Why are the roots growing differently in different containers?

15 years ago

I spent the better part of a day potting up several outdoor containers (and yes, they are still in the green house -- still a tad too cold here to put them out -- but I'd bought the flowers and wanted to get the containers done.) Anyway, it took me much, much longer than I had anticipated, and the reason for that was because of the little, 4-pack plants that I used for fillers. I found that in virtually all of the plants, their roots were root bound and going in a circular way from the top to the bottom of the potting medium. I felt I needed to painstakingly loosen up these roots in order to give the plants their best advantage in the pots, and not just let them continue to grow their roots around the plant. At least, doing this -- releasing a root bound plant -- is what I've always been taught and read was the best course of action. I also noticed that the bigger plants had their roots somewhat root bound, but only minimally (early in the season) and the roots were growing down toward the base of the pot, and in some cases, out the drainage holes or around the base of the pot. In comparison to those tiny plants, these were easy to "unbind" as they involved just a few roots to loosen up. I don't understand -- why would the roots of plants grow so differently just because they're in a smaller pot? Or does it have nothing to do with the pots? And does anyone have a faster way to loosen up these root-bound little babies? I have a LOT more to do, mainly because I'm adding an annual bed, and adding some annuals to some perennial beds. Many thanks for any help. MacThayer

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Comments (3)

justaguy2
15 years ago
My guess is that the larger plants were potted up before sale so the roots didn't have time to spiral around the bottom yet. Just a guess.

Anyway, I don't take any care to loosen roots of annuals. I just rip the bottom 1/4 or so off and plant. I figure that whole section is so wound up why bother trying to straighten it? Losing those roots doesn't hurt the plant much and it recovers very quickly.

If the idea of just mercilessly ripping the bottom 1/4th of the root mass off seems scary, just do it to a couple and observe them. They will be just fine and then you will have the confidence to do it with the rest.
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
15 years ago
There are lots of reasons why the roots might behave differently in different growing containers, and the container itself is just one of them. Soil volume, soil type/make-up, watering method, even watering intervals can have an effect on how rootage grows. How root-bound a plant becomes is a product of many variables, too. Plant vigor, plant vitality, and the length of time in the same container are the primary factors, but many other cultural factors also play a part.

When I'm planting up a container, I too, rip the bottom half or more of the roots off all the plants I'm transplanting if they are at all root bound. After many years of planting containers, I can say that plants treated this way that were tight in their containers will establish and regain vitality MUCH more quickly than root bound plants that are just plopped into the container & left to their own devices. Even plants that have recently been bumped up or are not root bound get the soil shaken from the roots before transplanting. I've had plants in the past that refused to grow all summer - just sat there. When I examine them in the fall when I take the containers apart, I often discover the roots are still in their cute little cell-pak form. That never occurs when I maul the roots before transplanting into containers or the ground.

Al
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jodik_gw
15 years ago
I, too, "maul" the roots of annuals after popping them out of their little 4 packs... only, I don't rip off any of them... instead, I spread them out by gently ripping apart the roots from the bottom center outward. They recover fairly fast and go on to grow quite well.

I either rip apart or cut an X in the bottom of the root ball of most plants that I'm taking out of nursery containers... they're almost always root bound, some more than others. Plants with thick roots, like shrubs, I'm more gentle with... little annual flowers just get the "mauling"! It's much easier and faster, and I can get a lot more planted that way!

Why are the roots growing differently in different containers?

Comments (3)

justaguy2

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

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jodik_gw

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