How To Repot Houseplants That Are Rootbound?

Repotting houseplants is a common and often necessary part of both indoor and outdoor plant care. It allows plants more room to grow and prevents soil depletion of moisture and nutrients. Alocasia, a popular choice, doesn’t need frequent repotting and is known for its health benefits. To repot a root-bound plant, follow these simple steps: remove the plant from its pot, dig up the plant from its original container, soak the roots, untangle the roots, cut into the root ball, prune the roots, and transplant into a larger pot.

When repotting, carefully remove the soil and plant from the pot by tipping it onto its side. Tip the pot on its side, firmly grip the very base of the plant, and pull it out of the container. The tightly constricted soil-root ball should come out in one. Remove the plant from its pot and slice down the sides of the thread roots (smaller, hair-like roots) up to three times using a sharp, clean knife. Tap the roots and untangle them a bit before replanting in a bigger pot.

To prune the roots, start with scissors, pruning shears, or a sharp knife, cutting around and under the plant’s root ball, removing both roots and soil. This will help the plant grow more freely and prevent soil depletion. If you prefer, you can also add slow-release plant food if desired. Repotting is a common and often necessary part of both indoor and outdoor plant care, and the proper method depends on the type of houseplant you are repotting.

Is it OK to cut roots on a root-bound plant?

Root pruning is a process that can improve the growth and health of perennial plants, small trees, and shrubs within a pot. If the plant is root-bound or growing too vigorously, it may be a candidate for this process. Properly done, root pruning can improve the plant’s overall health, especially for container plants that can become “pot-bound”. This occurs when the roots cannot take up enough nutrients and water to support the plant, and a severely root-bound plant can eventually die. To remove the outer soil and roots, use a sharp soil knife or pruning shears.

Should you break up the roots when repotting a plant?

To prevent a plant from strangling itself, cut through any roots in a circular pattern and remove the outer layer if thick. Untangle the root ball gently, as if you were mussing someone’s hair. The appropriate pot size depends on the plant’s growth rate, current conditions, and desired size. If unsure, go with the next size up. To prevent soil from leaking out the bottom of the pot, cover its drainage hole(s) with a paper towel, coffee filter, mesh screen, or pot shard. Place the pot shard convex side up to avoid sealing the hole. Avoid using gravel or charcoal in the bottom of pots as they don’t help with drainage and take up valuable space.

How to fix an extremely root-bound plant?

Root pruning is a method used to remove the roots of a tree or shrub that are severely root-bound, which can cause death. Experts have suggested various methods for planting root-bound plants, such as cutting down the sides of the root ball, cutting the root ball into two halves, or teasing out the roots using fingers. However, new evidence suggests that none of these techniques are truly effective. Researchers across the United States have tested several techniques on various trees to see how each approach affects a plant’s ability to grow out of a root-bound situation.

A study at the University of Minnesota found that root pruning works only if the planting depth is right. When buying a potted tree, a large portion of the stem is usually buried by the medium in the container. If plants are planted at the same depth as they were in their containers, they run the risk of planting them too deep. When soil is too high around a tree or shrub’s main stem, the top roots can surround the stem and compress it as the plant grows, eventually killing the plant. When planted too deep, all of the trees from the three sample groups had at least some roots that crossed the stem.

In conclusion, root pruning is an effective method for removing roots from a tree or shrub, but proper planting depth is crucial for success.

Should you soak roots when repotting?

If the new potting mix is slightly moist, soaking the root system when done is not necessary. Watering at the end can cause stress on the plant, so most newly-transplanted houseplants, especially cacti and succulents, should go a few days without additional water to allow their new roots to breathe and begin growing in their new space. For moisture-loving plants, watering sooner is recommended. The best bet is to stick to the level of soil moisture and the watering schedule your plant is used to.

If your plant is rootbound and wants to continue growing bigger, repotting in a bigger pot is the best choice. However, if you like the size your plant is now or the pot it’s already in, you might try root-pruning instead. Pruning the root ball may sound risky, but it’s not harmful, especially during the active growing season when the plant is producing new roots quickly. To prune the roots, remove the rootbound plant from its pot, use clean, sharp garden scissors or pruners to remove no more than a third of the root mass, and gently loosen the remaining roots, set the plant back in the container, and fill in with new soil as needed.

Should you wash roots when repotting?

Scientists are now recommending root washing before planting container trees to ensure their health and longevity. This method involves washing all soil from the roots of the tree before transplanting it. Previously, it was advised not to touch the root ball of a container tree during transplant due to the delicate nature of the roots and the risk of breaking smaller ones. However, the current view is that not washing the soil from the tree roots can cause more damage. This new horticultural approach is expected to improve the overall health of container-grown trees.

Should you untangle roots before repotting?

To repot a houseplant, loosen its roots and water it the day before repotting to soften the roots and eliminate any crusty, dry soil. If the roots have gathered into a tangled ball, untangle them gently and clean up broken roots before repotting. Add a few inches of soil to a new pot with a mix of potting soil and compost, place the plant in the pot, and lightly fill the rest of the container space with more soil without packing it down too much. The plant’s main stem should not sit deeper below the soil line than before repotting.

Prune the roots if the compacted roots are limiting the amount of soil nutrition it can absorb. Remove the plant from its pot and slice down the sides of the thread roots up to three times using a sharp, clean knife. Leave the tap roots intact to avoid injury. If the plant is looking worse for wear, it might not be a good plan to prune the roots, but if the plant still looks healthy and green, a little pruning can go a long way.

Should you remove old soil when repotting?

To repotted a plant, pour fresh potting mix into an empty planter, removing air pockets and creating crevices for extra water to pool. Place the plant on top of the mix, ensuring it is centered, and add more potting mix around it until secure. Avoid packing too much soil, as roots need space to breathe. Even out the potting soil on top and water well. A freshly repotted plant does not need to be fed fertilizer. This process ensures the plant’s health and growth.

How to repot a plant with a lot of roots?

In order to repot a plant, it is necessary to first remove the existing soil and plant from the pot. This may require some degree of physical exertion, such as using one’s elbow muscles. Subsequently, approximately one-third of the volume of soil should be added to the new pot, and the plant should be placed inside the pot.

What happens if I didn’t loosen the roots when repotting?

Planting pot-bound plants without loosening tangled and overgrown roots can cause them to grow in a circle instead of reaching out into the soil to anchor the plant. Teasing apart roots is similar to combing fingers through hair-dos, allowing them to loosen and increase their volume. Tease apart plant roots just before planting, using fingers to loosen and detangle them. Be gentle, but it’s okay if a few roots are broken. It’s better to have a couple of small, damaged roots than many intact ones.

If the roots are too tight, soak the entire root ball in water for a few hours or overnight. They will begin to float apart, making it easier to work the rest of roots apart with your hands. Don’t loosen every root, but try to ease apart as many as possible. If some roots have grown too long, give them a light pruning to fit neatly into the planting hole.

How to loosen a tight root ball?

To loosen tight roots from plants, soak the entire root ball in water for a few hours or overnight. This will make it easier to work the remaining roots apart with your hands. If some roots have grown long, light pruning can be done to fit neatly into the planting hole. If extreme cases occur, slice through the root ball with a sharp knife or pruners to loosen up the roots in all directions. This may seem harsh, but the plant will send out new feeder roots and should soon recover.

Annual plants, such as bedding plants and vegetable seedlings, are grown in small containers and often have knotted young roots. However, many gardeners don’t bother with annuals because they only grow for a short season and don’t need a strong root system. Perennial plants, especially trees and shrubs, receive the most attention and cannot be allowed to remain root-bound.