Forum home Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Rootbound/teasing

BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
I'm aware of 'teasing' roots but it feels like 'ripping' when I do it :o 

How much would you disturb the roots of this trollius europaeus, for example?



And would the rootbound nature of the plant be the reason it looks like this or is it just dying back?



East Lancs

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's just dying back. Geraniums can cope with any abuse  :)
    It probably could be put into a bigger pot though.
    I'd be quite rough with the first one. It's very pot bound.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You do need to free those roots or they’ll just keep growing round and round,  the plants dying off anyway.  It won’t matter if you break some, plenty there. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I think you could plant it out in the garden now, there’s plenty of root, but see what others think. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    Thanks folks!

    The roots have been assaulted and I've put it in a bigger pot for the winter (the planned planted destination won't be ready for a while @Lyn), which was always the plan once I saw the roots coming through the bottom of the pot.

    I guess the extent of the root formation in that small pot is the reason it was included in a cheap-as-chips, lucky dip, dozen perennials offer @fairygirl ;)
    East Lancs
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Ah - I see. If it's filling that pot it might benefit from a bit more room, even though it's fairly dormant now. If you have somewhere to plant it out, you could do that though.  :)  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    Too late for this time, @Biglad, I see you've done it.  I always used to wonder how we're supposed to "tease apart" a rootball; if I tried to pick the roots with my fingers, they just broke off.  Then I had the idea of using a handfork, and it often works well.  Push the fork into the side of the rootball, about half way down it, and wiggle the fork towards the bottom.  Turn the rootball round and repeat, two or three times.
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    Thanks @josusa47 I've got another half dozen new plants to inspect tomorrow. None of them seem to be filling their pots quite like the pictured trollius was, but I'll try your method if I find any teasing is required ;)
    East Lancs
Sign In or Register to comment.