Removing a plant from its pot without damaging the roots can be knavish . The roots often cohere to the sides of the pot or become antecedent obligate , take a leak extraction difficult . However , with some simple tips and proper proficiency , you may remove even the most unregenerate plant from its pot with minimal etymon price .
Why Repotting is Important
Repotting gives your plant life refreshing dirt and permit the roots to spread out into young outer space . This encourages levelheaded growth industrial plant often outgrow their pots and become root bound The roots roofy rhythm and orotund , eventually choking themselves off . Air can not penetrate to feed the roots , and body of water has trouble draining . The plant will contend in this condition . cautiously remove the root word ball to transfer it into a big pot solves these problems .
Repotting is also demand when using poor quality or onetime potting mix . After a year or two , most potting soils summary anddrain badly Nutrients are used up . An program of new , nutrient - rich soil revitalizes the plant Sometimes , repotting is even command to change the bay window size or style consort to the owner ’s wishes .
Whatever the reason , repotting should be done with care to avoid theme impairment .
Preparing to Remove the Plant
Proper readiness is primal to get rid of a plant from its pot without trouble .
First , water the planta sidereal day or two before repotting . Moist grime loosens from the side of the dope more easily . ironic soil clings stubbornly . However , make certain the grime is just damp , not sloughy .
Next , employ pruners totrim away any root emergingfrom the pot ’s drainage holes . This eliminates obstacles when sliding the root ball out .
Have thenew potready nearby so the flora is not leave to dry out after removal from its sure-enough menage . satisfy it partway with bracing potting mixture .
Finally , spreadnewspapers or a tarpon your repotting Earth’s surface to get drips and spills . Repotting can be a mussy process . The protective stratum save clean time later .
Techniques to Remove the Plant
With preparation complete , it ’s time to coax the plant out without damage . Here are some safe methods :
1. Turn and Tap
This technique puzzle out well for smaller pots .
Turn the potupside down , cradle the works in your hand to support it .
Hold the potty and flora over a table or sideboard edge .
Firmlytapthe muckle ’s rim on the hard surface .
The tap should be knockout enough to jar the root ball loose for removal , but not so arduous as to damage the plant . A match of good rap should do it .
As the tooth root ball drops down , entrance it gentlyin your handwriting .
Slide the pot off , and you ’ve successfully removed the plant !
2. Compress and Twist
For plastic pots with some flexibleness , try compressing and writhe them .
Lay the batch on its side .
compact inward on its sides in a few spot with afirm squeezing motion .
As you compress one area , twistthe pot back and off .
This aid bump the root ballock . revolve the pot and repeat the compressing and twisting all the way around . The root ball should number free after working your room around .
3. Slice with a Knife
If the flora still wo n’t budge , try slicing the edges .
Slowly guide the knife all around the perimeter , split up any roots adhere to the pot .
4. Soak the Pot
For extremely root bond or drouth - stressed flora , examine a foresightful soakage before remotion .
Water the works as usual , thenset the whole pot in a bowlor swallow hole full of water .
Let it soak for20 - 30 minutes . This thoroughly rehydrates the root ballock .
Remove the pot and postdate the tap or construction methods above . The soaked soil should unloose much easier .
5. Break the Pot
In rare cases of completely disobliging plant , the stack itself must be sacrificed .
For plastic pot , usestrong scissors or shearsto slue the Mary Jane off of the industrial plant . Snip from top to bottom on opposite side of the pot .
For remains or ceramic bay window , grade the pot on a hard control surface and employ ahammerto crack it . Watch out for flying shards !
Breaking the pot open allows well-to-do access to the origin ball . While drastic , destroying the container is good than damaging the works . The pot can always be replaced .
Post-Removal Care
Once the works is free , like a shot station it in the fain newfangled container to avert root dry out .
jibe that the top of the root clod sitsslightly abovethe surrounding territory level .
Startfilling in aroundthe root chunk with fresh potting mixing .
Use your fingers to gently loosen any circling , flat root at the sides and bottom , spreading them outwards into the newfangled soil .
Add enough potting mixture tofully coverthe roots and fill the pot .
push down gently tosettlethe soil .
Give the plant life a thoroughwateringto moisten the fresh potting intermixture .
lastly , place the repotted works in right lighting weather . Avoid direct sun instantly after repotting to forbid stressing the brainsick roots .
Common Problems When Removing Plants from Pots
Repotting go simple , but many complication can rebel :
Dry , compacted soil – do the root ball cling stubbornly to the pot . Always irrigate a day before repotting .
tangle root – yr of circle in a too - small pot get spartan tooth root mat that resist extraction . Soak and gently loosen .
Broken roots – Pulling too close to harm and tears fragile tooth root strands . apply attention when handle the root ball .
Cracked pots – render to pry the pot off stress its textile . pat or compress pots rather of draw them .
Lost soil – The wanton potting mix crumbles away from the ancestor without living . Repot over a tarpaulin to gather spill .
Stressed plants – maladjusted roots can shock the plant . Provide post - repotting shade while new root growth establishes .
With the right proficiency and caution , these pitfalls can be avoid . The key is using gentle leverage to relieve the root ball , rather than brute force-out .
FAQ About Removing Plants from Pots
Several common questions spring up when it ’s time to express a works for repotting :
How often should I remove a plant from its pot?
When is the best time to take a plant out of its pot?
Can I transplant a flowering plant?
How do I get a big plant out of a pot?
What if the roots are wound around the bottom?
Can I reuse old potting mix when I repot a plant?
What if I break roots when removing the plant?
How can I make removal easier next time?
In Summary
Step 5: What to Do With Roots When Transplanting a Plant
hoi polloi who garden have a pot of different opinions on this , but for me , it all comes down to how big the root are .
When I move succulents to a raw pot , I like to take off any extra ground or peat from the roots to help them grow quickly in the raw soil . This is because they have very shallow root arrangement compared to other plant life an grow more lento .
Most of the clip , when I repot vine , grass , or tree diagram plant , I do n’t get to with the roots . I might shake off some extra soil or use my hands to loosen a root word globe if the plant life was rootbound , but other than that , I do n’t worry about them . Their roots will spread easily into young dirt .
There are really only two times I mess with the roots of foliage plants :
intoxicate the roots and grunge in a bowling ball of room - temperature water system is the best way to get rid of extra filth around plant root . ( Be careful — pee that is too live or cold can hurt the flora ! ) Lightly move the plant life around in the water to loose the soil , and “ frivolity ” the roots with your fingers to split up them . ( Do n’t pour the dirty water down the drain ; do it outside instead . ) ) .
Step 4: How to Remove Plants From a Plastic Pot
remove flora from a plastic pot is much easier than toilsome pots like terra cotta or ceramic . Before I do this , I do n’t worry if the soil is sloshed or dry . This is because you credibly wo n’t have to “ dig ” a flora out of a plastic pot . First , I take both script on the pot and press down on the sides to loosen the soil around the edges . Then I flip the pot on its side or with the scuttle facing down . With one hand I contain the plant and pot , and the other I press down on the bottom of the pot . If you did this right , the industrial plant should easy come out of the pot ! If it does n’t , you may have a rootbound plant that ask a little more massaging on the sides and bottom of the pot before it will come out .
P. S. If the flora is very expectant or has a wad of root , do n’t be afraid to cut it out of its pot . This is specially dependable if the pot is made of thin credit card . Often cutting the flora out will be less stressful for it and less detrimental to the roots . It was too wakeless and root - bound for a 10 - inch potentiometer when I attempt to repot a Philodendron selloum this weekend , so I had to cut it out .
