Advice on Christmas tree please

maman

I have a tree in a pot that I bought last year. It's looking really healthy and so I'll be bringing it indoors next week to use again. Very mse!;)


It hasn't grown a great deal since last year and I suspect it might need re-potting to give the roots some space.


When's the best time to do it? Now or some other time of the year?


P.S. Really pleased with this one as most times I've bought a tree with roots it seems to die on me.:)

wellused

Excellent money saving by the way but have you ever noticed how appealing fir trees are for overwintering spiders and the like looking for a home?

peter_the_piper

Bring the tree in, dec it and then remove on 12 day. Don't put the tree straight out into the cold but ease it out over a week or so. I would suggest a repot in the spring just when new growth starts.

Farway

And give it a very good watering before you bring it in, not just a sprinkle

tattonlady

Has anyone else noticed how the milder weather is starting to affect plant growth?My corkscrew hazel tree has lost its leaves and now has started to produce green shoots!That is in the High Peak in Derbyshire!

cyclonebri1

tattonlady wrote: »

Has anyone else noticed how the milder weather is starting to affect plant growth?My corkscrew hazel tree has lost its leaves and now has started to produce green shoots!That is in the High Peak in Derbyshire!

I noticed the same thing with our weeping silver birches this week, again in derbyshire.:D

Again, regarding the tree, I'd bring it in as soon as you are ready. Put it on a tray or in an outer pot without holes so you can water over the month it is indoors or it will dry out during that time.
Maybe consider taking down before 12th night if you really value the tree.

Unlike above, if the weather permits I'd either plant out or repot immediately. It will be less prone to drying winds in the earth or a bigger tub

sheep-ali

maman wrote: »

I have a tree in a pot that I bought last year. It's looking really healthy and so I'll be bringing it indoors next week to use again. Very mse!;)


It hasn't grown a great deal since last year and I suspect it might need re-potting to give the roots some space.


When's the best time to do it? Now or some other time of the year?


P.S. Really pleased with this one as most times I've bought a tree with roots it seems to die on me.:)

Personally, I do not re-pot as I am happy with the tree at its current size.:) I just top the pot up with some fresh soil.
Quite often, a tree with roots is not pot-grown and they often die. I have been caught out this way myself.

peter_the_piper

Had this been a recent purchase I would have agreed with you but as its about a year old it should have grown roots to have survived the year. Its down to the OP.

cyclonebri1

sheep-ali wrote: »

Personally, I do not re-pot as I am happy with the tree at its current size.:) I just top the pot up with some fresh soil.
Quite often, a tree with roots is not pot-grown and they often die. I have been caught out this way myself.

I think it's scandalous to describe a tree that has been grown in a vat and then had 90% of the roots pruned of to fit into a retailable plant pot, as pot grown.

What would Scottie say?; "Aye, it's pot grown Captain, but not as we know it".

That would be funny if it wasn't true.;);)

maman

Thanks for all the advice.

As this one has lasted over a year and is looking really healthy I'm hopeful that it will continue to grow when I repot. It's smaller than I would like so I'm happy to give it a bigger pot and let it grow a bit. If it gets too big (and it's still alive!)I'll plant it in the garden and decorate it in situ in future years.

I don't plan to bring it in until this weekend at the earliest (can't stand decs up too long) so it'll probably fine until just before twelfth night. fortunately we have a large, unheated, conservatory so it can go in there to acclimatise after being pampered by the heating.

Thanks again.