Sagaretia needs help. He's a bit miserable. - Updated

[djlen]

I just let mine dry out a bit......not totally dry and then water until the water comes out the drainage holes in the bottom. I do this with all plants.

BTW, I just re-potted my Sagaratia and it's doing great. I don't think it matters, the time of year with them. If you're unhappy with your potting mixture, pull him out and re-pot with a lighter mix. I like 50/50 Turface/Potting soil. I like the aeration and ability to force out harmful gases when watering that this give the plant.

[SteveP]

Success! *touch wood* Repotted with 50% akadama, 50% organic potting soil.

To my surprise, no visible root rot, but the original soil just looked like a peaty blend, nothing special. Far FAR better on the drainage front now though, before I only got a couple of drops out of the bottom before water pooled on the surface, now it goes through beautifully.

Fingers crossed, and it's back in the humidity tent lol

Thanks for your help mate, much appreciated.

[Rosaelyn]

Was your Sageretia very rootbound? Either that or soil collapse was probably the culprit. Glad to hear there was no sign of root rot, which would have been a concern of mine too, without it draining adequately.

Keep us up to date, and how is your Podocarpus doing?

[SteveP]

I missed this reply, my apologies!

I think the cause was 50/50 of what you suggested. I chopped off a fair whack of roots, and the results have been great. Looked like Bin Laden's beard under there.

And the Podo is doing.. okay.. The soil is utter utter crap still, and getting worse by the day, but until the tree shows signs of suffering, I daren't touch it!

How's yours?

Edit for pics and for proof for DjLen that I'm having a go at propogating! :



Not the greatest pic I know, but I'm always on here at night when I think of these things It really is 3 times+ the size of the original sad Sageretia that I brought in, and all thanks to you lot.



We'll see Len, we'll see ;P

[djlen]

Steve, it's a matter of attitude. If you sense success you will have it...lol
I love my Sag. and I can't imagine it not doing well for me. Such a happy, carefree little plant. I've got glasses with cuttings all over the place and they root easily....just be patient. I'm going to make a "Forest" bonsai out of them.
Just a really easy plant. Loves watering every other day (for me) and misting daily......it's just been watered as we speak.
I haven't let it get too much bigger.....I'm pruning and shaping and saving cuttings and waiting to see what it wants to look like. It doesn't need wiring....just cut to a node in the direction you want that branch/limb to grow.

I'm finding that the Podocarpus wants much more water than I'd originally thought. At least every other day. I'm feeding weakly with each watering and they both seem happy with that regimen.

One other thing I've discovered. Both of them like just a bit of MirAcid or Peter's for acid loving plants on occasion.

[djlen]

Here's my Sagetaria. Been pruning and trimming since I got it and it's starting to get some tree-like shape to it.

Head On:


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