What to do with overgrown roots?

Root ballroot ball

Image – Flordeplanta.com.ar

The plants that we have in pots over time are running out of enough space for their roots. These grow adapting to the container, and when they can no longer do so, they come out through the drainage holes.

Although it is not a problem in itself, if we did nothing, there would come a time when it would be quite difficult for us to extract the plant. Knowing this, What to do with the roots that have grown too much?

Roots sticking out of drainage holes

Roots coming out of drainage holes

El transplant It is the most recommended option. When the roots have grown so large, it is because the plant urgently needs a somewhat larger pot. The question is, how do you get it out? Very easy, as follows:

  1. The first thing to do is tap the pot so that the root ball is “detached” from it.
  2. Then, we take the pot and tilt the plant down a little, putting a hand at the base of it.
  3. Finally, we carefully pull out.

If we see that the roots are very tangled, before performing these steps we have to patiently untangle them. It may be necessary to break the pot, something we can do with scissors or a serrated knife.

Afterwards, all that remains is to plant it in a new container with new substrate and give it a good watering.

Trim the roots

bonsai mom

Bonsai mame

When we have, for example, a bonsai or a hard plant like a rose bush, we can (and in fact, we must do it in the first case) cut the roots. This task it will be done with scissors previously disinfected with alcohol at the end of winter.

We have to remove it from the pot, and with a stick or a small rake we will comb the roots to untangle them. To make it easier for us, we can put the root ball in a bowl with water. Then, we will cut out those that have grown excessively, and we will remove those that look black.

Finally, we will plant them in a new pot.

Has it been useful to you?

What to do with overgrown roots?

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