..... too many variables, but comparatively speaking, there is much greater potential for rapid root colonization of the soil mass in well-aerated soils than in soils that support too much water and too little air.

These are roots of a trident maple in the gritty mix after 3 years growth.

All of these plants had been reduced to a bare-bones root system before repotting into the gritty mix. None of them expressed any struggle they might have been having due to the congestion, but the congestion was limiting vitality, even though there was no problem rewetting the entire root mass via a quick shower from the business end of a garden hose at the time of repotting.

Al

Thank you, those are great pics! It's good to get a sense of the potential at the 2-3 year period. It gives me a general idea of where my plants are heading. I'm looking forward to the next few years :)

Interesting pics, tapla. Were you able to recycle/reclaim any of the gritty mix from those?

For me, reclaiming isn't worth the effort. I often added used gritty mix to my raised beds, but there's getting to be too much coarse material in them now, so that's no longer an option.

Al