Is there a reason apart from the root rot/watering problems , why a very large pot can not be used?, surely if the pot is large enough with good drainage its just like being outdoors in the floor? I potted one of the lemon trees ( told it was 7 yr old, grafted onto volkamerania rootstock) from a 12L to a 35L pot about the end of september and now its roots have filled the pot to the edges, no root curling or anything, just straight roots almost to the sides. i potted it as it was with no disturbance of the root ball and it was slightly rootbound, i just put it in the center (at the top) of a pot of 50/50 compost and perlite, the tree has grown about 2 foot in width and 2 foot in hight since then and is still growing rapidly Im wondering, what will happen if i go to a 100L pot, is there any reason i cant apart from the watering problem ,which with being potted in perlite is not that much of a problem, i keep it on heater mats with growlights on it so the roots are nice and warm and its growing rapidly Will it just grow rapidly to fill the pot and the tree double in size again?, will/should it still flower next year? as long as it gets the cold hours?, or will it be tired out from the excessive growing?
I have read somewhere that citrus generally just like feeling 'constricted' slightly in their root zone. Whether or not this is a required preference I don't know. Perhaps the pot size is meant more for novices who don't understand soil and watering requirements?
My brother has done all sorts of courses on horticulture and keeps telling me how i need to keep the roots constricted on fruit trees, i ignore him and just keep repotting and have had no problems with lack of fruit or flowering, he keeps his calamondins and other citrus in the pots he bought them in years ago, his still give fruit, but my trees are out growing his and give more fruit, he still wont repot them! I cant understand how constricted roots could / will help a plant (maybe it does on some), if an in ground tree grows better, bigger and gives more fruit? , Could it only be that when the roots are constricted they die at the ends and the plant grows more roots, like with the root pruning pots?
