Thought about using one of these plastic bushel baskets
as a container for fig trees for a few years,
just haven't gotten around to it,
and won't have the time to try this year either,
so I thought maybe some members here would like
to give it a try.

These baskets are used in the fishing industry,
very durable, we beat the crap out of them,
and they last for years.
Sometimes used as harvest baskets in the agriculture industry.

They are about the same size or slightly larger
than a 15 gallon nursery container.
Manufactured in several colors, but orange is most common.

Two type on the market,
one with a flat bottom,
and another with a slight rim on the bottom
which assists drainage.
The one with the rim is more durable in my opinion,
but both should last many years as a container for a plant/tree.
Cost is around $18-20

If anyone tries them,
please post your results.

I saw some much smaller versions of this pot in the hydroponics store. Have any links you recommend handy that offers them in those larger sizes? 

Edit - googling "plastic bushel basket" takes you to a bunch of marine supply websites. 

I'd love to see results from anyone who tries. I have air pots and love them. I do worry about their strength with those heavy, bigger trees.

they look like laundry bins.
how do i line the insides?

that looks like an ideal container.. but might need to water more often with so much openings on the side? price is about twice that of 20 gal tubs. if it's 15 gal trade container, that's more like 12-13 gal at most i think. providing that my 10 gal container trees ae providing me what i want from each trees, it might be something to think about.

Top diameter is 19"
bottom diameter is 14.5"
height is 15"
1.1 bushel capacity.

Basket openings are 5/16" x 9/16"

Bullt08 what are your oldest tree s in 10 gal containers?
Thanks

Btw you can use bottom irrigation there and the plant can wick most water from center roots so it will root prune them more.
But i hope you have free water

my oldest are only going into their 4th year. with root pruning, they can stay there forever. during summer, i already bottom feed and top feed everyday. otherwise with our temp here, they will dry out within a day. i'm considering the soil mix to hold more water.. but then again i might not.

the idea behind the containers like the above is to have the roots extend out of the container and get themselves air pruned, so you don't have to do it yourself every few years.

i add compost it hold water great and also mulches the top of the pot.

I'm wondering if you line with sphagnum moss.  The roots will still be air pruned because they will try to go through the moss, but the moss will hold the dirt in.  Moss is used extensively to hold potting soil in hanging pots.  I use a lot of root pruning pots, and when you pot up, it is amazing how many roots are inside with zero circling!

Suzi

I am amazed at how much the Air-Pot prices (and plastic prices in general) have gone up.  I bought my containers in 2007 from Florikan (the distributor at the time).  The prices were:

0.3 gallon = $0.80 (purchased from Tree Amigos in 2006)
3.4 gallon = $2.91
12. gallon = $9.83

I've seen 15 gallon root pouches advertised for around four bucks.  I've not used them before.  I ordered some one gallon size to pot up extra cuttings.  They should be here Friday.

One issue I have found is any obstruction will turn the root.  Even if it is a larger size (1/2") chunk of mulch, rock, etc.  Another thing to consider is these systems only decrease root circling and improve root branching.  And for this they do a really good job.  They do not address the compaction of the root mass over time.  So it does not eliminate the need for root work.  I am not trying to discourage anyone from using a root pruning container as I still am planning on using them for my containerized trees.  They are not, however, a panacea for growing trees in containers.

Suzi,  I think a coir lined baskets should work.

I like the root pouches, so far what I have seen, sorry no pics, is that they really do promote a lot of root branching and you will see a lot of root tips when you pot up to the next size and I had nothing circling.  The soil seems to dry up and shrink away from the pot as well helping also, but when you water it all swells back up and pushes against the walls again, rather useful I think.

Suzi, James you're definitely preaching to the C(h)oir here.

Thanks Chivas,

I'm still expecting mine on Friday.  Hopefully I will have stuff in some of them Saturday.

Hmmm,
I wonder if you could plant your tree in the basket, then slide it into an even larger container like an outer shell, with soil in between the basket, and the larger container?
Roots would grow out of the basket through the holes, into the soil between the 2 containers. then circle in the soil between the two containers?

At pruning time, just slide off the larger outside container, cut the roots back to the outside of the inner basket container, put the basket back into the outer, larger container, then add new soil in between the two containers.
It would hold water, soil, allows circling of roots without strangulation, and can be easily root pruned at will too?
Would that logically work?

Dan, that solution is logically unlogical!  The whole idea is to expose the roots to air so they will prune themselves.  You are proposing a lot of extra work... JMHO... :-))

Suzi

Dan,

One of the benefits of root tip pruning is the formation of new thin roots.  As the roots grow thicker, they become less efficient at taking up moisture and nutrients.  In a container where space is limited, it is advantageous to have more fine roots and fewer anchoring roots. 

Here is a picture of the root system of a pomegranate tree I was growing in a 3.4 gallon Air-Pot in 2007.  Much of the growing mix on this side had been removed (and pretty easily) to show the details of the roots, the air-pruning process and the subsequent root branching.

Geez Suzi!
Do you think you could maybe back off a bit on the hostility?!?! JMHO ! :-)


The idea I had was to isolate circling roots. by creating a space for them to run without strangling.
Which seems to be both the biggest problem, and concern with growing figs in pot culture.
Seem to me once the roots grow past the basket, and are pruned, they will naturally branch into new thinner roots!
Being air pots are so much more expensive! I thought this could be used as an alternative idea.

Sorry, if I insulted anyones intellegence by it! Geez!

Wow!  Apologize!  Did not mean to offend.  I just live with a logical man and I have learned how to bust the logic illogically!!

I just have used root pruning pots for a long time, and there is no need to pay for another expensive bigger pot. 

The whole idea is to let the air meet the roots, and when that happens, the root naturally stops, and forms side roots, like when you prune a branch.  The plant has a mission.  That mission is to grow!  The roots have the same mission, and if nothing stops them, they circle and will get rootbound, but in a root pruning container, they can't circle.  They hit air, and the end dies, and the root puts out more feeders like a branch.

If you provide another pot with more dirt, they will not self prune, and I really don't understand what you are trying to accomplish. 

JMHO!

Suzi

James, thank you for the picture and explanation.
It was very kind and thoughtful of you to be so patient with me.
But, I understand air tip pruning already.
I think you all miss my point.

God Bless!