Re-planting Pot-Bound and Bare-Rooted Plants.
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Root-Bound Plants
If a recently purchased plant comes out of the pot easily and is not root-bound – plant it as is. Don’t worry if some of the soil falls away.
If the potted plant is so new in the container, as to have not yet settled, you may find all the soil falls away from the roots. Do not panic. Firstly, never buy from that retailer again. Then recover the fallen soil, re-mix it in with the new soil or potting-mix, then continue potting.
If after you have removed the pot and the plant is tight with roots, or root-bound, more roots than soil – you need to tease these roots apart before planting.
Sometimes you may need to cut the roots, if indeed the plant has been in the pot too long. These roots are cut like you would a melon, then tease the roots apart removing any damaged material. Probably a little hair cut will be in order, too.
As the roots have been growing around and around the pot, they can reach quite a length, unsuitable for re-potting. If you do not do this, the roots may continue to growing as they were doing in the original container. Even though the plant will continue to grow in it’s new pot, it’s growth will be slow if not stunted.
Should you find the plant is pot-bound and in need of some root assistance, once again, you may find yourself with no soil around the roots. Do not panic. Do not buy from that retailer again.
AND, do NOT mix those roots and soil back into the new potting-mix. If you include this with the soil being used in re-potting, as those roots inevitably start to rot, this may indeed create problems for any new roots trying to get a foot-hold and rot them too.
All damaged, bleeding, or loose roots should be removed. Either cut them back to the base of the root if heavily damaged, or, in the case of light damage just back to a healthy portion of the root.
In both these cases, including bare-rooted stock, the soil-less roots should be placed, as much as possible, in a fan like arrangement on top of a little hill of soil in the container. Being mindful of the original soil level on the plant and sticking to it, fill and tamp until you get to about an inch from the top of the container.
Water thoroughly, or soak the pot in a bucket of water, to remove any air bubbles.
Using the above information, you should have no trouble with re-planting pot-bound or bare-rooted plants.
Even as an introduction to the topic of gardening, this article on the subject of bare-rooted plants, is certainly a good place to start.
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