transplanting.... has to happen eventually

[TheAlaskan324]

well, it's late at night of course, and I had gotten bored to I decided I might as well try to transplant some plants, first off, I got my Black Pearl out of it's old coffee can, and wow, the whole thing was a giant root ball, and well I think that it is gonna like it's new home in a 2 gallon or maybe it's a 3 gallon bucket. now the time it had taken me to do so was about maybe 15-20 minutes, the dumb handle part had gotten in my way and it was a pain trying not to break the roots off to get it out.

now for the other two that I transplanted was my 2 cold hardy orange plants, they were in little starter plugs, and I was surprised on how much time it took to get the little b@sterds out of them plugs, but they were easier to get them out then the pepper plants, but they were still apita to do so.

now, do any of you guys ever dread trying to get your plants transplanted without destroying or disturbing the roots as little as possible?

 

[franzb69]

just make sure the medium you use don't get compacted so the transplant process will be relatively easy. and when i transplant, i normally include the original soil to keep the roots almost untouched. unless the roots are really rootbound or when the plant has some sort of disease or infestation.

 

[AlabamaJack]

now, do any of you guys ever dread trying to get your plants transplanted without destroying or disturbing the roots as little as possible?

thats one of the reasons why I don't use the plugs...as you say, they are a PIA...I use a simple seed starting mix in the 72 cell seed starting trays...makes transplanting as easy as falling off a log...

 

[jolokia_jas]

Root damage doesn't concenr me too much chilli plants (IMO) are tougher than we give them credit for, I think a little tease of the roots is important to allow them to grow into there new home.

A lot of people on here actually cut the root ball down prior to over wintering too, so I think a broken root here or there won't bother the plants too much. Other people slash the root ball prior to potting up to encourage new root growth, which I beleive increases nutrient up take, thus a faster/bigger growing plant.

Just my 2 cents.



Jas

 

[POTAWIE]

Personally I try not to disturb the roots at all to avoid any transplant shock. I find transplanting very simple and never have root damage with cells like AJ mentioned or plastic pots. Once there is a good root ball they should slide out easily all in one piece, it just takes a little practice

 

[thaichillihead]

I've disturbed pepper roots with complete potting mix replacement many times. It takes them a few days to adjust, but I've never had one die on me. I don't cut the main taproot. Lateral roots are replaceable.