Hi Alan, I would say go for better root system, for two reasons:
1. In reference to your question of restricting root growth, think bonsai. A big part of growing bonsai, or basically miniaturized plants, is restricting root growth and trimming of roots. If a plant with a large leaf surface area is to do well, it must have a sufficient active root mass to take up the necessary nutrients and water to sustain said leaf area, as well as to continue to grow and flower. Plants with a minimum of roots will have a much harder time dealing with water stress. 2. Most people will tell you that encouraging too much leaf growth too fast leads to "soft" growth, i.e. wimpy. Rapid leaf growth doesn't necessarily lead to more effective use of light energy, but more likely to poorly structured foliage susceptible to sunburn, water stress, and pests. Hopefully someone who knows more about plant physiology will weigh in on this too. Julia ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2005 13:02:33 -0000 From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [OGD] bigger leaves or bigger roots To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" Hi Group, I have been wondering about a general cultural question. Confining my question to orchids growing in pots or flats. Which would be the quickest way to mature plants? I am assessing maturity as the production of flowering size growths or bulbs. Would it be best to feed plants with a regime that encourages extra root growth, as extra big roots encourage bigger leaves? Or would it be better to increase the leaf size by feeding a regime that encourages leaf expansion and so thereby increases photosynthesis and faster growth leads to maturity quicker. By restricting the root growth of plants, does one also limit leaf expansion and growth or does the plant simply put more leaf growth out as the roots are not growing so much? I do know your can grow huge plants of Cymbidiums or Paphs by growing them in beds with extensive root runs, Obviously the two are interdependent but I have been wondering which is the more important? Is it likely that there is a general plant physiology answer that would hold true for orchids and non-orchids. Thanks for any input. With regards Alan L Winthrop _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
