Cooked roots

[iant]

Just slip potted up a willow that had been in a plastic terra cotta colored pot. It got direct sun in the afternoon on one side of the pot and I haven't been turning it. I was surprised to see when I slipped it out of its pot that all the roots on the non-sun exposed size looked nice and white along the pot edge (it had started to build up roots along the side of the pot a bit) but all the roots on the sunny side were all dead wet brown looking. A half inch in from the edge they were white again but the edge roots were all cooked. I have my black pots foiled up but I didn't think the tan colored ones needed that. Now I know! It hasn't even been that hot. It's been mostly 80-84 with a couple days to 88 but it could be a lot hotter. Just wanted to say I'll be more careful with protecting the roots in the future. It was so obvious when I slipped it out... 1/2 circle looking good and the other half not!
Ian

 

[milehigh_7]

Just slip potted up a willow that had been in a plastic terra cotta colored pot. It got direct sun in the afternoon on one side of the pot and I haven't been turning it. I was surprised to see when I slipped it out of its pot that all the roots on the non-sun exposed size looked nice and white along the pot edge (it had started to build up roots along the side of the pot a bit) but all the roots on the sunny side were all dead wet brown looking. A half inch in from the edge they were white again but the edge roots were all cooked. I have my black pots foiled up but I didn't think the tan colored ones needed that. Now I know! It hasn't even been that hot. It's been mostly 80-84 with a couple days to 88 but it could be a lot hotter. Just wanted to say I'll be more careful with protecting the roots in the future. It was so obvious when I slipped it out... 1/2 circle looking good and the other half not!
Ian

Afternoon sun is NOT your friend for the most part. My trees in Vegas go not get any direct sun after about 10-11AM. This goes for reflected heat as well.

 

[edprocoat]

Yeah the afternoon sun is tough on many plants, willows are especially thirsty trees. You see them all the time growing along creeks and on lake shores where the roots can get water all the time sort of like Bald Cypress. I bet it comes back no problem as willows are almost a weed in the way they produce growth.

ed

 

[Smoke]

It's not so much the "heat" that is causing your problem as it is the pot dries out on the sun side faster. 89 degrees is not enough to cause that much damage. It has been an average of 104 here for two weeks straight. If I were not diligent I would have nothing. Soil dries out fast here and that is what kills roots.

 

[iant]

Makes sense. I've been watering once daily. Plant is doing fine, just a few less roots in a half circle! I'll adjust things.

 

[xray360]

I don't have much experience but I would think simply rotating the tree may help so the same side isn't always drying out. Maybe quarter turns every week.

 

[bonhe]

I used the old white T shirts to cover for all my bonsai pots in the summer!
Bonhe

 

[edprocoat]

I used the old white T shirts to cover for all my bonsai pots in the summer!
Bonhe

bonhe, I only have one thing to say,

Wisk, removes Ring Around the Collar !!

ed