I bought an Umbrella Tree recently. It's currently in a 14" black plastic container, that plants usually come in. Do I replant it in a 16" planter or a 14"? Can I use a glazed pot or a clay pot, if I can find one in that size, because right now I'm having a hard time finding a planter that big. Also, can I use regular soil mix with a little bit of perlite or do I use a cactus soil mix? Any help would be greatly appriciated!!! *moonlitpath*
If it is the one that grows in Queensland (Aust) I would thnk a good largish pot with well draining soil. glazed or clay should be ok. I have had them on and off over the years both as office plants and on our verandah and they seem to do well with well draining soil that is damp and filtered light. Mind you they are used as treet trees up north. http://asgap.org.au/s-actin.html http://www.jcu.edu.au/discovernature/sci_p2/JCUDEV_005952.html Liz
Thank you Liz! So it doesn't really matter if I use cactus soil or the regular potting mix with the perlite then? Should I have a layer of rocks on the bottom of the pot? *moonlitpath*
I always put drainage in bottom of pots but that is my way of doing things. Re yr mixture cactus soil might be a little light on the tropical forest humus stuff :) A good quality potting soil with some slow release fertilizer will do the trick. Liz
I usually put a layer of rocks on the bottom for drainage, but now that its cold out to go digging for rocks. What do you use to put on the bottom of the pot for drainage?? *moonlitpath*
Usually gravel we have a large one here used for roads based on basalt called blustone. The other one is broken terracotta pots. You could not put stuff in the bottom but raise your pot off the ground with two bits of board or some other device that allowes the drainage. Platic bottle caps like little feet...... Liz
That's a good idea. I always heard just to put a chip of a broken terra cota pot over the drainage hole, but I've always wondered what if it started to deteriorate or move and actually block the drainage hole. Anyway, I was goin to go to Lowes today and look for a big enough pot for the umbrella tree and maybe some orchid potting mix and some gravel of some sort. Thank you Liz for your much needed help!!! .*.moonlitpath.*.
