Growth difference between potted and in ground Lemon Zest

[simon_grow]

Hello everyone, here are a couple pictures comparing the difference in the amount of growth between two Lemon Zest mango trees that were purchased at the same time from Plantogram. They were both the same size and fertilized with the same fertilizer and watered on the same schedule. The only difference is that the larger tree was planted the week I got it and the smaller tree was grown in a super roots pot until last week when I finally got to planting it in the ground.

Yes, both trees in the pictures are now in the ground but the smaller tree was in a pot until about a week ago. It may be difficult to see but the larger tree has about 2-3 times the foliage as the smaller tree. I guess the ability for the roots to expand combined with the more consistent water/temperature of the in ground tree allows for the drastic differences in growth?
In ground from beginning

Potted until recently

[Jexton]

Nice comparison. You mentioned it has been in the grown since you got it, but how long ago was that?

[mangomanic12]

Simon great pics . They both look healthy. A few questions

What's your soil type ? If heavy clay like me i hope you dug a big hole so the roots have a chance when young to expand a little
What is that plant material below the smaller mango ? If it's not part of the tree i would remove , why rob any nutrients from a newly planted tree .
Are they planted near the road and are you concerned about theft when they start to bear?

Anyway, the important thing is they look healthy . Good job !
Mike

[simon_grow]

Jexton, I have a horrible memory but I believe it's been about 6-8 months already. I did not fertilize for first couple of months.

My soil type is heavy clay, Poway Conglomerate to be exact. I Have about 1 inch of soft soil before I hit the cement like clay and rocky soil. It took a couple guys about 2 hours with picks and crowbars to dig each hole. I dug pretty deep and wide and I planted the larger tree on a mound because it is prone to flooding with the heavy clay.

The plants below the the Mango are Italian sweet basil, they will be removed the next time I make Caprise, good call on removing it😁
Simon

[Rob1977]

Simon, what size pot were you growing the LZ in? What was your fert schedule like for the potted plant?

[TnTrobbie]

How about sunlight? Both plants had the same amount of sun exposure time? Thanks for sharing .

[simon_grow]

Rob1977, I dont know the exact gallon measurement for the super roots pot but it is about the same size as a 1 gallon jug of milk.  The plant was shipped to me in a slightly smaller container so I stepped it up about 1 size, I did not want to put it into a giant pot, I think stepping up the pot size gradually works better for me. 

After about a month or two, i fertilized with Kelp and Fish emulsion.  I also foliar sprayed with Dyna Gro and Foliage Pro about once every two weeks on average.  About 1-2 months after planting the first LZ into the ground, I gave it Vigro slow release pelleted fertilizer.  I have not given the newly planted LZ any pelleted fertilizer yet. 

TnTrobbie, they both recieved the same amount of sunlight although now they are not.  Now, one gets more light than the other. 

Simon