Thread: some plants bloom better being rootbound

I bet you'll find that the most robust in situ individuals are those that have found a way for their roots through the rock or those that have access to the larger caches of humus/duff. Al

Interesting observation, meyermike. Saintpaulia tend to be small in the wild, as I understand it. And, their roots tend to be small, too. And fragile, which is something I wouldn't have expected from plants growing on rocks. So, as we put them in containers, I wonder what we need to learn from their natural environment? I very long hike is in order, I think. Maybe through three or four mountain ranges in a few different continents. We can...

I have noticed this hiking here. The very plants that grow in just a crevice are much smaller in comparison with the same plants that fall in much more humus, such as many pine trees, and mountian laurels..Almost Bonsai looking

I never really understood many of the accepted ideas of container gardening... such as adding a layer of drainage material to the bottom of a pot, or potting up a size every year or two, or never over-potting a plant, or keeping certain plants pot-bound to get blooms... they were just things a container gardener did. And I admit... I just went along with all these accepted ideas... without knowing why. Why was I doing these things? Why did I...

I have noticed that some plants tend to bloom more if they are rootbound. Spider plant, aloe, nightblooming cactus, bouganvillae tend to bloom more when rootbound. I am afraid to repot as the plants seem healthy with good size/blooms. The plant tends to dry often and requires water frequently other than that they seem happy.