Pine trees in pots

14 years ago

A couple of days ago, my husband and I were up in northern Michigan and decided to dig up 2 very small white pines and 1 very small spruce to take back to our Cincinnati home. We have a very, very tiny yard, so we thought we could put them in pots on wheels and have them sit outside. In the winter, we might bring them inside or wrap them in blankets.

My question is this: How do we pot them? We bought 4 ceramic pots without drain holes in the bottom. The plan was to put a couple inches of rocks in the bottom, add some soil and whatnot, and then add the tiny trees. I haven't found much information about potting pine trees this way, and I'm not sure what to do.

I was about to head out the door to a garden place and buy some items, but now I'm rethinking the whole endeavor.

If anyone has done this before or has any suggestions, I'd be grateful for a reply!

Featured Answer

duluthinbloomz4

14 years ago

Pots without holes will sour the soil pretty quickly. Are the pots big enough to add a layer of rocks and put another pot (with drainage holes) inside? Or forget the ceramic pots altogether? The ceramic pots, even with a layer of rocks will collect water.

White pines and spruce are outdoor trees, they'd not take kindly to being indoors or smothered under a blanket. Simply being put in a sheltered spot in winter is often protection enough.

I've got self-seeded Norway spruce trees growing in old soil mix containers that were just left forgotten on my patio; and we often get sustained periods of -40 many winters. They survive just fine and will stay exactly where they are until a spot opens up to transplant them.

I can see your trees living outdoors in a pot for a long time - but not one WITHOUT drainage holes.

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Comments (9)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
14 years ago
I sure do agree with duluth! NO to a pot without drainage holes and NO to overwintering the trees inside.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
they should be planted in mother earth.. from which you tore them..

i would hold them in pots until about mid sept.. when nights are more surely cooler..

i dont understand your logic.. they were free range .. wind/bird planted.. and you all of a sudden want to make them into some foo foo plants that cant handle mother earth .. or a warmer winter than MI . ... been there.. done that..

but in all reality.. they need to be back in the ground.. once they have just A LITTLE TLC.. to get over the shock of being dug up in august..

keep them in full shade.. in a pot.. and dont drown them ... the soil you took them from..was NOT sodden ...

better yet.. just put them in the ground in shade.. for the month or so.. moist but not wet ... do you have that famous OH clay??? .. and then move them to a permanent site.. in early spring ...

good luck

ken
alexander3_gw
14 years ago
If you want the trees to last more than a few years, read about growing trees in containers at the container growing forum

Here is a link that might be useful: Trees in containers
weave139
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the kind feedback...

We potted the trees in containers WITH holes in the bottom that we drilled. They're in shade and will stay outside, and we'll see what happens.
Carl Hauck
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Old thread but....STOP REMOVING NATIVE PLANTS AND TREES FROM THEIR NATURAL HABITATS!! I can’t even begin as to why this so bad for ecosystems and the tree itself!!
HU-550061382
5 years ago
On the contrary, you are part of nature, not some alien. Your ideas are fine as beginnings, pine trees have tap roots, tho. A container might cripple your trees, expect stunting etc. But if you can get it to work, good for you. Don't lose much sleep about disturbing mother nature. You can make it up to her in your own way.
Gn O
last year
they should be planted in mother earth.. from which you tore them..

Thats a bit dramatic....lol.. Pine trees are not exclusive to Detroit. Its not a rare exotic plant from such and such a place. They are natinative to most of North America.

Theres no problem having thethemthem in a pot. Here is a few pics of one ive had in a pot for the last 20 years. You need to make sure you water it everyday or second day, and that it has holes in the bottom of the pot siso excess water can drain...and i fertilize a few times in spring..you need to watch in spring, they start growing earlier than you think and cannot be allowed tosto dry out.. I move the pot around my house a few times a year, just make sure it gets alot of sun..
Gn O
last year