At 05:22 PM 8/1/2004 -0400, Billy M. Rhodes wrote:
I am repotting some recently purchased, collected buttonwoods. I am always
disappointed to see how few roots these plants have. I have one that has been
repotted by me to a 12 inch bulb pan using Metro Mix 500 and I don't think the
roots have spread since I transplanted it a year or more ago. It is still
alive and putting out new growth, just no roots to speak of. Any other
tropical
would have filled the pot with roots by now.
My normal fertilizer is Osmocote 14-14-14.
Another buttonwood I just repotted this afternoon was growing in what looked
like a mixture of Florida peat and bark. It had been purchased from a vendor
in South Florida. It had a few more roots, but not many. I know it is over a
year since it was collected.
I have tried bonsai soil of 1/3 Turface, 1/3 gravel and 1/3 composted pine
bark. Those plants are dead.
Billy, I use lava, gravel, pine bark and coral in equal amounts and mine
thrive here in Arkansas. I initially started using the coral before I knew
any better and have not discontinued it. I only repot about every four
years. The roots of buttonwood are very fragile and I clean off the old
soil with a stream from a water hose. Buttonwood don't make the quantity
of roots most other plants do so if they are healthy they have sufficient
roots.

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