Transplanting

ID #1278

Why do I need to transplant?

Contributed by: Thurgood Jenkins

Roots grow outward for stability, so they naturally collect at the edges of the container and leave much of the soil in the middle of the pot unused. This will cause slowed growth because the roots may restrict each other. Transplanting allows for a more efficient root mass, as the space in the middle of the final container will be used.

Allowing the roots to collect at the edges of your 1-gallon pot, will ensure a more efficient root mass when transplanting to a 3-gallon pot. Each time you transplant, you can also bury the plant up to the first node or branch to shorten it's overall height.

Added by: Kunta wears a sarong

It might be worth mentioning that you can bury the plant low or high in the pot you are transplanting to as well; that way all your plants will start off being the same height. Transplanting high might be a good idea for patio growers in high rainfall conditions - this will help drainage.

When
Transplanting should be done a day after watering because moist roots and soil (not soaking wet or bone dry) will slide out of the old pot easier. The soil will hold together better, and less root damage will occur.

How
You should loosen the root bound roots from the bottom and lower sides of the root ball by teasing them out loosely and gently - this will help the transition. if there are too many hanging down after teasing, then it is ok to cut or tear a few handfuls of roots away. If the roots are wrapped around the root ball in the shape of the original pot, then it's best to cut these away to promote faster root penetration into the new pot.

Timing
The secret is the timing of the transplant; you want when the roots have filled the original pot, but before the roots have wrapped around and the plant has become root bound.

The danger of transplanting too early is that when you up can the pot and lift off the pot some of the soil and young roots may become damaged due to the fact that there is insufficient amount of roots to hold all the soil together.

The danger of waiting too long before transplanting is that growth will slow, as the plant has insufficient root room to match the above ground growth – ultimately yielding less. In addition, micro deficiencies, dehydration and other problems occur more frequently with root bound plants. Root-bound plants also take awhile to become vigorous again.

My Technique
My preferred method of transplanting is to moisten the pots I'm going to transplant, moisten the new soil at the bottom of the new pots with a garden mister (the pump up models are best - misters are by far the best way to moisten the soil because they act like rain and do not compact the soil).

Mist each 3-inch layer of soil - lightly sprinkle around the old root ball in the new pot - this will create the best conditions for new growth. Roots will reach out and grow much faster into a light, airy moist soil than the compacted mud created by a hose or watering can to wet down the soil

I believe that many problems are caused initially by compacting the soil.

Lightly moisten your soil before and after transplanting. If a lot of water is pouring out of the holes in the bottoms of your pots when transplanting, then you are probably over wetting the soil and creating soil compaction.

Tips:
If your soil is lacking in soil conditioners (e.g. sand, rock gravel, perlite, vermiculite etc) and the roots have penetrated the new soil - then water again. In normal conditions this would be 4 - 7 days after transplanting. Try to emulate the natural action of rain: pump up misters, watering wands, sprinkler type watering cans are best - forget about using a hose as this may compact the soil and it is also very easy to over water (quickly leaching out nutrients from the soil).

All the soil mix ingredients should be mixed in dry.... never stir or mix wet soil mixes, as they will turn to useless mud.

Categories for this entry

Last update: 2006-02-23 13:07
Author:
Revision: 1.0

Print this record Print this record
Send to a friend Send to a friend
Show this as PDF file Show this as PDF file
Export as XML-File Export as XML-File

Please rate this entry:

Average rating: 4.5 from 5 (6 Votes )

completely useless 1 2 3 4 5 most valuable

You can comment on this entry

Comment of af (2008-10-01 20:34:51):
warhammer gold warhammer money warhammer accounts tibia money tibia gold tibia item runescape accounts buy runescape accounts runescape money runescape gold runescape gp runescape power leveling runescape powerleveling cheap rs2 powerleveling runescape equipment buy rs equipment runescape runes cheap rs2 runes runescape logs cheap rs2 logs runescape items buy runescape items runescape quest point rs2 quest point cheap runescape questpoint runescape gold runescape items runescape power leveling runescape money runescape gold buy runescape gold buy runescape money runescape items runescape accounts runescape gp runescape accounts runescape money runescape power leveling runescape powerleveling tibia gold dofus kamas buy dofus kamas wow power leveling wow powerleveling runescape questpoint rs2 questpoint Warcraft PowerLeveling Warcraft Power Leveling World of Warcraft PowerLeveling World of Warcraft Power Leveling Hellgate money Hellgate gold buy runescape logs buy rs2 items cheap runescape items Hellgate London gold Guild Wars Gold buy Guild Wars Gold runescape items rs2 accounts cheap rs2 equipments lotro gold buy lotro gold buy runescape money buy runescape gold buy runescape runes lotro gold buy lotro gold runescape money runescape gold cheap rs2 powerleveling eve isk eve online isk buy runescape power leveling rs2 power leveling tibia gold tibia item runescape accounts Fiesta Silver Fiesta Gold Scions of Fate Gold Hellgate Palladium Hellgate London Palladium SOF Gold Age Of Conan Gold AOC Gold ArchLord gold tibia money tibia gold runescape accounts runescape gold cheap rs2 powerleveling buy ArchLord gold DDO Plat Dungeons and Dragons Online Plat

Comment of wow power leveling (2009-04-14 01:49:14):
Gold key link for (wow power leveling) the law by all, such (wow power leveling) as bubble shadow dream (wow power leveling) hallucinations, such (power leveling) as exposed as well as (wow gold) electricity, should be (wow powerleveling) the case zhang xiao chen

Comment of ljhha (2009-07-09 02:54:11):
The Basiclouboutin shoes Standard for christian louboutin shoesEnterprise Internalchristian louboutin Control was announcedlouboutin shoes discount in 2008 and islouboutin shoes sponsored by louboutin shoe salethe Ministry of Sale christian louboutinFinance, China Securities Buy christian louboutin StoreRegulatory Commission,

Comment of NHH (2009-07-09 02:55:55):
The new rule ed hardy capsrequires companiesed hardy shirts listed on the Shanghai or Shenzhened hardy women exchanges to conduct Tiffany jewellersself-evaluations of their Tiffany jewelryinternal controls,tiffany silver publish an evaluation Tiffany Braceletreport on an annual Tiffany Earringsbasis and hireTiffany rings qualified agenciesray ban sunglasses to audit theaviator sunglasses effectiveness ray ban wayfarerof theirray ban aviator internal ghdcontrols. The Basic Standardghd will apply to ghd hair straightenersover 900 companies ghd straightenerslisted on ghd hair ironthe Shanghai Stock Exchange ghd hair curlsand about 800 companies ghdlisted on the ghd hair straightenersShenzhen Stockghd straighteners Exchange.The backbone ghd hair ironof Basic Standard ghd hair curlsfor Enterprise ray ban sunglassesInternal Control is the COSOray ban aviator sunglasses risk framework, which establishes a broad definitionray ban sunglasses store of internal control extending to all parts of an organization. It lists five key control elements:

Comment of ljhha (2009-07-09 02:57:46):
Include thereplica handbags five controlreplica watches elements whenDesigner clothing establishing and Designer replica handbagsimplementingWholesale jewelry effectiveReplica rolex watches internal replica handbagcontrol ? EstablishReplica Handbags and implement Replica Watchesinternal control replica designer handbagspolicies ? EstablishCoach Handbags a suitable Gucci Handbagsbusiness Rolex Watchesmanagementhair straighteners information technologyGHD system with embedded chi hair straightenerscontrols ? Set Ladies Shopclear policies Women Shopon the rewards replica handbagsandwholesale handbags disciplines related replica designer handbagsto the properGucci Handbags implementation replica prada handbagsof internal control.replica watch Effectiveness of swiss replica watchesinternal control replica rolex watchesimplementationwholesale omega watches shouldpuma shoes be treatednike shoes as a keywomens clothes element of performanceed hardy clothing appraisalsAdidas Shoes forlacoste Clothes department wholesale clothingand staff wholesale handbagslevels ? Perform ghd hair straightenersself-assessment ofghd straighteners the effectiveness of its internal control ghdon a periodic basis and issue control self-assessment reports

Comment of adsad (2009-07-20 03:30:18):
MY wow power leveling BUY wow gold good wow power leveling buy wow gold my wow power leveling cheap wow gold cheap wow power leveling buy wow gold

Comment of ugg boots on sale (2009-11-23 18:50:48):
Ugg Classic Cardy Boots Ugg Classic Tall Boots Ugg Classic Short Boots

Comment of topuggshoes (2009-11-30 20:33:37):
Ugg Classic Tall Boots Ugg Classic Short Boots Ugg Classic Mini Boots Ugg new styles

Comment of hanyu (2009-12-04 00:31:47):
Support of the Lou Zhu, Lou Zhu worked hard Signature-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nothing is impossible for a willing heart. ugg bailey button ugg classic cardy