in touch,  and if you are ever in the new you work area, please do not hesitate and call me and be my guest for a nice dinner out on the nautical mile which has excellent seafood or any other food you may like
Take care,
Jon
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 29, 2016, 04:24:21 PM
Govt. what can I say.  One segement and group controlling another.  That must have been rough.

Buy the Rootbuilder by the roll. Try to get it wholesale by telling them such.  Cheapest way is to do the copper hydroxide paints. 

Tell Rommie to cut the shit or you'll turn him into a reindeer.

Mark
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Jon on November 30, 2016, 04:56:13 PM
Govt. what can I say.  One segement and group controlling another.  That must have been rough.

Buy the Rootbuilder by the roll. Try to get it wholesale by telling them such.  Cheapest way is to do the copper hydroxide paints. 

Tell Rommie to cut the shit or you'll turn him into a reindeer.

Mark
Thanks Mark,
I had to pay retail, they asked for some proof of me being a wholesaler, and I am just unable to lie   
Its only money anyway, at  The end of the day
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Jon on December 07, 2016, 11:57:10 PM
Govt. what can I say.  One segement and group controlling another.  That must have been rough.

Buy the Rootbuilder by the roll. Try to get it wholesale by telling them such.  Cheapest way is to do the copper hydroxide paints. 

Tell Rommie to cut the shit or you'll turn him into a reindeer.

Mark
Mark,
The people over at rootmaker are awesome!  I paid retail, then they decided to just charge wholesale on a few items, and then they refunded a good portion of the retail price I had paid on the 100' roll!
Thanks again!
I did mean that anytime u might be up this way, to text me or email, and Dinner is on me 
Also, if u ever have any back problems , look no further, thats what I do, for over 45 years .
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 08, 2016, 07:53:45 AM
Govt. what can I say.  One segement and group controlling another.  That must have been rough.

Buy the Rootbuilder by the roll. Try to get it wholesale by telling them such.  Cheapest way is to do the copper hydroxide paints. 

Tell Rommie to cut the shit or you'll turn him into a reindeer.

Mark
Mark,
The people over at rootmaker are awesome!  I paid retail, then they decided to just charge wholesale on a few items, and then they refunded a good portion of the retail price I had paid on the 100' roll!
Thanks again!
I did mean that anytime u might be up this way, to text me or email, and Dinner is on me 
Also, if u ever have any back problems , look no further, thats what I do, for over 45 years .

Now that's service!  Just a thought.  I've had so much root pressure from some of my trees that at least 1 of the 3 cable ties I use popped.  I'd go with at least 5 thick cable ties if you go to large pots, over 2' diameter. Overlap the ends by a row of 2 nipples down, not one.

Appreciate the kind invitation!  But don't EVEN mention back problems.  :(  Lumbar L1 - S1 are shot (stenosis, herniated, etc) and a Sept. "non-invasive" surgery did not work..... actually induced nerve issues from the waist down. Going back for major surgery again come Jan. 5 - rods, screws, oh my!  I'll PM the (different) neurosurgeon's website.  He is world class and has done half the county successfully.

Thanks,
Mark
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: FruitFreak on December 09, 2016, 02:24:53 PM


(https://s12.postimg.cc/636zuvteh/Patty_s_Happy_Hour_2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/636zuvteh/)


What kind of dog is that?  Nice looking.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 10, 2016, 07:45:42 AM
What kind of dog is that?  Nice looking.

Heeler. Another sweet (rescue) dog.

Merry tropical Christmas, dudes.

(https://s18.postimg.cc/9yekxr0f9/Xmas_Pineapple.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/9yekxr0f9/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: forumfool on January 28, 2017, 12:36:24 PM
"Pickering in the foreground, Mallika in the background."

I see that in your OP you had these two mangos planted in Sept 2013. Did they ever fruit for you? Looking through the thread I see lots of citrus/avocado harvest but no mango. I'm curious because I would like to grow Mango in greenhouse one day as well.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on February 16, 2017, 01:25:51 PM
There IS a huge advantage to living in a colder clime.  ;D My Moro orange (and all citrus) has been over the top this year.  Week by week (and year by year) this orange becomes darker. Now an inky burgundy with rich flavor and sweet. 2-5 seeds.  Am pulling the balance of the crop today to aid in blooming.  Been a warm winter with low this morn of only 33F.

Pinkerton avocado is the first to bloom of my 7 varieties.

(https://s3.postimg.cc/kh7mxk6n3/Moro_Feb16.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/kh7mxk6n3/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on February 16, 2017, 01:29:12 PM
"Pickering in the foreground, Mallika in the background."

I see that in your OP you had these two mangos planted in Sept 2013. Did they ever fruit for you? Looking through the thread I see lots of citrus/avocado harvest but no mango. I'm curious because I would like to grow Mango in greenhouse one day as well.

Yes, quite a bit.  Not real enamored with the Mallika.  Have stubbed it hoping to get some better wood to graft on it.  Sweet Tart and Lemon Zest are going nuts.  Have not lignified yet so I may not let them hold fruit this year.
 
(https://s8.postimg.cc/5hunxjdb5/2nd_Mallika.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/5hunxjdb5/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on August 28, 2017, 05:19:14 PM
Wow, this is RICH!  Our first home grown Lemon Zest mango.  Whopping sweetness, brix = 28* !!!  Holds its acid well, now I know where the Lemon comes from. Has that citrus flavor that reminds us of tangerine.  Wife said "this is so rich I don't know if I could eat a whole one."  Ditto. Found the best way to prepare it for big chunks is to skin it with a paring knife first.  We ate it raw and then tried it with key lime and Trechas on it.  Wife used to hate mango.  No more!

(https://s2.postimg.cc/rjiw4y4yt/LZFruit_Aug28_2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/rjiw4y4yt/)

(https://s26.postimg.cc/5u8geqj85/LZFruit_Aug28.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/5u8geqj85/)

(https://s26.postimg.cc/io6i82wnp/LZFruit_Aug28_3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/io6i82wnp/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: FruitFreak on August 28, 2017, 08:44:19 PM
Awesome pics.  Really cool that wifey is converted,  I'm currently working on mine.  Most people don't seem to understand just how many different flavors and textures there are.  The few LZs that I've tried have not been so orange and I just remember thinking I want to eat more, haha.  Thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on August 29, 2017, 07:15:18 AM
Awesome pics.  Really cool that wifey is converted,  I'm currently working on mine.  Most people don't seem to understand just how many different flavors and textures there are.  The few LZs that I've tried have not been so orange and I just remember thinking I want to eat more, haha.  Thanks for sharing

Thanks Marley.  Very complex. 

My cocktail mango tree is on its second set of leaf sets FWIW.   Very healthy, vigorous tree. I put a graft of Fruit Punch on the LZ, still green, about to push.

Hope that rain stops at your new orchard!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: simon_grow on August 29, 2017, 09:53:55 AM
Wow, this is RICH!  Our first home grown Lemon Zest mango.  Whopping sweetness, brix = 28* !!!  Holds its acid well, now I know where the Lemon comes from. Has that citrus flavor that reminds us of tangerine.  Wife said "this is so rich I don't know if I could eat a whole one."  Ditto. Found the best way to prepare it for big chunks is to skin it with a paring knife first.  We ate it raw and then tried it with key lime and Trechas on it.  Wife used to hate mango.  No more!

(https://s2.postimg.cc/rjiw4y4yt/LZFruit_Aug28_2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/rjiw4y4yt/)

(https://s26.postimg.cc/5u8geqj85/LZFruit_Aug28.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/5u8geqj85/)

(https://s26.postimg.cc/io6i82wnp/LZFruit_Aug28_3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/io6i82wnp/)

Mark, that's awesome that your first Lemon Zest turned out sweet and flavorful. You must really know what you're doing when it comes to watering, fertilizing and all other aspects of growing fruit trees considering how young your trees are and that they are grown in bottomless pots. You stuck with your plan and achieved your goal of fruiting Sweet Tart and Lemon Zest in a greenhouse. Both these varieties are relatively vigorous upright growers but your pruning and PGR program was obviously successful.

Other people trying to grow Mangos in small spaces, especially those living in extremely cold weather may be able to replicate what you are doing and create a mini mango orchard in their garage or other small space by using HID lights. How tall and wide were your plants when you harvested the fruit?

Simon
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on September 20, 2017, 10:14:55 AM
How tall and wide were your plants when you harvested the fruit?

Simon

Thanks Simon, sorry it's been so long since I responded.  Not having the email flag doesn't help.  Recently been clicking on "New replies" option top left of page.  duh......  ;D  Takes me a while.

I harvested 6 nice ST off a tree that is only about 3' X 3'.   Harvested 3 Lemon Zest, tree is about 5' H X 3' wide, branches tied up to a stake.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ThangBom321 on December 20, 2017, 04:49:07 AM
What a good read! I think you just about have my dream greenhouse. I decided to build a hoophouse at my parents homestead and plant pineapple (idk why but I love the sweet tarts Tang of pineapple), cadoes, mangoes, Logan, lychee, citrus, and jackfruit. I would try a mangosteen if I can find the fruit/seed to sow. It would be super cool to grow a durian but they get to big and tall.

ThangBom
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 20, 2017, 09:34:25 AM
What a good read! I think you just about have my dream greenhouse. I decided to build a hoophouse at my parents homestead and plant pineapple (idk why but I love the sweet tarts Tang of pineapple), cadoes, mangoes, Logan, lychee, citrus, and jackfruit. I would try a mangosteen if I can find the fruit/seed to sow. It would be super cool to grow a durian but they get to big and tall.

ThangBom

Good luck with that and keep us posted.  Cooling will be your biggest challenge. Probably the easiest solution is to roll up the sides or remove and replace with shade cloth.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ThangBom321 on December 20, 2017, 04:48:11 PM
That's the plan. Roll up the sides with a simple hand crank and a window or something at the top (open at bottom per your suggestion to control light). Then drip hoses on timers to water. If I ever make the 4.5 Drive to wine land, it would be awesome to be able to check your GH out.

Thangbom
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 09, 2018, 08:13:30 AM
I expanded the Reed avocado pot yesterday to a whopping 100 Gallon!  Here's the step by step blow.
 
Mixed and transported soil to the greenhouse using my tractor.  Used almost the entire bucket on the pot expansion.  Soil is washed builder's sand, perlite, vermiculite, compost, blood meal, pine bark.  No measuring, just dump and mix.

(https://s10.postimg.cc/nkens99v9/Soil_2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/nkens99v9/)

Popped the cable ties and cut a longer set of panels for expansion.  Notice no root spin out, the pot works as designed creating a fibrous, very efficient root system.

(https://s10.postimg.cc/pc7mnf8qd/Soil_Pot.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/pc7mnf8qd/)

The "new" pot is back filled half way now, notice the exposed fine white roots when the wall collapsed a bit.  Very healthy roots!

(https://s10.postimg.cc/x4yafh70l/Soil_Pot_3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/x4yafh70l/)

Backfilled and mulched.  This (recovering) Reed, now coming out of its shock after taking 18F for a few hours, should grow with a vengeance.  It is pushing green all over the stubs.

(https://s10.postimg.cc/6l5pd3ltx/Soil_Pot_4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/6l5pd3ltx/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: FruitFreak on March 09, 2018, 08:49:27 AM
I expanded the Reed avocado pot yesterday to a whopping 100 Gallon!  Here's the step by step blow.
 
Mixed and transported soil to the greenhouse using my tractor.  Used almost the entire bucket on the pot expansion.  Soil is washed builder's sand, perlite, vermiculite, compost, blood meal, pine bark.  No measuring, just dump and mix.

(https://s10.postimg.cc/nkens99v9/Soil_2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/nkens99v9/)

Popped the cable ties and cut a longer set of panels for expansion.  Notice no root spin out, the pot works as designed creating a fibrous, very efficient root system.

(https://s10.postimg.cc/pc7mnf8qd/Soil_Pot.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/pc7mnf8qd/)

The "new" pot is back filled half way now, notice the exposed fine white roots when the wall collapsed a bit.  Very healthy roots!

(https://s10.postimg.cc/x4yafh70l/Soil_Pot_3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/x4yafh70l/)

Backfilled and mulched.  This (recovering) Reed, now coming out of its shock after taking 18F for a few hours, should grow with a vengeance.  It is pushing green all over the stubs.

(https://s10.postimg.cc/6l5pd3ltx/Soil_Pot_4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/6l5pd3ltx/)

Wow those pots are awesome along with those roots!  More roots = More cados :)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 09, 2018, 10:59:21 AM
Wow those pots are awesome along with those roots!  More roots = More cados :)

Yep, and it better.  You don't know how many hundreds of shovels (it seems) it takes to fill up that void. 

Time to get to another one, my Frankencado which so far is only pushing from the rootstock.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Seanny on March 09, 2018, 03:19:28 PM
Nice raised bed.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Empoweredandfree on March 09, 2018, 05:08:58 PM
Looking great Mark! Glad I invested in a few to try out this year.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on March 13, 2018, 03:51:07 PM
Hi Mark, I'm about to make a RootBuilderII purchase of the 100' rolls.  I mean to use it on the side of my house (as you can view here: http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27042.msg312313#msg312313 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27042.msg312313#msg312313)).  I haven't yet decided whether to block the bottom of the pot (no in ground roots) or allow root penetration (up/down).  The reason I would want to disallow below surface rooting are:
1) I might want to relocate these trees in the mid-term future.
2) The neighbor has three well established fruit trees, and I don't want those roots "feeding" into my rootbuilder soil
3) I had several trees in the area that I recently pulled up, and their roots are overrunning the sub-surface.

I'd love to hear what folks think about blocking the roots at the ground surface.

Another choice point I have.  I can purchase the double-height (34") Root-Builder roll.  This is double the cost, but it might work better if I were to block the surface off.  It would also give me more room to create a mulching layer.  Thoughts?

BTW, working with a local Hydro store, I was able to get the Wholesale pricing for these ($250/roll standard height).  Something to consider if others are looking to purchase in bulk.

Thanks,
Naysen
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: FrankDrebinOfFruits on March 13, 2018, 04:47:59 PM
Hi Mark, I'm about to make a RootBuilderII purchase of the 100' rolls.  I mean to use it on the side of my house (as you can view here: http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27042.msg312313#msg312313 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27042.msg312313#msg312313)).  I haven't yet decided whether to block the bottom of the pot (no in ground roots) or allow root penetration (up/down).  The reason I would want to disallow below surface rooting are:
1) I might want to relocate these trees in the mid-term future.
2) The neighbor has three well established fruit trees, and I don't want those roots "feeding" into my rootbuilder soil
3) I had several trees in the area that I recently pulled up, and their roots are overrunning the sub-surface.

I'd love to hear what folks think about blocking the roots at the ground surface.

Another choice point I have.  I can purchase the double-height (34") Root-Builder roll.  This is double the cost, but it might work better if I were to block the surface off.  It would also give me more room to create a mulching layer.  Thoughts?

BTW, working with a local Hydro store, I was able to get the Wholesale pricing for these ($250/roll standard height).  Something to consider if others are looking to purchase in bulk.

Thanks,
Naysen

3M makes an product, I forget the exact name. Its the one used by Dr Yonnemoto (Japanese greenhouse mangos) for keeping the roots from penetrating. I believe I posted the name on the forum a few years ago.  It's similar to tyvek but I think its thicker. If In a pinch I would use tyvek.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on March 13, 2018, 05:10:55 PM
Hi Mark, I'm about to make a RootBuilderII purchase of the 100' rolls.  I mean to use it on the side of my house (as you can view here: http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27042.msg312313#msg312313 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27042.msg312313#msg312313)).  I haven't yet decided whether to block the bottom of the pot (no in ground roots) or allow root penetration (up/down).  The reason I would want to disallow below surface rooting are:
1) I might want to relocate these trees in the mid-term future.
2) The neighbor has three well established fruit trees, and I don't want those roots "feeding" into my rootbuilder soil
3) I had several trees in the area that I recently pulled up, and their roots are overrunning the sub-surface.

I'd love to hear what folks think about blocking the roots at the ground surface.

Another choice point I have.  I can purchase the double-height (34") Root-Builder roll.  This is double the cost, but it might work better if I were to block the surface off.  It would also give me more room to create a mulching layer.  Thoughts?

BTW, working with a local Hydro store, I was able to get the Wholesale pricing for these ($250/roll standard height).  Something to consider if others are looking to purchase in bulk.

Thanks,
Naysen

3M makes an product, I forget the exact name. Its the one used by Dr Yonnemoto (Japanese greenhouse mangos) for keeping the roots from penetrating. I believe I posted the name on the forum a few years ago.  It's similar to tyvek but I think its thicker. If In a pinch I would use tyvek.

Thanks for the note.  I see products that might be similar on Amazon (search "tree root shield"), though they are somewhat expensive.  The larger question I have is as to whether or not limiting the roots in such a way will be detrimental to Avocado tree growth, even if I limit trees with heavy pruning, dwarf variety, etc.  Another option I've read used with Fig is to drill one or two large holes in the root barrier, which allows a tap root that can easily be cut if/when moving the above ground "containered" plant.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 14, 2018, 08:22:12 AM
I'd love to hear what folks think about blocking the roots at the ground surface.

You can buy bottoms.   Check this out.  About page 27 shows how to kill the tap root on avocado in lieu of creating a shallow branching network of roots. http://htfg.org/conferences/2016/2016_JohnYoshimiYonemoto_GrowingandHarvestingtheBestAvocados.pdf (http://htfg.org/conferences/2016/2016_JohnYoshimiYonemoto_GrowingandHarvestingtheBestAvocados.pdf)

Quote
Another choice point I have.  I can purchase the double-height (34") Root-Builder roll.


Waste of material and time.  The 16" is all you need, especially for avocado.   Been there, done that.

Quote
BTW, working with a local Hydro store, I was able to get the Wholesale pricing for these ($250/roll standard height).  Something to consider if others are looking to purchase in bulk.

Naysen, that is not wholesale cost and hydro stores are not your friend.  ;)  Buy direct from the company.  It's much cheaper.   Shipping will add on at least $40.  When you tie together go 4 holes down, at least 3 large black cable ties.  Run a strap or 18 ga. wire around the middle. 

Good luck!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 14, 2018, 08:26:06 AM
Looking great Mark! Glad I invested in a few to try out this year.

Thanks and good luck!   Buy a roll, strip off what you need and sell the rest for $3.00/panel.  There are 96 panels per roll. 

Here's a panels to pot size conversion table:

3 panels = 7 gallons

4 = 15

5 = 20

6  = 30

7 = 40

8 = 55

9 = 70

10 = 100 gallons
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on March 14, 2018, 02:24:12 PM
Hi Mark, I was hoping you would chime in on my project.  I'm glad you steered me towards the single height, as the double literally doubles the cost, so $250/roll becomes $500/roll.  I thought the 250/roll wasn't bad.  I'm not sure how to get wholesale, but I'll try.  What's really taking me aback is the shipping quote I just got -- $240 to ship two rolls to CA.  Ouch!

I'm familiar with that .pdf you linked, and I have in fact studied it with great interest over the past couple weeks.  So of the concerns I have with their process and its applicability to my situation:
1) They have very controlled temperature ranges that will not apply to my situation.  I'll probably see a more wind (though nothing too bad in my semi-protected location).
2) They are purposefully limiting the tree's trunk girth/strength so as to emphasize energy for fruiting.  This means they are trellising or otherwise supporting the 2/3 horizontally trained main branches - almost like a grapevine.
3) If I was able to "train" an avocado in this way, I wonder if it would be transportable in the future.  I guess I would have to cut back the main leader branches before transport, but maybe that would be recoverable.
4) They're using Paclobutrazol, and I question how "safe" that is for edibles.  At the least, it must invalidate the "organic-ness" of the product.  Have you used it?  I can't find much here on its use for Avocados.
5) I wonder if I will be able to supply the amount of water required during flowering/fruiting with my shared drip loop.  That's more of a logistics issue that might apply to any Avocado tree planting, though it seems like it would be more important when you're "potted" with limited grow media (depth, volume, etc.)

All that said, I was thinking to try and implement something like the methods described in Yonemoto presentation.  I'd be interested if anyone else on the forum have tried his methods, and if so in a non-greenhouse environment.

Any tips on getting the RootBuilderII supplier to offer wholesale?  Any group-buys in the works?

Thanks!
-naysen
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 15, 2018, 09:18:48 AM
$240 to ship two rolls to CA.  Ouch!

Huh?  $40 from Alabama to central Texas, one roll.

Quote
4) They're using Paclobutrazol, and I question how "safe" that is for edibles.  At the least, it must invalidate the "organic-ness" of the product.  Have you used it?  I can't find much here on its use for Avocados.

Do a Google.  Indians have used it for decades on mangos.  Applications rates are available.  I apply paclo (Bonzi) to a lanky tree to cut down on internode length.  Works well.  The ppm is miniscule.  Toxicity is relative to your weight and other factors which I won't get into now.  Just because it's labeled for ornamentals doesn't mean it's harmful.  Most times it means the manufacturer has a good market already for other plant material he has deemed as a target and doesn't want to go thru the bullshit and expense of submitting their product to the EPA, etc. for food crops.

Quote
Any tips on getting the RootBuilderII supplier to offer wholesale?  Any group-buys in the works?

Tell them your wholesale.  I have a registered farm name and tax ID to back it up but they didn't ask for any ID.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on March 16, 2018, 03:40:41 PM
$240 to ship two rolls to CA.  Ouch!

Huh?  $40 from Alabama to central Texas, one roll.
Shipping turned out to be more reasonable.  UPS had $96 to ship two of the [RBII17H, 17" X 96 Panels RootBuilder II] rolls to CA, so that's not too far off from the $40 you had.  I should be set for a while.

One curiosity I had was around what the actual size of each panel is.  Apparently a 100' roll is made up of 96 panels, so does that mean the length of each panel comes out to just above a foot at 12.5", or are each panel exactly 17" x 12".

For the bottoms, I'm contemplating running cement pavers atop the 4foot-wide dirt run on the West by SouthWest facing 50' area shown in the below pics.  I think I can fit six trees in individual RBII expandable containers using 8' spacing and applying the John Yoshimi Yonemoto process.  I think the pavers migh provide some temp buffer in the cold months while also blocking roots from the neighbor's trees (and limiting the Avocado tree tap-roots).  I might run a trellis above down the line to support the horizontal branches.  Hopefully the spacing isn't too cramped, light exposure too low, nor wind/cold-temps exposure too great.  At any rate, I don't want to hijack your topic here further, but I do appreciate the inputs.  If folks are interested, I can post on my progress.  I think this is along the lines of projects performed by at least one or two other folks on the forum, though I haven't seen anything like this done as far north as Sacramento Valley.

(https://s17.postimg.cc/bquf8o1qz/sideyard_20180227_091612.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/bquf8o1qz/)

(https://s17.postimg.cc/b1bmwbw2j/sideyard_20180227_091619.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/b1bmwbw2j/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 17, 2018, 07:34:19 AM
Shipping turned out to be more reasonable.  UPS had $96 to ship two of the [RBII17H, 17" X 96 Panels RootBuilder II] rolls to CA, so that's not too far off from the $40 you had.  I should be set for a while.

One curiosity I had was around what the actual size of each panel is.  Apparently a 100' roll is made up of 96 panels, so does that mean the length of each panel comes out to just above a foot at 12.5", or are each panel exactly 17" x 12".

13"
 
Quote
If folks are interested, I can post on my progress.  I think this is along the lines of projects performed by at least one or two other folks on the forum, though I haven't seen anything like this done as far north as Sacramento Valley.

Keep us posted.  Sounds interesting.  I assume you can provide winter protection if needed.  What do you plan on putting in?

Good luck!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on March 17, 2018, 12:37:45 PM
Keep us posted.  Sounds interesting.  I assume you can provide winter protection if needed.  What do you plan on putting in?

Hi Mark, I have the following to choose from (all 4-winds Nursery stock): 2 Holiday, 2 Lamb Hass, 1 Sir Prize, 1 Stewart, and 1 Pinkerton.  Stewart and Sir Prize are likely the most cold-hardy, but they're also Type-B, which suggests they should be interspersed with the A-Types.  I'm also trying to find appropriate rootstock seeds to graft a local Duke tree's budwood (from Yuba) this season, but I've not yet found a source for good rootstock seeds (or saplings).  I'd plant the Duke fully exposed in the front yard, as it think the mature trees in Yuba are quite beautiful, giant and supposedly cold hardy (see pics).  There are a number of other varieties I'd like to try, but what's obtainable from local nurseries is quite limited.  I need to improve my grafting process and skills to join in on the real fun.

For frost/cold protection, I'm planning to line the branches with C7/C9 lights, cover on the freeze nights, and also drop a water filled 55-gallon barrels in between each of the trees for thermal buffer.  I don't have room on the property for a usable greenhouse.

(https://s18.postimg.cc/48vt30dad/20171105_152127.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/48vt30dad/)

(https://s18.postimg.cc/e66tw30bp/20171105_152136.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/e66tw30bp/)

(https://s18.postimg.cc/jud4mzk3p/20171105_152148.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/jud4mzk3p/)

(https://s18.postimg.cc/is2y4ftkl/20171105_152159.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/is2y4ftkl/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 18, 2018, 08:32:33 AM
Is that a Duke avocado tree?  It's not only huge but gorgeous.

Great choices.  That's a lot of work regarding winter protection.   Stewart would not need to be protected once it's thick and woody.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on March 18, 2018, 01:07:24 PM
Is that a Duke avocado tree?  It's not only huge but gorgeous.
Yes, two beautiful, soulful Duke Avocado trees growing together in an old, abandoned train-station "garden."  I'm told they are incredibly hard to get a graft to take.  I'd love to have a couple of these growing in my front-yard.  That's a long term goal.

Great choices.  That's a lot of work regarding winter protection.   Stewart would not need to be protected once it's thick and woody.
I know that protecting the trees from wind and cold will be my primary challenge.  The past several Winters have been particularly mild in Northern CA, however this Winter has reminded me of the unpredictability of weather.  We had a week or two in the mid-70's (F)/ Lows in the mid-50's before getting hit with a week long freeze down to 18F, and then another;  Hail, all of it.  Given this, my large consternation is over the counter goals of creating a big, woody tree to help protect against the elements as opposed to the John Yonemoto process that seeks to achieve the opposite by limiting tap roots to reduce girth and vigor in the tree's trunk/branches as well as using supports -- all to focus energy to fruiting.  Will those greenhouse concepts work outdoors in a "pot-culture?"
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 19, 2018, 07:41:48 AM
18F ?  I guess California is like Texas - there must be a hundred micro climates.

I become less tolerant of plant maintenance as I get older.  Just don't become a slave to your plants.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on March 26, 2018, 06:53:15 PM
Hi Mark (and anyone else interested in another user of RB pots), I created a thread for documenting my RootBuilder project.  If you'd like to follow it, you can find it here:
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27629.0 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27629.0)

This is nothing like what you have with the Greenhouse in Texas, but it might be useful for anyone else considering taking the plunge in purchasing a roll of the RootBuilder product.  At any rate, thanks for the input so far.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 11, 2018, 09:51:44 AM
Update.  I've done 48 grafts this year on citrus, avocado, annona, mango.  Just got thru grafting 3 Orange Sherbet mango scions.  Here's my cherimoya tree going on 6'.  Got the 6 sticks from Behl and another member, all took.  Behl, Pierce, Campas, and Sabor.  My grafts have been cleft, T-bud and side veneer.  I have a key lime that now has 4 varieties of orange, two scions of limequat, one of Calamondin, and a couple of Persian lime.  I have Persian lime on a Meyer lemon tree - Flying Dragon rootstock.

March

(https://s22.postimg.cc/8wrx0zulp/Cherimoya_Grafts_April4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/8wrx0zulp/)

Today.  Some of these leaves are as big as dinner plates.  This tree is gorgeous in every way.


(https://s22.postimg.cc/o6rs7t7zx/Cherimoya_Grafts_July11.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/o6rs7t7zx/)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 11, 2018, 09:57:36 AM
Oro Negro avocado that froze to the ground. I grafted Lamb Hass, Sharwil and Pinkerton to the green shoots that pushed from the base.  This thing is super vigorous.

(https://s22.postimg.cc/fps9wzqh9/Frankencado_July11.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/fps9wzqh9/)

Vigor is obvious.  Here it is only 5 weeks ago, May 21. 
 
(https://s22.postimg.cc/4q72ljse5/Frankencado_June18.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/4q72ljse5/)


Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 30, 2018, 07:24:59 AM
Major comeback on citrus and avocado trees that froze back during a Jan. freeze - heater failure.  My Reed is on steroids now hitting 10 X 10'.  Grafted and then topped to 24" is a cocktail cherimoya in front - Campas, Behl, Pierce, Sabor.

(https://i.postimg.cc/k63fQFkp/Reed-Oct28-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/k63fQFkp)

(https://i.postimg.cc/s10GbD2V/Reed-Oct28-3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/s10GbD2V)

(https://i.postimg.cc/wyYY1NF6/Reed-Oct28.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wyYY1NF6)

Reed had frozen back to a stump.  March 6:

(https://i.postimg.cc/MXhKycTj/Reed-March6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MXhKycTj)


Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on October 30, 2018, 11:12:41 AM
Cool come back back of your phoenix trees ;)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on October 30, 2018, 07:22:00 PM
Hi Mark, it's great to see the rebirth you have there.  I look forward to learning about all the fruit it will provide next season.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 30, 2018, 07:57:45 PM
"What a strange trip it's been"

Yeah, hope to get lots of fruits off this bad boy.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: simon_grow on October 31, 2018, 08:10:45 AM
Mark, that is absolutely incredible growth. Looks like you should get some good fruit next year. Please keep us updated.

Simon
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 31, 2018, 10:46:49 AM
Mark, that is absolutely incredible growth. Looks like you should get some good fruit next year. Please keep us updated.

Simon

I hope to get a lot of fruit including citrus all year long, which is already beginning to set a lot of fruit.  I've done 85 grafts to in ground fruit trees this year - mango, cherimoya, annonas, citrus. Having 8 varieties of oranges including two bloods will be nice.

Looks like you and Brad are hitting home runs too!  Good luck with that incredible project.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 22, 2018, 04:16:37 PM
.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Daintree on December 24, 2018, 03:07:16 PM
So, I keep killing mango and jackfruit trees for some reason.  Maybe I should try a Rootmaker pot! 

Merry Christmas!

Carolyn

Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: cmichael258 on December 24, 2018, 04:28:21 PM
Update.  I've done 48 grafts this year on citrus, avocado, annona, mango.  Just got thru grafting 3 Orange Sherbet mango scions.  Here's my cherimoya tree going on 6'.  Got the 6 sticks from Behl and another member, all took.  Behl, Pierce, Campas, and Sabor.  My grafts have been cleft, T-bud and side veneer.  I have a key lime that now has 4 varieties of orange, two scions of limequat, one of Calamondin, and a couple of Persian lime.  I have Persian lime on a Meyer lemon tree - Flying Dragon rootstock.

March

(https://s22.postimg.cc/8wrx0zulp/Cherimoya_Grafts_April4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/8wrx0zulp/)

Today.  Some of these leaves are as big as dinner plates.  This tree is gorgeous in every way.


(https://s22.postimg.cc/o6rs7t7zx/Cherimoya_Grafts_July11.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/o6rs7t7zx/)

Mark,
What are you fertilizing your cherimoya tree with to get such beautiful, full green leaves?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Coach62 on December 25, 2018, 09:29:20 AM
Hey Mark, great job and thanks for the updates.

I’m curious, I guess I just don’t really get the use of the rootbuilder pots. Why do you use them, and what is the purpose of leaving an open bottom pot like that on the ground? 

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 25, 2018, 10:19:44 AM
Hey Mark, great job and thanks for the updates.

I’m curious, I guess I just don’t really get the use of the rootbuilder pots. Why do you use them, and what is the purpose of leaving an open bottom pot like that on the ground? 

Thanks in advance.

Please look into the science and benefits of root tip pruning. Creates a very fibrous, efficient root system and with no bottom it becomes a raised bed such that the tree gets off to fast start and then roots into native soil.  Since the nutrients and water are focused from the top down the tree efficiently uses what I've applied.

Did you not see the 10' X 10' avocado tree in the previous post?  It grew that way in 7 mos.   You'll not get that kind of beautiful, healthy growth and vigor any other way.   Only food it got was Osmocote.

 8)

(https://i.postimg.cc/2qg0h1N3/John-Lennonsshades.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2qg0h1N3)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 25, 2018, 10:21:39 AM
So, I keep killing mango and jackfruit trees for some reason.  Maybe I should try a Rootmaker pot! 

Merry Christmas!

Carolyn

Sorry to hear that.  Why not use these systems?  Benefits are incredible.

Merry Christmas to you too.  That little pineapple came thru 18F and is now 2 plants!!!! 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 25, 2018, 10:27:17 AM

Mark,
What are you fertilizing your cherimoya tree with to get such beautiful, full green leaves?

FWIW, did 83 grafts this year, most are on citrus.

Everything in  the greenhouse gets the same foods, either a Polyon 18-4-9 or Osmocote Indoor/Outdoor.  They both have a good micros package.  Other than that just rainwater.   Here's a shot of a typical leaf about 2 mos. after I grafted it, May 31.  Big as dinner plates.

(https://i.postimg.cc/njZ006Mt/Cherimoya-Grafts-May31.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/njZ006Mt)

Everything is green and rich - mangos, avocados, pineapples, annonas, citrus, etc.   Here's a new limequat graft from early summer holding 38 fruit.  FWIW this cold hardy fruit tastes/is exactly like a good lime.   We just made a key lime pie for dinner today.  Used zest and juice from half a Meyer lemon, Persian and key limes.

(https://i.postimg.cc/GTLGyRtH/Limequat-Fruit-Dec2018-3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GTLGyRtH)

(https://i.postimg.cc/sBPM9LtS/Polyonsend.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sBPM9LtS)

Merry Christmas everybody! 


Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Coach62 on December 25, 2018, 01:53:35 PM
Thanks Mark, I have about 6 trees here that need I need to transplant. 

Where do you suggest I buy these?

Bruce
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on December 25, 2018, 03:22:14 PM
Mark, that citrus tree looks awesome.  Persian lines?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 25, 2018, 05:19:26 PM
Thanks Mark, I have about 6 trees here that need I need to transplant. 

Where do you suggest I buy these?

Bruce

Harrell's is a Florida op.  You can get that Osmocote on Amazon.  8# for $16 would be a fair price.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 25, 2018, 05:23:19 PM
Mark, that citrus tree looks awesome.  Persian lines?

Limequat on a key lime tree.  I do have Persian lime grafts on the key lime which I trim to keep down to 9' about 4 times a year..  Put Valencia orange on a Persian lime tree.  Got 6 varieties of oranges now, couple of lemons, limes, Calamondin, etc.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Daintree on December 25, 2018, 05:35:05 PM
So, I keep killing mango and jackfruit trees for some reason.  Maybe I should try a Rootmaker pot! 

Merry Christmas!

Carolyn

Sorry to hear that.  Why not use these systems?  Benefits are incredible.

Merry Christmas to you too.  That little pineapple came thru 18F and is now 2 plants!!!!

Hi Mark!
Glad to hear about the dwarf pineapple.  They are fun little things!  I honestly don't know what I am doing wrong with Jackfruit and Mango.  Over-watering? Not enough light? Not enough heat? I want to use the Rootmaker pots, but I worry that my native soil under the greenhouse gets too cold in the winter (under 45-50 by the wall).  Plus, we flood irrigate, and the greenhouse gets 6 inches of water every week in the summer, and it takes over a day to drain down through our nasty clay soil.  Also, I tend to move my pots a lot.  Sometimes I can't reach the wall of the greenhouse unless I move pots around (read - she just has too many freakin' plants out there...).
I wonder, are any of these valid concerns? Thoughts on cold clay soil and frequent flooding, anyone???

Merry Christmas to you, and to all my "fruity" friends!

Carolyn
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Coach62 on December 25, 2018, 09:03:41 PM
Thanks Mark, I have about 6 trees here that need I need to transplant. 

Where do you suggest I buy these?

Bruce

Harrell's is a Florida op.  You can get that Osmocote on Amazon.  8# for $16 would be a fair price.

Would love to use the Osmocote, but I have over 100 trees and Florida sand does NOT hold any nutrients to speak of.  I have to fertilize about 4X a year typically.

The cost would just b prohibitive.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: FruitFreak on December 28, 2018, 09:14:28 AM
Hi Bruce.  Osmocote is slow release and works very well in our soil.  You can likely get away with 2 applications per year instead of 4.  It is the best stuff I’ve used hands down and worth every penny.

Thanks Mark, I have about 6 trees here that need I need to transplant. 

Where do you suggest I buy these?

Bruce

Harrell's is a Florida op.  You can get that Osmocote on Amazon.  8# for $16 would be a fair price.

Would love to use the Osmocote, but I have over 100 trees and Florida sand does NOT hold any nutrients to speak of.  I have to fertilize about 4X a year typically.

The cost would just b prohibitive.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on December 28, 2018, 11:08:44 AM
Hi Bruce.  Osmocote is slow release and works very well in our soil.  You can likely get away with 2 applications per year instead of 4.  It is the best stuff I’ve used hands down and worth every penny.

Thanks Mark, I have about 6 trees here that need I need to transplant. 

Where do you suggest I buy these?

Bruce

Harrell's is a Florida op.  You can get that Osmocote on Amazon.  8# for $16 would be a fair price.

Would love to use the Osmocote, but I have over 100 trees and Florida sand does NOT hold any nutrients to speak of.  I have to fertilize about 4X a year typically.

The cost would just b prohibitive.

And if you find yourself using tons of osmocote, Harrell's sells a similar product called polyon in 50lb bags for about half the cost of osmocote.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Coach62 on December 28, 2018, 05:33:09 PM
Hi Bruce.  Osmocote is slow release and works very well in our soil.  You can likely get away with 2 applications per year instead of 4.  It is the best stuff I’ve used hands down and worth every penny.

Thanks Mark, I have about 6 trees here that need I need to transplant. 

Where do you suggest I buy these?

Bruce

Harrell's is a Florida op.  You can get that Osmocote on Amazon.  8# for $16 would be a fair price.

Would love to use the Osmocote, but I have over 100 trees and Florida sand does NOT hold any nutrients to speak of.  I have to fertilize about 4X a year typically.

The cost would just b prohibitive.

And if you find yourself using tons of osmocote, Harrell's sells a similar product called polyon in 50lb bags for about half the cost of osmocote.

Thank you, I'll check that out.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Coach62 on December 28, 2018, 05:39:14 PM
Hi Bruce.  Osmocote is slow release and works very well in our soil.  You can likely get away with 2 applications per year instead of 4.  It is the best stuff I’ve used hands down and worth every penny.

Thanks Mark, I have about 6 trees here that need I need to transplant. 

Where do you suggest I buy these?

Bruce

Harrell's is a Florida op.  You can get that Osmocote on Amazon.  8# for $16 would be a fair price.

Would love to use the Osmocote, but I have over 100 trees and Florida sand does NOT hold any nutrients to speak of.  I have to fertilize about 4X a year typically.

The cost would just b prohibitive.

Hmm, I wouldn't mind stopping by sometime and seeing how much you use, and where you get it from.   

Do you apply the same amount?

Thanks Marley
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on January 03, 2019, 09:28:21 AM
And if you find yourself using tons of osmocote, Harrell's sells a similar product called polyon in 50lb bags for about half the cost of osmocote.

And a better product by design.  It's not only regulated by water but by temp.  Warmer it is the more the nutrients are released.  Owner bought Polyon by the pallet and we applied it when planting a large vineyard just up the road from me.  I've applied Polyon to about 10,000 newly planted trees, grapevines, etc. over the years.

Being that the farm is mature I only apply Polyon/Osmocote to my greenhouse trees, about a good handful each spring to each big "pot".
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: OCchris1 on January 04, 2019, 01:05:30 AM
Where can we get Harrell's 18-4-9 in so cal?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on January 04, 2019, 10:40:25 AM
Brad, Sharwil is going nuts.  Normally my avocado trees would be dormant this time of the year.  Pinkerton is blooming too albeit it small and smothered by the others like Sharwil and Lamb.

(https://i.postimg.cc/9w9cCk1f/Sharwil-Grafts-Jan4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9w9cCk1f)

(https://i.postimg.cc/VSN1dv4p/Sharwil-Grafts-Jan4-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VSN1dv4p)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: hawkfish007 on January 04, 2019, 11:03:58 AM
Where can we get Harrell's 18-4-9 in so cal?

I usually buy fertilizer from local crop production services in Temecula or San Jacinto. San Jacinto stores gives a grower discount if you have more than 20 or 25 fruit trees.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on January 04, 2019, 11:18:27 AM
Hi Mark!
Glad to hear about the dwarf pineapple.  They are fun little things!  I honestly don't know what I am doing wrong with Jackfruit and Mango.  Over-watering? Not enough light? Not enough heat? I want to use the Rootmaker pots, but I worry that my native soil under the greenhouse gets too cold in the winter (under 45-50 by the wall).  Plus, we flood irrigate, and the greenhouse gets 6 inches of water every week in the summer, and it takes over a day to drain down through our nasty clay soil.  Also, I tend to move my pots a lot.  Sometimes I can't reach the wall of the greenhouse unless I move pots around (read - she just has too many freakin' plants out there...).
I wonder, are any of these valid concerns? Thoughts on cold clay soil and frequent flooding, anyone???

Merry Christmas to you, and to all my "fruity" friends!

Carolyn

Missed this one Carolyn, sorry.

Yeah, I don't think RootBuilder is the way to go for you.  Perhaps a conventional pot painted with MicroKote would be more practical.  The frequent flooding doesn't sound tree friendly to me considering you have clay.  Most plants need little water during their cold dormant season.  Pineapples can get away (and should) with none for months during the winter, then again I let my lows drop to around 35F.  Too much water on some of these trees during winter and the root rot sets in.

Happy New Year and gardening, stay warm!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: OCchris1 on January 05, 2019, 01:08:34 AM
Thanks Hawk!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Daintree on January 06, 2019, 07:23:34 PM
Thanks Mark!

I just finished repotting my citrus today into a mix with WAY more vermiculite than I normally use to encourage drainage.  The bottoms of the pots were just mud and the bottom third of their roots were not looking good.  Although I HAVE been getting fruit off of them...

I am going to try to raise all the pots onto bricks or something before the next irrigation season, and next time I repot, I will try the MicroKote.

Cheers,
Carolyn
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on January 07, 2019, 07:35:36 AM
Thanks Mark!

I just finished repotting my citrus today into a mix with WAY more vermiculite than I normally use to encourage drainage.  The bottoms of the pots were just mud and the bottom third of their roots were not looking good.  Although I HAVE been getting fruit off of them...

I am going to try to raise all the pots onto bricks or something before the next irrigation season, and next time I repot, I will try the MicroKote.

Cheers,
Carolyn

Good luck!  Some rootstocks do well in heavy clay, some don't.  Choice of the rootstock is important.

Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on March 20, 2019, 10:53:53 AM
Hi Mark, everything you're doing there looks great.  Best wishes for a successful Spring this year.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 20, 2019, 12:03:51 PM
Hi Mark, everything you're doing there looks great.  Best wishes for a successful Spring this year.

Thanks bud, same to you!  How did your project turn out?

I've got a 12' Reed about to explode in blooms.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: OCchris1 on March 24, 2019, 01:35:51 AM
That Microkote is no joke by the way. Ive used it on hundreds of pots by now, and the root mass looks beautiful when repotting/ planting. I think 90% of my collection has Micrkote on their pots (not sponsored)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 24, 2019, 09:21:25 AM
That Microkote is no joke by the way. Ive used it on hundreds of pots by now, and the root mass looks beautiful when repotting/ planting. I think 90% of my collection has Micrkote on their pots (not sponsored)

Yep, it's the only way to garden in pots.  I may have mentioned it but until I ran out I used a similar product called Griffin's Spin-Out.  Copper hydroxide in a latex paint.  100% effective.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on March 24, 2019, 11:28:30 PM
Hi Mark, everything you're doing there looks great.  Best wishes for a successful Spring this year.

Thanks bud, same to you!  How did your project turn out?

I've got a 12' Reed about to explode in blooms.
Things are going well here.  You can read up and see pics from the side-yard Avocado project here:
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27629.msg346847#msg346847 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27629.msg346847#msg346847)

This past week, I transplanted 13 citrus trees to 4-panel RootMaker pots.  I have limited space in the flat part of my backyard, so I'm going to have to prune heavily to keep the trees in their limited airspace.  Here's a pic of the situation as of today.  I'm looking forward to observing how the citrus thrives in their new root-pruning pots.  Several of them were quite root-bound from just a year in their 5G pots. They all arrived via mail from Four Winds Nursery in very small 1 quart (or thereabout) tall, square-shaped nursery "pots."  I look forward to following your fabled Reed.

(https://i.postimg.cc/JH1Zc0Ld/20190324-143908.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JH1Zc0Ld)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 25, 2019, 08:02:19 AM
Things are going well here.  You can read up and see pics from the side-yard Avocado project here:
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27629.msg346847#msg346847 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27629.msg346847#msg346847)

This past week, I transplanted 13 citrus trees to 4-panel RootMaker pots.  I have limited space in the flat part of my backyard, so I'm going to have to prune heavily to keep the trees in their limited airspace.  Here's a pic of the situation as of today.  I'm looking forward to observing how the citrus thrives in their new root-pruning pots.  Several of them were quite root-bound from just a year in their 5G pots. They all arrived via mail from Four Winds Nursery in very small 1 quart (or thereabout) tall, square-shaped nursery "pots."  I look forward to following your fabled Reed.

(https://i.postimg.cc/JH1Zc0Ld/20190324-143908.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JH1Zc0Ld)

Everything looks great!

Wish I could order from Four Winds.  Much of Texas is under quarantine regarding HLB, citrus greening problem.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on March 25, 2019, 11:15:36 AM
Well, I wouldn't say everything looks great with all the roots I had to tear up to flatten the side-yard area still lingering, and I need to lay down the wood chips over that weed cover...run the irrigation lines.  But I think those citrus trees should be happy there getting morning to afternoon light, etc.  It will be interesting to see how mature they get in their 4-panel root-builder "containers."
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: zephian on March 25, 2019, 11:46:50 AM
Things are going well here.  You can read up and see pics from the side-yard Avocado project here:
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27629.msg346847#msg346847 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27629.msg346847#msg346847)

This past week, I transplanted 13 citrus trees to 4-panel RootMaker pots.  I have limited space in the flat part of my backyard, so I'm going to have to prune heavily to keep the trees in their limited airspace.  Here's a pic of the situation as of today.  I'm looking forward to observing how the citrus thrives in their new root-pruning pots.  Several of them were quite root-bound from just a year in their 5G pots. They all arrived via mail from Four Winds Nursery in very small 1 quart (or thereabout) tall, square-shaped nursery "pots."  I look forward to following your fabled Reed.

(https://i.postimg.cc/JH1Zc0Ld/20190324-143908.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JH1Zc0Ld)

Everything looks great!

Wish I could order from Four Winds.  Much of Texas is under quarantine regarding HLB, citrus greening problem.
In the county he lives in they have a quarantine zone (I buy my plants in the same county) but they never actually ask what county you're going to be planting in...
as a side note - Green acres had some australian finger limes from four wind growers a few weeks back! :)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on March 25, 2019, 01:06:18 PM
Hi Kris,

That first small-leaved shrubby tree/plant in my pic is an Australian Finger Lime from Four Winds.  I saw a plant at Costco a year back that was probably 5 times the size of that plant and for half the price.  I cringed a bit when I saw that, but I kind of like shepherding the trees from acorn to maturity.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Bananaizme on March 25, 2019, 10:34:38 PM
That Microkote is no joke by the way. Ive used it on hundreds of pots by now, and the root mass looks beautiful when repotting/ planting. I think 90% of my collection has Micrkote on their pots (not sponsored)

 Chris I totally agree with you about Micro-kote. I have just about everything grown in pots treated with it and when I do repot I notice a perfect rootball. I planted 90% of my mangos last year into 15 gallon painted with microkote and will bump into 25 gallon next year and do the same thing.

 William
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 27, 2019, 08:56:06 AM
Reed avocado tree has become a beast at 12'H X 8' wide, coming back from a frozen stump in March 2018. 3 thick trunks, just beginning to flower. Love the big, red new leaves. Gorgeous tree.  "Naked" cocktail cherimoya tree in the foreground, 3 varieties were from Behl, all took.  Side veneer and cleft. 

(https://i.postimg.cc/Fdtm5ScX/Reed-March26-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Fdtm5ScX)

(https://i.postimg.cc/TKppTryK/Reed-March26.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TKppTryK)

Nice size Ardith I grafted Sept. 2018 on the left, giant Atis sugar apple, newly plucked skeleton, Reed in the back.

(https://i.postimg.cc/fkCLXHm3/Reed-March26-3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fkCLXHm3)

Second Pinkerton graft to push, this one at a permanent installation.  Still waiting on another side veneer graft to push on this Bacon seedling rootstock.

(https://i.postimg.cc/ykWVR775/Pinkerton-March26.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ykWVR775)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: alangr088 on March 27, 2019, 11:47:38 AM
Reed avocado tree has become a beast at 12'H X 8' wide, coming back from a frozen stump in March 2018. 3 thick trunks, just beginning to flower. Love the big, red new leaves. Gorgeous tree.  "Naked" cocktail cherimoya tree in the foreground, 3 varieties were from Behl, all took.  Side veneer and cleft. 

(https://i.postimg.cc/Fdtm5ScX/Reed-March26-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Fdtm5ScX)

(https://i.postimg.cc/TKppTryK/Reed-March26.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TKppTryK)

Nice size Ardith I grafted Sept. 2018 on the left, giant Atis sugar apple, newly plucked skeleton, Reed in the back.

(https://i.postimg.cc/fkCLXHm3/Reed-March26-3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fkCLXHm3)

Second Pinkerton graft to push, this one at a permanent installation.  Still waiting on another side veneer graft to push on this Bacon seedling rootstock.

(https://i.postimg.cc/ykWVR775/Pinkerton-March26.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ykWVR775)


My Reed looks like that and it took it 4 years in ground to get that size. Pretty crazy growth...do you give it anything special?  Ive heard foliar feeding with Molasses, fish fertilizer, and seaweed makes trees grow fast.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on March 27, 2019, 02:42:27 PM
Mark your setup is really rockin it.  Your trees look amazing.  You using all rain water on those beauties?  How big is your rain catch?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 28, 2019, 08:11:01 AM
Mark your setup is really rockin it.  Your trees look amazing.  You using all rain water on those beauties?  How big is your rain catch?

Thanks man.  305 gal. tank.  Last time I watered I went thru 200 gals.  which was overkill.

Have a friendly hummingbird that hits on the citrus flowers.

(https://i.postimg.cc/w34090dM/Greenhouse.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/w34090dM)

Side veneer graft of the Pinkerton is pushing.  ;)  So far all grafts took and look great.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on March 28, 2019, 08:17:23 AM
My Reed looks like that and it took it 4 years in ground to get that size. Pretty crazy growth...do you give it anything special?  Ive heard foliar feeding with Molasses, fish fertilizer, and seaweed makes trees grow fast.

Nothing more than rainwater and either Polyon or Osmocote, 12 month release, high N.

This is what it looked like March 19, 2018.  It was 10' tall 7 months later.  I chose 3 of those shoots to become trunks which are going on 3" thick! 

(https://i.postimg.cc/DJ9QbYfP/Reed-March19.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DJ9QbYfP)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: hawkfish007 on March 31, 2019, 02:23:57 PM
Mark, when would be a good time to add more rootbuilder II sections to 5 are in use, or should I wait for it to grow substantially before adding more sections. This holiday has done nothing but to flower since I took it out of the ground and planted in a rootbuilder pot last November. I see some baby avocados as well. It was bought in a 3 gallon pot a month earlier.

(https://i.postimg.cc/0zXn89xX/1-B0-DB412-9830-4308-8900-9-D13-FBBDDA53.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0zXn89xX)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on April 01, 2019, 08:16:16 AM
Being that it doesn't have much of a canopy suggests it probably doesn't have much of a root system.   You could add 2 or more panels now or wait until next year.  Here's a few pot sizes based on # of panels:

4 panels = 15 gal.
5 = 20
6 = 30
8 = 55
10 = 100
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: hawkfish007 on April 01, 2019, 12:43:58 PM
Very handy panel to pot sizes, I read it somewhere in the back but couldn’t find it. What is the number of panels are using for your biggest tree in the greenhouse, and how tall and old is the tree? So I could be prepared for the future. Thanks.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on April 08, 2019, 11:37:48 AM
Ten panels on this Reed is the biggest.  Time to get out the loppers and ladder.  Grafted it in 2012. Froze back to a stub last year.  Has 3 trunks now.

(https://i.postimg.cc/G9HnnqNb/Reed-April8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/G9HnnqNb)

It's about time! I think I've had this Red Spanish about 2-3 years. Looks bad coming out of this winter's cold. All my pineapples do but they'll green up and hopefully fruit come by summer.

(https://i.postimg.cc/0MhWsdMN/Pineapple.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0MhWsdMN)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 03, 2019, 10:27:09 AM
Grafted last year to avocado shoots growing from a tree that froze back.  Lamb Hass, Sharwil, and Pinkerton.  Yes, it is holding a few fruits.  Tree is a good 7' X 7' with branches as thick as a broom stick.

(https://i.postimg.cc/NLmQyFBT/Frankencado-May3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NLmQyFBT)

(https://i.postimg.cc/FYRtxH5T/Frankencado-May3-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FYRtxH5T)

GEM grafted last fall. All 4 grafts took.  Sure is a slow grower.   Volunteer tomato plant is sprawling all over the greenhouse floor.  It's so thick I can't reach many of them.

(https://i.postimg.cc/qt2dNZdr/GEMMay3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qt2dNZdr)

Brad, hard to see but the side veneer graft, Pinkerton, on the left is doing well.  Cleft on the right.  Grafted to a Bacon seedling Jan. 28.

(https://i.postimg.cc/Bt6wywwv/Pinkerton-May3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Bt6wywwv)

Ardith, grafted last fall to a frozen back Gwen shoot that pushed is a good 7' tall.

(https://i.postimg.cc/LqPZnRXs/Ardith-May3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LqPZnRXs)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on May 03, 2019, 10:44:32 AM
Looks like your tree's with your grafting skill's are coming back Mark, nice job!! 8)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on May 03, 2019, 10:45:25 AM
Awesome man.  I tried a side vaneer on an in ground seed.  We'll see how it goes. 

I like the volunteers there.  Looks like a sunflower.  We have sunflower, tomato and watermelon popping up everywhere. 

Mark you should consider growing a banana plant in there.  They are really easy to grow and they would do awesome in a hot house protected from wind.  There are plenty of dwarf varieties out there that would easily fit in there. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 03, 2019, 11:12:45 AM
Awesome man.  I tried a side vaneer on an in ground seed.  We'll see how it goes. 

I like the volunteers there.  Looks like a sunflower.  We have sunflower, tomato and watermelon popping up everywhere. 

Mark you should consider growing a banana plant in there.  They are really easy to grow and they would do awesome in a hot house protected from wind.  There are plenty of dwarf varieties out there that would easily fit in there.

Morning Brad.  I have all kinds of volunteers beside the tomato plant - huge dill volunteers, legumes that pop up in the beds, sunflowers from years ago, weeds.....

I have 2 varieties of bananas.  Want to get a Blue Java.  With an 18' ceiling, not worried too much about dwarfs.  My Reed is getting so big I'm a bit worried.  I mean huge.  Lack of pollinators this year is really disgusting.  Don't know why either.

Also have a really cute, tiny dwarf pineapple that's fruiting.  Damn thing took the 18F and made it!  White Jade and Sugarloaf still look like crap.  Pineapples do not like temps below 45F and they're still showing it.

BTW, Frankie's Red is going on 6'.  Sugar is going nuts, etc.

Good luck with the side veneer.  Never had one fail, even on cherimoya.

Have a good one......
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 03, 2019, 11:20:29 AM
Looks like your tree's with your grafting skill's are coming back Mark, nice job!! 8)

Thanks Scott. Been a trip coming back from this disaster Jan. 2018.  I did 83 grafts last year, most on citrus.

(https://i.postimg.cc/5QzNqcj2/Greenhouse-Feb15.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5QzNqcj2)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on May 03, 2019, 11:26:05 AM
I'll pile on.  Everything looks great there Mark.  I'll post an update to my side-yard avocado project soon with updated pics.  The five avocados along the fence line seem to be doing well.  1 of 3 of my front-yard, now Surrounded, tree should make it.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 03, 2019, 11:28:03 AM
I'll pile on.  Everything looks great there Mark.  I'll post an update to my side-yard avocado project soon with updated pics.  The five avocados along the fence line seem to be doing well.  1 of 3 of my front-yard, now Surrounded, tree should make it.

Like to see the mischief you're up to.  :D
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: tve on May 03, 2019, 11:34:59 AM
I have 2 varieties of bananas.  Want to get a Blue Java.
Before you order that 'blue java' you may want to read http://www.bananas.org/f2/musa-ice-cream-blue-java-grow-48530.html, (http://www.bananas.org/f2/musa-ice-cream-blue-java-grow-48530.html,) especially the tasting notes a bit down the thread.
Also, unless you order from someone you really trust your chances of getting an actual Blue Java are slim, from what I'm reading...
(I don't know anything about bananas, I'm just starting to explore and order...)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on May 03, 2019, 11:42:04 AM
Mark, I have the real blue java and the imposter tall namwah plants.  Will send you one later.  The tall namwah agristart imposter is fruiting.  The real blue java is only 3 or 4 ft tall.  I just put it out on the hillside.  It should blow up and make some kids this summer.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 04, 2019, 07:14:02 AM
Mark, I have the real blue java and the imposter tall namwah plants.  Will send you one later.  The tall namwah agristart imposter is fruiting.  The real blue java is only 3 or 4 ft tall.  I just put it out on the hillside.  It should blow up and make some kids this summer.

Thanks for the kind offer!

Tve, thanks for the heads up.  I'm aware that that namwah is passed off as Blue Java.  Been a lot of messages on that one.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: SeaWalnut on May 04, 2019, 08:26:58 AM
Greenhouse is a work in progress - upgraded my greenhouse with replacement of Dyna-Glas Palram SolarSoft85 which was way too shady for a north facing roof, replaced north roof and roof vent with clear Lexan and installed a downward pointing HAF to get the heat collecting at the 18' peak back down to the ground.

(http://s33.postimg.cc/tuxs0qe0b/Clear_NRoof_Polycarb.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/tuxs0qe0b/)

(http://s33.postimg.cc/4el6g6pnv/North_Wall.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/4el6g6pnv/)
Great thread and a lot to learn from it.The copper paint for root prunning pots was a new one for me.I quoted the greenhouse to ask what are those 2 square  things on the exterior wall?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: carcarlo on May 04, 2019, 12:07:51 PM
Hi Mark do you grow any Annonas at all in the Green House, just wondering if the can take the cold in your area, inside the G. House.
Carlos
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 05, 2019, 10:05:34 AM
Hi Mark do you grow any Annonas at all in the Green House, just wondering if the can take the cold in your area, inside the G. House.
Carlos

I have a 2018 grafted cherimoya cocktail tree of Behl, Pierce, Campas and Sabor.  Giant Atis sugar apple and others.  They do fine.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 16, 2019, 07:56:08 AM
Well...I've had mounds of fire ants but nothing like this.  Obviously I have a leak at a manifold that services my greenhouse and turf irrigation system.  I noticed fire ants ON TOP of the plastic granite facade and thought....hmmmm, that's weird.  It was packed by so much ant engineered dirt, eggs, larvae, winged bastards from hell I struggled to get the top off. There's enough of them bastards to kill a horse!

This repair is NOT going to be fun.  :-\

(https://i.postimg.cc/LhMYHwRj/Fireants4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LhMYHwRj)

(https://i.postimg.cc/1fqjp82k/Fireants2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1fqjp82k)

Knocked down to stir them up and baited with Amdro.

(https://i.postimg.cc/75MDnsjr/Fireants3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/75MDnsjr)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on May 16, 2019, 11:19:32 AM
That's incredible.  How long did it take for them to build up that mound?  On the plus side, they're shading your PVC and manifold (I just had to replace mine).  Also, that "red-brown" dirt looks fine as coffee grinds.  How can you put it to use?!?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 17, 2019, 08:13:17 AM
That's incredible.  How long did it take for them to build up that mound?  On the plus side, they're shading your PVC and manifold (I just had to replace mine).  Also, that "red-brown" dirt looks fine as coffee grinds.  How can you put it to use?!?

Being that it was covered by the granite plastic facade I have no clue how long they've been building that nest.  I hope my permethrin drench got them yesterday.  The dirt is clay loam.  It's a bitch to work - hard as concrete when dry, gooey slop when wet but stuff in it grows like crazy.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Seanny on May 17, 2019, 05:21:24 PM
Last summer I had a fire ant problem.
I mixed borax with peanut butter and put the mixture on a credit card.
I set it by the mound.

I don't see any fire ant so far.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 18, 2019, 07:52:04 AM
Last summer I had a fire ant problem.
I mixed borax with peanut butter and put the mixture on a credit card.
I set it by the mound.

I don't see any fire ant so far.

Borax or boric acid is a stomach poison.  Good call.

I hit them with permethrin, my favorite all around pesticide, Tenguard brand.  Mound is dead.  There were thousands of larvae and thank gawd no leak!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 06, 2019, 10:56:41 AM
4 GEM grafts that pushed last year are finally taking off.
 
(https://i.postimg.cc/94ShwnzW/GEMJune6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/94ShwnzW)

A cocktail mango tree froze back to a stub last year but later put out shoots so I grafted Pineapple Pleasure, Juicy Peach and Orange Sherbet on it. Will leave the 3 PP hanging alone to ripen. I think the great, new canopy flush will be enough to support the fruit. Even though it has a high N Osmocote on it I hit it with a Peters 20-3-19 high iron food.  Still not sure why so many around here, pros and amateurs alike, push high K foods at the expense of N.

(https://i.postimg.cc/2qns3Spx/Pineapple-Pleasure-June6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2qns3Spx)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: simon_grow on June 06, 2019, 11:34:50 AM
Nice updates Mark. Pineapple Pleasure is an excellent fruit.

I’ve been telling people that flowering plants/fruit trees need Nitrogen for a long time but you have to be very careful about how much Nitrogen you add. For fruit trees, they need very low levels of Nitrogen compared to Potassium for fruit development. The K is used by the plant to grow the fruit and directly adds to the total soluble solids.

The Nitrogen will help to get larger blooms and help with fruit retention but too much Nitrogen will throw the tree off balance, especially during early flowering. Too much Nitrogen prior to flowering will increase leaf Nitrogen levels and above a specific threshold, it can actually inhibit flowering and promote vegetative growth.

Each type of plant has its own specific Nitrogen threshold. Lychees in particular are especially sensitive to this and even after fruit set, too much Nitrogen combined with heavy rains can cause entire loss of crop at the expense of vegetative growth.

I forget what the threshold leaf Nitrogen levels are for Mangos but I’m sure I posted it somewhere on the form before.

Simon
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: SeaWalnut on June 06, 2019, 04:48:01 PM
Ive just read that the red colored leaves are because of too much N and to little P.Something about the sugars in the leaf that causes this.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 07, 2019, 08:06:27 AM
Nice updates Mark. Pineapple Pleasure is an excellent fruit.

I’ve been telling people that flowering plants/fruit trees need Nitrogen for a long time but you have to be very careful about how much Nitrogen you add. For fruit trees, they need very low levels of Nitrogen compared to Potassium for fruit development. The K is used by the plant to grow the fruit and directly adds to the total soluble solids.

The Nitrogen will help to get larger blooms and help with fruit retention but too much Nitrogen will throw the tree off balance, especially during early flowering. Too much Nitrogen prior to flowering will increase leaf Nitrogen levels and above a specific threshold, it can actually inhibit flowering and promote vegetative growth.

Each type of plant has its own specific Nitrogen threshold. Lychees in particular are especially sensitive to this and even after fruit set, too much Nitrogen combined with heavy rains can cause entire loss of crop at the expense of vegetative growth.

I forget what the threshold leaf Nitrogen levels are for Mangos but I’m sure I posted it somewhere on the form before.

Simon

Hi Simon,

Right now I'm pushing for growth so they're getting what everything is getting either my old Polyon 18-4-9 or Osmocote Indoor/Outdoor which is also high N food.   The fact I got a few fruits hanging is a blessing.  It set a lot.  I do have potassium sulphate and gypsum which I add to the pots as a supplement.  I have no scientific basis to go on, just TFF anecdotal evidence because "everyone is doing it".  I've seen video orchard walk throughs where it was noted that some mature trees had no fruit at all out of dozens.... I was shocked.  Har and 2 ladies were in that interview, you might have seen it. They were discussing some of the Zill varieties.  My citrus is getting leggy but I blame that on a lack of light.  I need to blast the mildew and dirt off the covering.

Seawalnut, that is correct in most cases.  Avocados are different.  Those that are pure Guatemalan or hybrids always have reddish juvenile leaves.  All my mature leaves are green.

P is the most abused macro out there.  I got away from the high "bloom" P foods like 15-30-15 many years ago and only use low P foods. Citrus for example prefers a 5-1-3 NPK ratio and that's confirmed by tissue analysis.  Vendors are selling what they think you want to believe or hear when it comes to "bloom" or "rooting" foods, not what the plant performs best with.  Most soils are void of N. I would think that includes all Florida soils.


Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: SeaWalnut on June 07, 2019, 09:04:51 PM
Most soils are void of N because it leaves the soil into the atmosphere.Its a gas after all,while Phosphorus its a solid that stays .The ph its most likely a problem with the P because from 6 to lower it becomes non available for plants and you can fed as much P as you want but the plants will still starve of it.But for mango where you add gipsum and lime to raise the ph that shouldnt be a problem.
I use high N fertiliser also,10-1-4 ,urine and the otther fertiliser i use a lot is wood ash 0-1-4 NPK. But i have somme  almonds growing really red in verry poore soil and im thinking to add a little P fertiliser for them. Might plant Gevuina instead of those almonds since its a plant that need verry low P ( it can actually kill it if its too much).
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 08, 2019, 09:23:31 AM
Most soils are void of N because it leaves the soil into the atmosphere.Its a gas after all,while Phosphorus its a solid that stays .The ph its most likely a problem with the P because from 6 to lower it becomes non available for plants and you can fed as much P as you want but the plants will still starve of it.But for mango where you add gipsum and lime to raise the ph that shouldnt be a problem.
I use high N fertiliser also,10-1-4 ,urine and the otther fertiliser i use a lot is wood ash 0-1-4 NPK. But i have somme  almonds growing really red in verry poore soil and im thinking to add a little P fertiliser for them. Might plant Gevuina instead of those almonds since its a plant that need verry low P ( it can actually kill it if its too much).

Be careful with the urine.  Outside is OK because of rain leeching it.  I killed my precious Sharwil avocado tree by peeing into the pot.  Our urine contains salts that can build up.

Get a leaf tissue analysis done and find out what you're working with. 

Wood ash is highly caustic.

My greenhouse soils have a pH of around 6.0, rainwater runs 5.3 because of anerobic organics "fermenting". 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on June 08, 2019, 10:07:40 AM
Mark, I snapped this pic of my young nabal tree for you.  The tree was planted about 1.5 years ago.  Its got a really nice christmas tree shape and strong (very thick) upright branches.  Nice looking tree.  I grafted another one onto an in ground seedling.  This will make a good one to hang other varieties onto if you wanted to do that.


(https://i.postimg.cc/FYCHxwsB/20190605-112540.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FYCHxwsB)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: SeaWalnut on June 08, 2019, 07:19:26 PM
Most soils are void of N because it leaves the soil into the atmosphere.Its a gas after all,while Phosphorus its a solid that stays .The ph its most likely a problem with the P because from 6 to lower it becomes non available for plants and you can fed as much P as you want but the plants will still starve of it.But for mango where you add gipsum and lime to raise the ph that shouldnt be a problem.
I use high N fertiliser also,10-1-4 ,urine and the otther fertiliser i use a lot is wood ash 0-1-4 NPK. But i have somme  almonds growing really red in verry poore soil and im thinking to add a little P fertiliser for them. Might plant Gevuina instead of those almonds since its a plant that need verry low P ( it can actually kill it if its too much).

Be careful with the urine.  Outside is OK because of rain leeching it.  I killed my precious Sharwil avocado tree by peeing into the pot.  Our urine contains salts that can build up.

Get a leaf tissue analysis done and find out what you're working with. 

Wood ash is highly caustic.

My greenhouse soils have a pH of around 6.0, rainwater runs 5.3 because of anerobic organics "fermenting".
I dilute the urine 10:1.The salts are not a problem ,most plants and the microorganisms from the pot actually need them and the excess salts disolve and leave the soil.
At 5-6 ph you have problems with the phosphorus because its inavailable for plants in acidic soil.
Wood ash has a ph @9 and its a good supplement especially for a pot because it disolves with water and spreads easily.In case you need higher ph its a good idea to use it.
From our discussion ,thinking to recomend you a good source of P i got an idea on how to get /make probably the best phosphorus fertiliser ever ,but i opened a new thread because it looks a bit like a crazy idea and probably a sensitive subject.Its called ,,best P fertiliser,, .
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 09, 2019, 07:43:43 AM
Mark, I snapped this pic of my young nabal tree for you.  The tree was planted about 1.5 years ago.  Its got a really nice christmas tree shape and strong (very thick) upright branches.  Nice looking tree.  I grafted another one onto an in ground seedling.  This will make a good one to hang other varieties onto if you wanted to do that.


(https://i.postimg.cc/FYCHxwsB/20190605-112540.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FYCHxwsB)

Looks great.  Thanks for sharing. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 15, 2019, 08:28:52 AM
Cocktail mango grafted last year to shoots that came back from a Mallika stub that took a 18F freeze - Juicy Peach, Pineapple Pleasure, Orange Sherbet. Fruit is PP. Was loaded, dropped the rest. Other new/young mango trees/grafts in the greenhouse are Glenn, Pickering, Lemon Zest, Fruit Punch.

(https://i.postimg.cc/Z9w4nc3W/Cocktail-Mango-PP-JP-OS-June14.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z9w4nc3W)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 15, 2019, 09:01:17 AM
Reed got a major haircut yesterday.  Before:


(https://i.postimg.cc/NLGSQz6t/Reed-June14-Before.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NLGSQz6t)

(https://i.postimg.cc/VdCRwqV1/Reed-June14-Before-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VdCRwqV1)

After:

(https://i.postimg.cc/6yJZdDMJ/Reed-June14-After.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6yJZdDMJ)

Sprawling tomato volunteer has been producing since last fall.

Greenhouse stuff - Ardith avocado center, Reed left, Frankencado on the right back.  Has Sharwil, Jan Boyce, Pinkerton and Lamb Hass.

(https://i.postimg.cc/VSYp5GxX/Greenhouse-June14.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VSYp5GxX)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 10, 2019, 09:55:43 AM
Update....

Sharwil was grafted last year on Oro Negro that froze back.  Has one branch of Lamb Hass too. I expect a heavy bloom next year.

(https://i.postimg.cc/64V7Nbtd/Sharwil-Oct6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/64V7Nbtd)

Ardith, grafted last Sept. to a frozen back Gwen.  Now about 8'.  Again, next season should be  a heavy bloom.  GEM on the left. 

(https://i.postimg.cc/yWnvq7Yp/Ardith-Oct6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yWnvq7Yp)


Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 10, 2019, 10:00:08 AM
Cocktail mango tipped, big time hardening off the new flush.  Was another total loss last year, scions grafted  onto the Mallika shoots that pushed March 2018.  Should harden off soon with some cold fronts coming, low 40's.  4 mango trees doing really well - Glenn, Lemon Zest, Orange Sherbet, Fruit Punch, Pickering, Pineapple Pleasure, Juicy Peach.
 
(https://i.postimg.cc/hX7GWPg9/Cocktail-Mango-PP-JP-OS-Oct6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hX7GWPg9)

Reed pruned hard.  Bet I removed 40# of wood.

(https://i.postimg.cc/Z9Nt5CDL/Reed-Pruned-Hard-Sept24.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z9Nt5CDL)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on October 11, 2019, 07:40:33 AM
Everything is looking great.  What was the reason for the heavy prune on Reed?  Just getting too tall for your space?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 11, 2019, 09:08:31 AM
Everything is looking great.  What was the reason for the heavy prune on Reed?  Just getting too tall for your space?

Thanks.  Crazy comeback after the Jan. 2018 which turned everything dead or into stumps. 

Have pruned this Reed at least 3X since that freeze because of its vigor.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on October 11, 2019, 10:54:06 AM
Cant wait to see your blooms and fruit set in 6 months mark.  Keep it up, keep that heater working. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 11, 2019, 01:52:36 PM
Cant wait to see your blooms and fruit set in 6 months mark.  Keep it up, keep that heater working.

Hell ya.  BTW, area went from another heat record of 99F in Austin yesterday to 42F now on our farm due west, 1:00 p.m., gusty winds.  That's Texas weather for you.   ::)

Austin had the hottest Sept. on record.  Thanks to our "cool" micro climate the farm never hit 100F.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on October 11, 2019, 04:08:32 PM
Beauty, we hardly broke 100 here this summer.  Last years crazy heat was a bust for my avocados.  Trees are loaded here this year though.  They are still self thinning.  Ive got piles of dropped avocados under the trees and trees are still full of hangers!  The next year or so is looking promising.  Hope 2021 brings you the same. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 12, 2019, 09:24:49 AM
Beauty, we hardly broke 100 here this summer.  Last years crazy heat was a bust for my avocados.  Trees are loaded here this year though.  They are still self thinning.  Ive got piles of dropped avocados under the trees and trees are still full of hangers!  The next year or so is looking promising.  Hope 2021 brings you the same.

That success is just crazy, good.   Good luck with next year!

I had most of my Reed avocados blow off, only have 20 hanging now.

Greenhouse had a record of 112F and most days were over 100F in between my showers.   Surprisingly the stuff that really didn't like it was the citrus. Am loaded but the leaves showed moisture stress more often than not.   I've got lots of different varieties or oranges coming on - Marrs (some SoCal dudes call this Texas Sweet), Calamondin, Cara Cara, Hamlin, bloods, Valencia and a ton of limes and lemons.




Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on October 12, 2019, 03:07:01 PM
20 reeds is a ton for a tree that size. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: knlim000 on October 12, 2019, 03:24:23 PM
Mark from Texas,
your freeze in 2018 is a blessing in disguise.  Probably better for the trees that survived near death experience. Now, they are acclimated to it and can probably go thru many more cold freezes later on. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 13, 2019, 09:08:41 AM
20 reeds is a ton for a tree that size.

Really, that makes me feel better.  In the past its held at least double that.

Can't wait to see the Sharwil next year.  I topped it at 8' and it's holding a ton of foliage.  The old one was like 5' and bore heavy.  Love that tree - great taste,  small seed, easy to peel, hangs forever.

(https://i.postimg.cc/7JYVVgGF/Sharwil-Fruit-Feb.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7JYVVgGF)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 13, 2019, 09:16:32 AM
Mark from Texas,
your freeze in 2018 is a blessing in disguise.  Probably better for the trees that survived near death experience. Now, they are acclimated to it and can probably go thru many more cold freezes later on.

Well, the 18F must have been very short cause every one of the trees that made "is not cold hardy".  ;D 
Glad my trees can't read.

I need to emphasize again that what induces cold hardiness is:

1. Being well watered and acclimated to the extreme cold for a day or two before the big one hits,
2. Older, dark woody bark
3. Dormant - no plant food months prior.
4. "Warm" micro climate. What helped me was a micro climate induced by a thick low hanging canopy and a very thick mulch of pine needles and leaf litter.  I rake the leaves and top off my mango, avocado, citrus beds with them. This very important "natural" forest condition is too often ignored by gardeners.

I pity the avocado grower that has to have the "clean" look under and around their trees.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 02, 2019, 08:38:56 AM
Well well, this is a first! 😋 Knowing I'd lose an outside mater I took about 5 cuttings of Big Beef, a wonderful AAS winner, stuck them in a RootTone rooting cup and it worked, ROOTS! 😱 One is keeping an Ardith avocado tree company and another is temporarily tented in a pot. I'll let them sprawl on the greenhouse floor.

I tried in vain to root cherimoya cuttings with these cups.
 
(https://i.postimg.cc/DWsV1B77/Tomato-Cutting.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DWsV1B77)

(https://i.postimg.cc/Lqq9wtRW/Tomato-Cutting-3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Lqq9wtRW)

(https://i.postimg.cc/N9DgZBLN/Tomato-Cutting-4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/N9DgZBLN)

Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on November 02, 2019, 12:15:51 PM
Hi Mark, that's neat.  Though, from my experience with over-winter indoor grow labs of Dwarf Heirloom varieties (with ~$1000 in LED lighting, etc.), indoor tomatoes are hard to fruit, and what comes out is never as good as their sun-kissed peers.  But maybe you're just playing around.  If you really want to take it to the next level, look into grafting tomatoes.  That was a necessity for me with my Fusarium/Verticilium infested dirt.  If you're interested about any of that, you can reference my and others blogs on tomatoville.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 03, 2019, 06:53:29 AM
Hi Mark, that's neat.  Though, from my experience with over-winter indoor grow labs of Dwarf Heirloom varieties (with ~$1000 in LED lighting, etc.), indoor tomatoes are hard to fruit, and what comes out is never as good as their sun-kissed peers.  But maybe you're just playing around.  If you really want to take it to the next level, look into grafting tomatoes.  That was a necessity for me with my Fusarium/Verticilium infested dirt.  If you're interested about any of that, you can reference my and others blogs on tomatoville.

Every year I get volunteer tomatoes from a BHN 589 I planted years ago.  Last year I had one that sprawled on the dirt, bore heavily. It literally took up 1/3 of the greenhouse floor.  Since they're vines this works out well for me. I do have problems with some disease but it's not much.

This was Feb. 14 of this year.  Had been fruiting for months. By the time I got sick of it and pulled it, about June, it had doubled in size.

(https://i.postimg.cc/0rY2SpCG/Tomato-Feb14-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0rY2SpCG)

Thanks for the invite, that's how you get good is networking.  One of my docs grafts tomatoes.  I don't have the patience considering they're an annual.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on November 03, 2019, 11:18:14 AM
Yeah, I have volunteers like that popping up here and there on my 30% grade 1/3 acre north-facing hillside.  The chickens take care of the low hanging fruit, and if I'm ever working on the hill in summer, I might pop a few.  The smaller varieties always seems to out-compete the beefier.  The only issue I have with letting a tomato sprawl is that it takes up so much more space for growing other tomatoes, and its much harder to harvest.  If you have ground running rodents, they're more likely to snag the fruit as well.  It is fun, though, to let them alone and get fruit for what seems like "free."

I stopped grafting my tomatoes two years back because it was such a heavy time and effort investment.  I have 20% worse tasting tomatoes now, but there are still some decent hybrids with resistance to my soil fungi you can find coming out of Japan and a few good ones that have worked up through the states.  Have a good day sir!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on November 03, 2019, 11:46:49 AM
It seems like all my volunteers make medium sized red tomatos.  Its strange because I never grew any like that.  We only grow cherry tomato or big heirlooms. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on November 03, 2019, 11:51:43 AM
Sounds like you created your own natural hybrid of the two.

Here's an enormous thread on growing tomatoes indoors overwinter, but there's so much more to find there:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=19860 (http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=19860)

Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on November 03, 2019, 12:13:35 PM
Sounds like you created your own natural hybrid of the two.

Here's an enormous thread on growing tomatoes indoors overwinter, but there's so much more to find there:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=19860 (http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=19860)

I think Mark is growing the tomatos in his greenhouse during winter not inside his house. 

Tomatos are very cool.  Ive got a nice performing one thats still putting out big tomatos.  Its a "big rainbow" from baker creek.  Definitely will be growing that one again.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 04, 2019, 07:56:47 AM
As vines maters sprawl across the greenhouse dirt floor the way they were meant to be.
 
Will check out that Big Rainbow variety.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 04, 2019, 07:58:57 AM
It seems like all my volunteers make medium sized red tomatos.  Its strange because I never grew any like that.  We only grow cherry tomato or big heirlooms.

Juliet is my favorite.  Big tomato taste, unreal production, big grape mater.  Picking cherries is like picking 100's of small marbles.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on January 04, 2020, 07:32:20 AM
From my farm to the table.  Have been picking 100's of citrus for months.  Here's just a sample some from close to 100 grafts I did since the Jan. 2018 freeze. 

Now, why in the hell is Sugarloaf finishing in January! 2 on one plant too. Meyer lemon, oranges as big as grapefruits, Persian lime, key lime, etc.

(https://i.postimg.cc/gX3vYpYy/Citrus-Jan3-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gX3vYpYy)

Pineapple pots are loaded with pups, especially the white varieties.

(https://i.postimg.cc/hXwyvSqN/Pineapples-Jan3-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hXwyvSqN)

(https://i.postimg.cc/K1Kfddgf/Pineapples-Jan3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/K1Kfddgf)

Reed holding 20 fruit.

(https://i.postimg.cc/nMnRSSVj/ReedJan3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nMnRSSVj)

Meyer lemon on Flying Dragon.  Looks like hell but it's loaded and the quality is excellent.   Leaf drop and new leaf output comes soon.

(https://i.postimg.cc/Z9HWjqKM/Meyer-Jan3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z9HWjqKM)

I expect a very heavy bloom set on citrus, cocktail mangos, and the avodados - Sharwil, Lamb, GEM, Ardith, Reed, Pinkerton and an Oro Negro branch that pushed.    Sharwil and ON are B types, the rest A. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on January 05, 2020, 05:06:14 PM
Mark, those pineapples look delicious.  How cold can they get and produce well?  Do you have a thread detailing how you propagate them year to year?  I wasn't able to find any avocados hiding in your Reed pic, but I'm sure they're there.

Nice work!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on January 06, 2020, 07:32:00 AM
Mark, those pineapples look delicious.  How cold can they get and produce well?  Do you have a thread detailing how you propagate them year to year?  I wasn't able to find any avocados hiding in your Reed pic, but I'm sure they're there.

Nice work!

Howdy!  After the 18F hit I thought all pineapples were gone so I threw about half on the burn pile ignoring the rest.  Well, they were fine as the growing point was insulated.   So if the hard freeze is brief they are cold hardy.  Mine "enjoy" 35F low often.  Having said that they really don't like temps below 45F.  Watering more than once a month induces root rot.

No thread.  Google is your friend.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on January 06, 2020, 12:26:17 PM
Mark, looks like I've got a new mission to accept.  Maybe I'll save this one for 2021.  I'll probably DM you some more questions down the line.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: zephian on January 06, 2020, 01:12:50 PM
Mark, looks like I've got a new mission to accept.  Maybe I'll save this one for 2021.  I'll probably DM you some more questions down the line.  Thanks!
I got a few pineapples going and popped them in my 'cheap' greenhouse for the cold season but they are doing fairly well here. Some tip damage but holding up well. If my phone is cooperating ill snap some pics and send them to you later.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on January 07, 2020, 07:37:39 AM
Are these pots similar to superoots? Your plants are so healthy thanks

I guess.  Science behind it is to terminate the root tips with exposure to air/light which induces root branching behind the tip.  Same principle as tipping/topping above ground.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on January 07, 2020, 07:39:25 AM
If my phone is cooperating ill snap some pics and send them to you later.

Feel free to post them here.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: zephian on January 07, 2020, 10:11:30 AM
If my phone is cooperating ill snap some pics and send them to you later.

Feel free to post them here.
(https://i.postimg.cc/LqTgkKx8/20200106-163857.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LqTgkKx8)

(https://i.postimg.cc/56Yzhr2s/20200106-163901.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/56Yzhr2s)

(https://i.postimg.cc/JsjknBJJ/20200106-163910.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JsjknBJJ)

(https://i.postimg.cc/Cz38S4ZS/20200106-163917.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Cz38S4ZS)
One of my 'better' looking starfruit seedlings.

(https://i.postimg.cc/B8s11Qcz/20200106-163933.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/B8s11Qcz)
Muntingia Calabura (Moved inside last night. Pretty damaged)

(https://i.postimg.cc/NLPTPtBy/20200106-163943.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NLPTPtBy)

(https://i.postimg.cc/xqdMR8DD/20200106-163946.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xqdMR8DD)
Looks like this last week hasn't been to kind. My neighbours dogs keep tearing through my fence and digging up my garden and apparently put a hole in my greenhouse. yay. Now my pineapples appear to be 'surviving' but not thriving. I do not provide any supplemental heat as we usually only dip below freezing for short periods.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on January 07, 2020, 11:19:09 AM
Kris, those buds seem to be hanging on well enough.  Where are you and Mark getting your starter material?  I know you can use the store bought ones, but I bet there are better options (at some cost).  Thanks, Naysen
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: zephian on January 07, 2020, 11:26:28 AM
I got the larger ones from Brad (Spaugh) and the smaller two are agristarts from baker creek.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on January 07, 2020, 11:27:51 AM
Well Springs Nursery.

Zephian, that just sucks!  Hope things get more friendly around your place.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on January 07, 2020, 11:41:35 AM
Thanks for the pointers.  I don't know what's worse the immediate damage an invading canine can wrought on a garden, or the slow, life-sucking extraction that invading roots from an adjacent neighbor's trees can apply.  I hope you can patch up the hole for good.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on January 07, 2020, 11:47:02 AM
Suckers, slips, offsets from a mature pineapple plant grow way better than tissue cultures.  I've got so many pineapples its filled my greenhouse up.  Simon's yard was full of them so he brought a ton over here and I've been collecting more types from various online vendors.  They are a fun and easy plant to grow but they get huge, you will need a decent size GH to grow them in. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: zephian on January 07, 2020, 11:48:42 AM
Well Springs Nursery.

Zephian, that just sucks!  Hope things get more friendly around your place.
I will be putting wire fencing on my side for now. I can't complain too much as the previous owners of my place could not afford a fence so technically, the fence is the nieghbours.. I lost several papaya, moringa and all my fall vegetables from these dogs already.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: zephian on January 07, 2020, 11:56:11 AM
Suckers, slips, offsets from a mature pineapple plant grow way better than tissue cultures.  I've got so many pineapples its filled my greenhouse up.  Simon's yard was full of them so he brought a ton over here and I've been collecting more types from various online vendors.  They are a fun and easy plant to grow but they get huge, you will need a decent size GH to grow them in.
You're not kidding. There is a huge difference. I believe I got mine from baker creek during one of their charity events so I don't mind waiting. The three I got from you are huge. I expect they will be very happy to be replanted in a bigger pot this spring. Once I have a couple offsets of my own I am going to experiment growing them against a wall outside.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on January 07, 2020, 12:10:33 PM
I think you will need to keep them protected from rain or you will get a lot of dieback.  They rot really easily if it's cold and wet outside.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on January 07, 2020, 02:26:26 PM
I am to pineapples as the crazy cat lady is to cats :P

(https://i.postimg.cc/8F1JrFpW/20200107-104019.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8F1JrFpW)

(https://i.postimg.cc/ftyVB60R/20200107-104243.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ftyVB60R)

(https://i.postimg.cc/QVp3vfk8/20191229-131022.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QVp3vfk8)

(https://i.postimg.cc/G8DCLQWj/20191229-132652.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/G8DCLQWj)

(https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/429/e44.jpg)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on January 16, 2020, 04:14:19 PM
Wow Brad!  Time to grill some pineapple with a good ribeye.

.. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: SeaWalnut on January 16, 2020, 04:58:25 PM
Wow Brad!  Time to grill some pineapple with a good ribeye.

..

Thats the main reason for me to buy pineaples altough its a good fruit ( sometimes i think it beats mango).
Ive just started to grow them and tomorrow il go buy another pineaple with somme steak but ,i got tired of rib eye and will try to pick the oldest and toughest possible piece of steak,possibly from the leg and preferably from an animal that was close to die from old age.
Toughest steak from oldest animal tastes better in my opinion and the pineapple puree makes it edible( tenderises it).
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: lebmung on January 16, 2020, 05:15:11 PM

Toughest steak from oldest animal tastes better in my opinion and the pineapple puree makes it edible( tenderises it).
[/quote]

Green papaya or babaco makes the meat very tender
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: SeaWalnut on January 16, 2020, 05:37:27 PM

Toughest steak from oldest animal tastes better in my opinion and the pineapple puree makes it edible( tenderises it).

Green papaya or babaco makes the meat very tender
[/quote]
Ive read about that and also about kivi but i never used it because the pineaple its enough for me and allready too much.I soak the meat for an hour and it becomes soo tender that falls apart when i turn it upsidedown in the pan.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on January 16, 2020, 08:12:37 PM

Sounds great  Buying prime works for us.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on February 03, 2020, 03:40:24 PM
We cut this one yesterday.  Its a del monte gold plant that Simon gave us a year or so ago.

(https://i.postimg.cc/s1LjGyZr/20200202-142632.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/s1LjGyZr)

(https://i.postimg.cc/crYSK3SR/20200202-142825.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/crYSK3SR)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: beicadad on February 05, 2020, 05:26:20 PM
We cut this one yesterday.  Its a del monte gold plant that Simon gave us a year or so ago.

(https://i.postimg.cc/s1LjGyZr/20200202-142632.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/s1LjGyZr)

(https://i.postimg.cc/crYSK3SR/20200202-142825.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/crYSK3SR)

Brad the piney looks so good. Let’s us know how it tastes.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on February 05, 2020, 07:37:28 PM
It tastes just like a good store bought fruit.  Nice and juicy and flavorful/sweet. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on February 06, 2020, 04:44:50 PM
We cut this one yesterday.  Its a del monte gold plant that Simon gave us a year or so ago.

(https://i.postimg.cc/s1LjGyZr/20200202-142632.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/s1LjGyZr)

(https://i.postimg.cc/crYSK3SR/20200202-142825.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/crYSK3SR)

That is a beaute.  I've cut 2 recently, gold and "ripe" and both were sour as hell.  I believe they are supposed to be White Jade or Sugarloaf too but I doubt it.  Flesh was yellow with big cores.

All my store bought twistees have been excellent.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 24, 2020, 09:26:48 AM
5" of rain coming our way via a low moving out of SoCal?   Let 'er rip! Me and an old German boy gotter done in spite of my fear and hate climbing ladders. Will interconnect the 2 tanks at the bottom outlets, feed the trees and a new AquaFog cooling unit. Lifting that heavy pipe, gluing and sticking the el's was lotsa fun at my age. 🤪🤪🤪

Doing an experiment on 4 caged tomatoes - full east sun until 2 p.m., 7 gal. RootBuilder pots sitting over a fracture that was ripped 2' deep.

(https://i.postimg.cc/qzfqmH6X/Tanks-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qzfqmH6X)

(https://i.postimg.cc/y3KqZjW9/Tanks.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/y3KqZjW9)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Kevin Jones on May 24, 2020, 09:41:25 AM
Mark,
That is one beautiful greenhouse set-up you have there.
Good luck!

Kevin Jones

Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 24, 2020, 10:52:49 AM
Mark,
That is one beautiful greenhouse set-up you have there.
Good luck!

Kevin Jones

Thanks.  Been a lot of hard work but also very rewarding.  For example I clipped cuttings of Big Beef the day before a hard freeze took out my garden last November. Using gel rooting cups rooted a few, stuck one in a 5 gal. pot the other in with an Ardith avocado tree.  Been growing Big Beef tomatoes for years, it's as good as it gets regarding everything that matters in a medium to large red slicer. Productive under all kinds of Texas conditions, no cracking, no cat facing (no waste), no blossom end rot a rich sweet taste and good acid profile. This is what high quality fruit breeding is all about.


(https://i.postimg.cc/q6gMvnM2/Big-Beeftomatoes.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/q6gMvnM2)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Seanny on May 24, 2020, 04:06:54 PM
Those black tanks would be good to store heat.
No room inside for those tanks?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: SeaWalnut on May 24, 2020, 04:15:17 PM
Nice project.
Hope the expensive fan fogger works well for you and you get enough rain to sustain your cooling sistem.
RO water is also an option in case its needed and if you can afford to buy that fan you can afford to pay the water from the RO installation also :D.
Or polyphosphate filter better wich will stain your plant leaves but we do that with foliar fertiliser anyway.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 24, 2020, 04:53:04 PM
Those black tanks would be good to store heat.
No room inside for those tanks?

Real estate is too expensive for water storage.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on May 24, 2020, 04:54:51 PM
Nice project.
Hope the expensive fan fogger works well for you and you get enough rain to sustain your cooling sistem.
RO water is also an option in case its needed and if you can afford to buy that fan you can afford to pay the water from the RO installation also :D.
Or polyphosphate filter better wich will stain your plant leaves but we do that with foliar fertiliser anyway.

R/O is not an option, this after checking all kinds of ways to make it happen.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 21, 2020, 07:49:46 AM
Ate a Reed that got blown off the tree a week ago. It was rich and ripe enough such that the seed was sprouting, a first for Reed and so early in the season. Got the seed in water.


(https://i.postimg.cc/ZBtjV3vC/Reed-Fruit-June21.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZBtjV3vC)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on June 21, 2020, 01:31:04 PM
That's very cool Mark.  Do you graft onto many seeds like that one.  If you could get a healthy mother plant, how much room do you really have for more trees?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 21, 2020, 02:17:52 PM
That's very cool Mark.  Do you graft onto many seeds like that one.  If you could get a healthy mother plant, how much room do you really have for more trees?

I graft on whatever I can get.  I expect a new Jan Boyce graft to take on a seedling and will remove a 12' to make room for it.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on June 21, 2020, 04:26:07 PM
Ate a Reed that got blown off the tree a week ago. It was rich and ripe enough such that the seed was sprouting, a first for Reed and so early in the season. Got the seed in water.


(https://i.postimg.cc/ZBtjV3vC/Reed-Fruit-June21.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZBtjV3vC)

Nice Mark, your reeds are a little earlier than here.  Extra heat from the GH. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on June 27, 2020, 10:38:27 AM
Nice Mark, your reeds are a little earlier than here.  Extra heat from the GH.

I guess.  Another fell off.

(https://i.postimg.cc/YLCg6Gxj/Reed-June24.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YLCg6Gxj)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: tve on July 01, 2020, 12:23:01 AM
We cut this one yesterday.  Its a del monte gold plant that Simon gave us a year or so ago.

(https://i.postimg.cc/s1LjGyZr/20200202-142632.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/s1LjGyZr)

(https://i.postimg.cc/crYSK3SR/20200202-142825.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/crYSK3SR)

Brad the piney looks so good. Let’s us know how it tastes.
Nice pineapple! What size pot do they fruit in?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 01, 2020, 08:20:54 AM
Nice pineapple! What size pot do they fruit in?

3 gallon for me.  Am really disappointed in Sugar Loaf and White Jade.  One is fruiting now after about 2 years and all they seem to want to do is throw pups.  Never seen so many.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: tve on July 01, 2020, 11:03:07 AM
That sounds small, interesting... Could the proliferation of pups have to do with the pot size?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 01, 2020, 11:54:29 AM
That sounds small, interesting... Could the proliferation of pups have to do with the pot size?

nope
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on July 01, 2020, 02:06:29 PM
I use a 7 gallon on the white jades and the plant gets giant.  They usually make about 4 or 5 pups at the base and another 4 or 5 along the stem and under the fruit. 

The one in the pic is a smaller commercial type plant in 5gal.

T
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 01, 2020, 05:20:34 PM
I use a 7 gallon on the white jades and the plant gets giant.  They usually make about 4 or 5 pups at the base and another 4 or 5 along the stem and under the fruit. 

The one in the pic is a smaller commercial type plant in 5gal.

T

I like the Del Monte Golds better.  Got 2 "twistees" from Costa Rica started. Fruit was unreal.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: ScottR on July 01, 2020, 07:23:50 PM
Beautiful pineapple Mark, we had a big White Jade a week ago was sweet an delicious right through the core all totally edible except  skin of course ;) I had it in squat 7-gal pot too!
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 02, 2020, 10:13:20 AM
Beautiful pineapple Mark, we had a big White Jade a week ago was sweet an delicious right through the core all totally edible except  skin of course ;) I had it in squat 7-gal pot too!

Wow, how nice!  I don't know what I'm doing wrong.  Guess I need to get it out of those small pots.  BTW the fruit also has a lot of plant pups on it.  Need to get a picture......
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 03, 2020, 07:50:58 AM
Here's a Sugar Loaf, big mess of pups.  Notice the 2 little pups shooting off the fruit too!  I think I'll stick to store bought DelMonte twistees.  They put off excellent fruit a year or so ahead of the white ones. 


(https://i.postimg.cc/sBNq7D4q/Pineapples-July2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sBNq7D4q)


(https://i.postimg.cc/zHncswYY/Pineapples-July2-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zHncswYY)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Orkine on July 03, 2020, 03:50:33 PM
My experience is similar to yours.  Mine do fruit but the fruit stay small and the plant throws all kinds of pups.
Were I in the pup selling business, it will the the goose that laid the golden egg.
But I want to eat some pineapples.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 04, 2020, 09:11:22 AM
My experience is similar to yours.  Mine do fruit but the fruit stay small and the plant throws all kinds of pups.
Were I in the pup selling business, it will the the goose that laid the golden egg.
But I want to eat some pineapples.

I get some pretty big ones off twistees.  So I have to core, big deal.  They are sweet, smell rich, just great.

(https://i.postimg.cc/QHYtmFnh/Pineapple-2-July30.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QHYtmFnh)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on July 04, 2020, 10:21:43 AM
Where did you guys get the WJ plants?  The tissue culture plants ts seem to be much weaker growers and make more pups than plants started from offsets. 

They can make big pineapples, I've got one outside that's bigger than any store fruit I've ever seen.  Will snap a pic later today. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on July 04, 2020, 03:18:24 PM
White jade (looks same as kauai sugar loaf to me) in 7gal pot.

I noticed your SL leaves are serrated too Mark, the white ones have smooth leaves that turn red. 


(https://i.postimg.cc/8jT0yBhV/20200704-110746.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8jT0yBhV)


(https://i.postimg.cc/qgJFwxcH/20200704-110913.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qgJFwxcH)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 07, 2020, 09:17:54 AM
Thanks Brad. I got Sugarloaf from a friend, pups.  White Jade came from Wellsprings Gardens.  Looks like I just got dogs.  One of them fruited in winter.  Gold color, taste was awful.

Yeah, leaves are serrated.  So they're supposed to be smooth?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on July 07, 2020, 10:51:47 AM
Supposed to be smooth.  The tissue culture plants grow like crap too so compost those.  I'll send you a couple good pups later in summer if you want the WJ like in my pic
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: mbmango on July 07, 2020, 02:39:08 PM
Interesting about the TC plants.  Once they're old enough, will the future pups still be crap?  I also got a Sugarloaf and WJ from Wellspring 5 years ago.  The Sugarloaf gave a small fruit last year, and the WJ is filling in one this year.  Curious if all the pups will similarly be slugs, or whether I'm over the hump, so to speak.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on July 07, 2020, 02:45:10 PM
The pups also seem weak on the white jades.  Some other types seem to make stronger pups.  But I havent grown enough generations to know if they eventually get better.  I think so but sounds like it would take a very long time if you are just getting 1 fruit after 5 years. 

You can just see the pups are weak, they are all thin and skimpy.  Real clones look way stronger and the plants and pups get about 2X the size. 

I have no idea why but have grown many TCs and regular copies and it's the same with all the TC plants.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: mbmango on July 07, 2020, 03:08:49 PM
Ah!  I thought I just sucked at the husbandry, but it must be the tissue culture heritage!  They survived the early days of ignorance and neglect, so I try not to fault them for my efforts.  But if I can't get the pups, and especially the sugarloaf ratoon to speed up now, then I may have to consider some more adoptions.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 07, 2020, 03:42:13 PM
Supposed to be smooth.  The tissue culture plants grow like crap too so compost those.  I'll send you a couple good pups later in summer if you want the WJ like in my pic

Hell ya, will reimburse ya.  I think I'm going to dump all of them.

Thanks
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 26, 2020, 08:25:08 AM
Greenhouse jungle north of Fredericksburg - citrus, avocado, cherimoya, Atis sugar apple, pineapples, mangos, herbs, maters, etc.  Sharwil, Reed, and Ardith are 10' plus. 

(https://i.postimg.cc/BjfBWH26/Greenhouse-Trees-July25.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BjfBWH26)

(https://i.postimg.cc/bd2nzdy2/Greenhouse-Trees-July25-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bd2nzdy2)

Mango season is on, so are the Reeds.  Glenn, Lemon Zest, Orange Sherbet, Pickering are over the top.  Pineapple Pleasure and more to come.  I had forgotten how much LZ tastes like a real lemon, without the tartness!

(https://i.postimg.cc/mctYCjsm/Lemon-Zest-July24.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mctYCjsm)

3 Jan Boyce grafts are pushing.  Grasshoppers are epidemic stripping everything.  Clemson fruit bags are protecting the JB growth.

(https://i.postimg.cc/mPqwdJVv/Jan-Boyce-Graft-July23.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mPqwdJVv)

(https://i.postimg.cc/0MC7qBd2/Jan-Boyce-Graft-July23-Bagged.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0MC7qBd2)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on July 26, 2020, 01:33:00 PM
Everything is looking great Mark!  When you bag your fruit in those protective bags, do you ever have problems with early molding or decay on the fruit?  I tried using the bags on peaches, apples, etc. and the lack of airflow seems to doom them.  Doomed if you do, doomed if you don't situation.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: SeaWalnut on July 26, 2020, 01:52:23 PM
Everything is looking great Mark!  When you bag your fruit in those protective bags, do you ever have problems with early molding or decay on the fruit?  I tried using the bags on peaches, apples, etc. and the lack of airflow seems to doom them.  Doomed if you do, doomed if you don't situation.
He bagged the graft not the fruit.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 26, 2020, 03:52:20 PM
Yep, never bagged fruit but these should work well.  They are designed for that.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on July 26, 2020, 09:26:13 PM
Lookin good Mark.  We had the little green grasshoppers everywhere a few weeks ago.  Had one little potted tree witb hundreds on it. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on July 27, 2020, 08:13:00 AM
Lookin good Mark.  We had the little green grasshoppers everywhere a few weeks ago.  Had one little potted tree witb hundreds on it.

We have them of all colors and sizes.  The yellow ones are big and hungry.  I have trees and bushes with 1,000's on them. No leaves.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on July 27, 2020, 08:00:21 PM
Everything is looking great Mark!  When you bag your fruit in those protective bags, do you ever have problems with early molding or decay on the fruit?  I tried using the bags on peaches, apples, etc. and the lack of airflow seems to doom them.  Doomed if you do, doomed if you don't situation.
He bagged the graft not the fruit.
Oh, I missed that.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on August 09, 2020, 07:51:53 AM
Mango season continues for us. This 2# Pickering is over the top - very rich, tastes like coconut, super sweet, no fiber or jelly.  This is every bit as rich and delish as the best Zill hybrids including the Orange Sherbet and Lemon Zest I'm fruiting.  Like all mango varieties it's got a different taste profile.  Texture is excellent. 

Huge Pineapple Pleasure are next, and Juicy Peach, etc.

(https://i.postimg.cc/sQYDJt9h/Pickering-Aug6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sQYDJt9h)

Jan Boyce graft on Sharwil branch is pushing well.

(https://i.postimg.cc/2bDZdpLs/Jan-Boyce-Aug7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2bDZdpLs)

Reeds are very rich, the best creamy flavor since I grafted the tree in 2012.  No question about it, a tree needs a few years before the fruit quality really ramps up.

(https://i.postimg.cc/JsX0p68M/Salad-Plate-Brad.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JsX0p68M)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on August 09, 2020, 08:01:03 AM
Gave away a 3 gal. pot of White Sugarloaf.   Lady got 17 pups and the mother out of it.  This one has been a real POS for me with no fruit, just throws pups.  Best ones I raised were store bought "twistees".  They are delish.

(https://i.postimg.cc/188C2F79/Pineapples-Jan3-3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/188C2F79)

(https://i.postimg.cc/SJJfxh6d/Pineapple-2-July30.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/SJJfxh6d)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Francis_Eric on August 09, 2020, 06:30:37 PM
I got ta Say Always Liked your posts on this,
 and always liked that you mention the prices as well no need to go browsing the internet .


I always wanted to ask , I've seen you've lost some mango's above the graft line
 when you where hit with a hard freeze I was always wondering
why you didn't grow polyembryony seed (of mango I read you grow )
So it was a clone of the Mother or did you also do that too?

I hated to see those things killed down to the graft when I did
you seem really knowledgeable so I always wondered that.


Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on August 10, 2020, 07:54:57 AM
I got ta Say Always Liked your posts on this,
 and always liked that you mention the prices as well no need to go browsing the internet .


I always wanted to ask , I've seen you've lost some mango's above the graft line
 when you where hit with a hard freeze I was always wondering
why you didn't grow polyembryony seed (of mango I read you grow )
So it was a clone of the Mother or did you also do that too?

I hated to see those things killed down to the graft when I did
you seem really knowledgeable so I always wondered that.

Only one out of about 4 survived the 18F, lost them roots and all.  I have P.P., Juicy Peach and Orange Sherbet on it.  All my mangos came from Pine Island Nursery.  Why?  Got them wholesale, FedX charges were fair shipped 2 to a box, ready to rock rather than waiting for a seed to do its thing.


(https://i.postimg.cc/fksrD2n5/Mango-Grafts-July22.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fksrD2n5)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Francis_Eric on August 10, 2020, 08:15:41 AM
.

Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on August 28, 2020, 08:53:37 AM
First Juicy Peach.  Large fruit, haven't tried it yet. Still working on a crisper full.


(https://i.postimg.cc/7fgJxV5C/Juicy-Peach.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7fgJxV5C)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on August 29, 2020, 12:14:46 AM
Looks like a winner.  Wishing a delicious treat with that one.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on August 29, 2020, 10:10:04 AM
Looks like a winner.  Wishing a delicious treat with that one.

Thanks!   VERY nice fruit, tastes just like a peach.

Just popped out a couple of plants.  The one above was in a conventional 3 gal. molded black pot.  One below came out of a 3 gal. injection molded black RootMaker pot.   Rootmaker root mass was a good 30% more with very little root spin out which is teminated at the slits.  Down side is a very high watering routine.  Damn thing dries out fast.

(https://i.postimg.cc/CZknYq90/Root-Makervs3gal.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CZknYq90)

Friend likes my Orange Sherbet branch, recently topped and pushing nicely.  After losing a branch of 17 OS fruit because of a stupid topping cut I'm a bit more careful now.  This cocktail tree has been pruned with the cut just above  alternate branching whorls only.

(https://i.postimg.cc/0Kb85grS/Praying-Mantis.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0Kb85grS)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on August 29, 2020, 01:10:09 PM
Mark, thanks for sharing the root-balls.  How did the two plants perform in comparison?  Or what were they?  Peachy mangos.  What combination from the gods is this?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on August 30, 2020, 08:24:39 AM
Mark, thanks for sharing the root-balls.  How did the two plants perform in comparison?  Or what were they?  Peachy mangos.  What combination from the gods is this?

Houseplants.  One in the RootMaker was bigger.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on August 30, 2020, 10:28:21 PM
Ah, gotcha. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on September 27, 2020, 09:37:19 AM
Some of the Reeds are big.  Meat is always perfect creamy and rich.  Great with only S/P and a squeeze of fresh key lime juice. Drizzle of Italian salad dressing really kicks it up a notch.  Been eating them since June.

(https://i.postimg.cc/Q9Tf3qDm/Reed-Fruit-Sept26.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Q9Tf3qDm)

(https://i.postimg.cc/pyKsckqX/Reed-Fruit-Sept26-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/pyKsckqX)

(https://i.postimg.cc/XXWPbTZy/Reed-Fruit-Sept26-3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XXWPbTZy)

Have one more Orange Sherbet to pick.  Mangos have been over the top this year.   Bad ass Canadian cold front comes in tonight which should about wrap up our growing season in a week or two. 

Just did 3 t bud grafts of Persian lime to my key lime tree which is holding about 10 varieties of you name it.  Bark slipped great. 

3000 gals. of rainwater storage tanks has been great.  Rig and plumbing I did is incredible coming off those tanks and feeds an AquaFogger GT500. I run a pump which is so powerful I can dump about 200 gals. on my trees and potted stock in 10 minutes where it used to take me 40 with the old Wayne pump.  Can deliver a stinging BLAST to the upper leaves of 12' tall trees and nail spider mites too.
 
(https://i.postimg.cc/1453z72f/Aquafogger-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1453z72f)

3 months ago, work in progress.

(https://i.postimg.cc/9rDXdRW2/Tanks.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9rDXdRW2)

Cut off a big branch of limequat I grafted to the key lime in 2018.  Produces 100+ every year.  Great tasting fruit but small and VERY seedy.  Best lime flavor I have is Persian lime.  We quaff fine anejo tequila like Casa Noble Anejo along with key limes and coarse black sea salt. I used to think this over priced salt was stupid, a fave of my wife, but it really does have its place.


Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Francis_Eric on September 27, 2020, 12:18:58 PM
Anyone else Saw that
In A good way that last Green House Picture is pretty Funny.
didn't want to ruin it.

your Welcome.

about that salt
 Funny How food can be people give a sample,
 and before you know it your buying it for the rest of your life.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: TheGivingTree on September 27, 2020, 05:05:56 PM
Looks good. When the tree goes in the ground will it stimulate new growth in the terminated root endings?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on September 27, 2020, 05:52:09 PM
Looks good. When the tree goes in the ground will it stimulate new growth in the terminated root endings?

It's in the ground, rooted in big time.  I start with bottomless RootBuilder "pots" aka beds.  See the first couple of pages.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: spaugh on September 27, 2020, 06:18:54 PM
Reeds are looking real nice mark.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on September 28, 2020, 07:57:07 AM
Reeds are looking real nice mark.

Thanks.  I popped a seed last night that had four 1/2" long tops wrapped around the seed and a 1/2" root coming out.  Weird.....
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: z_willus_d on October 04, 2020, 08:04:34 PM
Mark, enviable production as usual.  I might have the first of three Mexicola avocados to survive on my ~8-year old tree to try soon.  I'm can only image how delicious those fresh salads must be in your house.
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 05, 2020, 08:57:47 AM
Mark, enviable production as usual.  I might have the first of three Mexicola avocados to survive on my ~8-year old tree to try soon.  I'm can only image how delicious those fresh salads must be in your house.

You'll get there, keep the faith and remember it's all about the roots.  Rest will follow.

Nice thing is being able to share.  I've been giving away a lot of Reeds and key limes to go with them. 
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on October 24, 2020, 09:12:18 AM
After all the tweeks it am loving it. The utility of this 2,800 gallon rainwater system is amazing. I plumbed it such that I can blast rainwater from a hose in a stream or stinging coarse spray that can strip the chrome off a doorknob! 🤪 I use a blast to knock off mites from tall citrus branches. Can fast water trees with 300 gallons in 10 minutes. Blast the greenhouse walls, pull up the car to the wall vent and give it a final spot free rinse. 😍 Switch off the pump and do a gravity feed, pull off a garbage can full of whatever by dropping a garden hose into the can of liquid. And of course it feeds my cooling fogger. Little self contained Italian built pump is awesome - Leader Ecomatic 110.

(https://i.postimg.cc/HJKLNg3R/Pump-Leader.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HJKLNg3R)

Tied a 300 and a 2,500 gal. tank together, each with it's own valve.

(https://i.postimg.cc/G8wCYhXL/Tanks-Finished.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/G8wCYhXL)

Aquafogger GT 500

(https://i.postimg.cc/LqzHx1YY/Aquafogger-4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LqzHx1YY)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on February 07, 2021, 04:01:39 PM
My proactive (big surprise!) winter/spring prep work is done in the greenhouse.  So far I've pruned the leggy key lime, sprayed all stock with 6 gals. of Bonide All Seasons Hort. oil mix for mites, scale and mealbug control, fertilized heavily with Osmocote and yesterday applied a soil drench of Solubor (B) and a 3-9-6 "blossom booster" food by Dyna-Gro and Peters 10-30-20 and then washed it in with a heavy drench of rainwater.  The boron and high P food should help with flower/fruit set.  Things are beginning to pop, earlier than usual.  Old browning avocado leaves will be dropping soon, mango and citrus flower buds are pushing, avocado buds are pushing.  Moro blood orange will have a dark burgundy meat and be ready soon.  Oranges have been rich and sweet.  Picked the last of the big, red Cara cara yesterday.  Avocados are filling out nicely with increased watering lately.

Ardith fruit sizing up.

(https://i.postimg.cc/NyF6S3XD/Ardith-Fruit-Feb7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NyF6S3XD)

(https://i.postimg.cc/XBkBpLFX/Greenhouse-Feb7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XBkBpLFX)

Lamb

(https://i.postimg.cc/XrpKzMd8/LambFeb7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XrpKzMd8)


Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on November 13, 2021, 10:26:16 AM
Here's "Sugar" pitaya that made it thru a low of 23F during the devastating Texas Uri ice storm last February.  Pic of the fruit is pretty lame as I had eaten most of it and it was a bit smashed after peeling it. 

(https://i.postimg.cc/JtmygjDh/Pitaya-Nov11.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JtmygjDh)


(https://i.postimg.cc/t1WTvg9P/Pitaya-Nov11-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/t1WTvg9P)
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: elouicious on November 13, 2021, 12:42:39 PM
Wow!

impressive plant there mark, how was the fruit?

brix?
Title: Re: Greenhouse, RootMaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"
Post by: Mark in Texas on December 17, 2021, 12:15:05 PM
Wow!

impressive plant there mark, how was the fruit?

brix?

Fruit was delicious.  Didn't check the brix.