I have a lot of scions and rootstock on order and am going to try grafting apples for the first time this year! What’s a good size planter pot to put individual benchgrafts in? I do have some miscellaneous planters but will need to buy more.
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Well, you’d have to consider me an amateur in grafting, but more experienced with nursery stock in pots.
Typically, I’ll choose the smallest pot the roots comfortably fit in.
Then, plan to plant the item in the ground within a few months to a year and a half…or else take it from the small pot and plant in a larger pot.
Having said that…they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions…I’ve left quite a few things in pots way too small and they finally grew a root through the bottom and began becoming trees. (not good…unless the pot was sitting where you wanted a new tree…then it would probably work out…it has for evergreens and pawpaws).
Some people say you should use smaller pots, I’m not sure I agree. I’ve had people tell me that small plants in big pots “get lost” or something, but I don’t believe it. Plants evolved to live in dirt, and dirt is usually in a pretty big/deep “pot” in nature.
I’m planting my rootstock/benchgrafts in #15 nursery cans this year. I lucked out and got a literal truckload of them for $50 on craigslist recently 
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Some folk are oc/dc and want all the pots to be exactly a match. etc.
Others plan to ship their trees when they become dormant again.
Some plan to grow dwarf trees in a pot on the patio long term.
All the reasons people may have, no one pot size is best.
And for me, I use what I have. And if I keep the tree too long in the pot, I know I’ll have to ‘bump it up’ to a bigger pot in a year or two.
I suppose ideally the pots that self “root prune” would be ideal…but I always use what I have.
And when I run out, I’ll order some 10 inch tree pots or some three gallon pots.
I’ve never run out except for the first year long ago when I ordered in bare root shrubs and trees to pot up …as I always keep and recycle pots.
And if a new graft will fit in a one gallon pot, fine, that’s what will be it’s home the first year.
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You can purchase per pot from Stuewe and Sons.
I think the best pot of all for rootstocks is the MT310 and the carry tray #6
This is the ideal for potting up rootstocks. You may want to buy some MT2510 pots as well for rootstocks that don’t need as much pot width. They’re both awesome.
You can also get the little feet to stick on the tray to elevate the tray for air root pruning. I’d get them for a buck or whatever if I was going to buy the pots and trays anyways.
If you don’t need as large of a tray get the #7.
Dax
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Good source at a fair price…thanks for the link.
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Sure. The MT310 is the all purpose one to get and not even mess with the MT2510.
Dax
Wow, perfect! Thank you.
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