How long to keep buckeyes in pots?

[nwohiochevyguy]

I started around 225 buckeyes in a cold frame last fall and they are starting to sprout and grow.  I planted them in something called a Tree Pot, which is 4" square and around 9" tall.  I have seen it suggested to keep the trees in a "pot" for up to 2-3 years before planting in the landscape.

Is this the best  course of action for best survival?

Right now I have around 50 of them growing above the mulch layer, if I get 50-70% germination I will be happy and concider my first time at it a success.

Your input and suggestions are welcome.

[KarenCharin0]

What a wonderful project you have going there!

According to this article http://ohiodnr.com/tabid/5106/Default.aspx you can transplant them after a year or two. But I see no reason not to keep them in pots longer to make sure they are big enough to make it on their own out in the yard as long as they are doing well and they are not getting root bound being in a pot. I'd check one every year to make sure the roots are not growing round and round inside the pot choking them off.  I think a lot would depend on how fast they are growing for you. since the pot is 9" tall I wouldn't think you'd have to worry about the roots being too crowded until the seedlings were 9" tall too after that I'd check on them to make sure the roots were ok.

Please stop back in the forum here and let us know how they are doing!
Best wishes to you that they do well!

I'll check around and let you know if I find out anything else from anyone who might of tried this and how it turned out for them.

[nwohiochevyguy]

Well It looks like I have around 100% success on the trees sprouting and starting to grow.  I'm beginning to wonder what species of buckeye I have as they are already 8-9" tall and this is spring #1.

Trees they were harvested from looked to be Ohio Buckeyes but I'm not 100% certain. 

What is the easiest way to determine if they are Ohio Buckeye, Yellow Buckeye, Red Buckeyes or simply Horse Chestnuts?

[nwohiochevyguy]

Well I figured it out by going to the link in the post above.

I have the average Horse Chestnuts growing in my pots not the Ohio Buckeyes I thought I had.

I guess I'll try again next year, I will look this summer to source a donor tree.

[KarenCharin0]

I'm sorry to hear that they weren't the Ohio Buckeyes. Thanks for letting us know how they turned out though. You were in right family of trees.

The Ohio Buckeye tree is a deciduous tree from the Horsechestnut Family. ( Hippocastanaceae ).

How to identify the Ohio Buckeye.

http://ohiodnr.com/forestry/trees/buckeye_oh/tabid/5343/Default.aspx




About horse Chestnuts

http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/trees/aeship01.htm

http://www.ChestnutTree.net