Yikes!

that was one abused child. The propagator should be brought up on charges of neglect.

Grind the remains into a fine mulch. That'll bestow a bit of honor on its former potential.

~Dave

That sure sucks that it has too go on a note like that.

I just planted a non-returnable pine and the dang thing is a girdled mess as well. However it had a huge mass of roots.

What % of roots do you think you left behind?

That is a pretty small wad of roots for a 12 year old.

Sometimes you just can't win. Every plant pot bound plant I bare rooted to flare out has croaked. On the other hand if you just tease the otter roots and throw it in the hole you might not get much out of it either.

Here are a few pictures of some seedlings that I started in rootmaker air pruned flats and then moved into one gallon copper treated containers.

Frank

Actually, the last little trees have a lot of dead roots. The way C. Whitcomb puts it is the time to pot on is when the roots are approaching the walls of the container. Somehow, despite the technology employed you still ended up with typical-looking half dead root systems and matted, circling roots.

Dave,
Sorry to see that. I'm sure you are already planning a nice replacement.

Frank,
Your seedlings look excellent.

C. Whitcomb appears to recommend waiting for the tap and secondary roots to reach the sides of the container, and transplanting when the root ball can be easily removed from the container.

Dave,
"Sorry to see that. I'm sure you are already planning a nice replacement".

Yes sluice, I planted it today.

Dave

Picea orientalis 'Green Knight'

{{gwi:817580}}

I'd consider that an upgrade. Did you find that locally? Quite a nice large specimen.

Yes, I purchased it at the nursery I do business with. A Well's Nursery introduction in 1975.

I also picked a 5 ft. staked Picea pungens 'The Blues'. I might do a side by side comparison of 'Slenderiana' and 'The Blues as some say they are the same cultivar if the interest is there.

Dave

Striking orientalis Dave. Never heard of it.

Dax