To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Since I'm keeping my container grown plants on the edge of my southwest facing porch they are obviously leaning towards the sun, albeit oh so slightly.

Should I rotate the containers to encourage verticality?

:birthdaynana:

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Rotate ... the other side of the plant needs sun tooo.

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

I rotate to get rid of the Detroit lean.

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Fast fact....plants such as most ferns will not tolerate a spin.

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Yes, defo, give 'em a spin. It may not reproduce nature's conditions precisely but most of what we do to our plants isn't natural(!). If we're going to confine them to containers, feed and water them ourselves rather than let them choose, then revolving has got to be good for fair shares of sunlight to all parts. I vote with the motion.

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

My hanging baskets of Boston ferns spin "naturally", but I'm guessing the morning light isn't enough to have that much of a negative effect.

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Larger ferns like tree ferns or vase shaped ferns have issues with the spin......it is like an eighth turn a week.... technical fern stuff.
The plant adapts to the slow rotation.
If the rotation is more than that the ferns form is toasted.

The fronds twist and bend towards the light......making the vase shape like a Chihuly.
Bostons will not react to this so readily as different plants.

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Yes, and if on the ground or weed cloth it deters the roots from growing through

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Just adding to the thread.

I rotated a bunch of plants today.
They all had the lean.

Oxalis had the best lean with the Malanga a close second.

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Thanks everyone.

I've rotated my containers and they are looking straight and tall.

Six(!) containers of Dwarf Cavendish turning my porch into a jungle.

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Where are the pictures?

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

I'd appreciate some comments on the size of my containers!

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Container size looks ok. But those pots hold water in the bottom which can start root rot. ... The pots need to drain and be raised above any water in the saucer. When the top of the pot is dry the bottom is still wet and that is where the roots are.

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Those pots have about 3-4" of styrofoam in the bottom so they aren't as heavy as they would be full of planting medium. They're a bit tippy but they drain as well as my pots of cactus full of gritty mix.

edit - and I drain the saucers after watering :)

Re: To Rotate Or Not Rotate? That Is The Question.
 

Beautifull. Is all I got to say.