I would leave it for now. It sounds like it happy.

What is the size of the pot versus the size of the plant?

Marsha

It's planted in one of those standard black nursery pots and the plant is about 2 1/2 feet tall.

Hey Mulch Lady,

I just repotted a plant today with an inflo from a standard black nursery pot. Carefully I cut away the pot and didn't even disturb the root ball at all. The plant was so root bound that I had to give it some room. The new black standard nursery pot is twice the size of the original. Two weeks ago I did the same on other plumeria plants and they are very happy now...so my thought is if you are very careful then repot and give it some fert. and superthrive and watch your plant perk up and smile at you!!! Laura

I would wait. When you transplant a root bound plant you need to cut the roots or open them up so they can expand and grow new rootlets. This process is a shock to the plant and often stops the flowering process. By just moving a bound root ball into a large hole, you actually still have a bound plant which will expand the roots at a fraction of what would happen if you properly broke up the bound section. After the plant finishes flowering, you can easily and properly make your transplant or you can wait until the end or dormancy in March. Bill

Hey Bill,

So I really messed up then by repotting my root bound plant...I didn't break up the ball at all thinking it would be OK any suggestions on trying to fix what I just did today or with the ones I repotted last week? Now I really feel bad...I guess I'm trying to hard to do the right thing!!! Laura

Laura- Just wait until next March and then remove the plant from its pot and dip the dirt and roots in a tub of water and B-1. Move up and down to release the soil mix. Open up any tight roots and score the roots with a razor blade. Replant in a well draining soil and water every 10 days with B-1 and water. You didn't really mess up. you just did not correct the problem of root bound. Scoring makes little cuts that allow the rootlets to start from and grow outward. A root bound plant has choked off many root ends and when these are loosened up the tips can grow again. I would not do this now unless you have no inflos. In the spring you have no leaves or inflos so the plant is not going to have shock yet this is when the roots begin to grow. I find this is the best time to transplant. Bill

I guess I have a question in the same lines I have a plumeria that is about 3 ½ to 4 tall it is a "Y" shape and has not been replanted for 4 years. I live in Minnesota and I have to bring it inside from fall to spring. So if I go with a bigger pot it will be too hard to move. So is it advisable to remove it and replant it in the same pot with new soil? (it is 66 right now in MN and itÂs July 1st burr)

Northstar- how big is your pot right now? I always suggest any root work at the beginning of the growing season (about Feb-March) At that time you can root prune if the pot is bigger than 5 gallon. Pull out the root ball and soil from the pot. cut two inches off the bottom with a saw and cut two inches around the outside of the soil pack. Put two inches of new soil in the bottom of the pot and place the plant in the center. Fill in around with two inches of new soil mix. Water with B-1 and/or superthrive and water and let dry out inside. You can also soak the new soil in water and B-1 before you put it in the pot and not water the old soil. This justs waters the cut root ends and stimulates growth. This lasts several years depending on the size of the pot. Bill

you can root prune while still in the pot too.
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Bill...

I have two large plumies that I need to transplant 'sometime' (but right now I really don't want to do it because we have been in the middle of a heat wave--above record 100+ degree temps for over the past couple weeks--very little rain :( and one is in full bloom... ).

When I do transplant, I would like to know: seeing your plant pic above, and knowing you cut w/a saw the sides of the roots, how do you 'unstick' the roots on the very bottom of the clay pot? Is it better to do it when the rootball is dry--like the one pictured above? Do you put anything in the bottom of the pot (prior to adding your soil medium) when transplanting?

These are the only two I have in large clay pots--all the rest are in plastic. But these two are thriving and blooming in the clay pots. :)

Thanks Bill!!!

~Mary Jane

Mary Jane- I just lean the pot over and slowly pull the center wad out. Then I cut two inches off the bottom. I dig out all the old roots and soil in the pot. Put two inches of new soil in the pot, center the rootball, and fill in around the rootball. Do it in February or March so plant grows new roots and is not shocked because it is dormant. Bill

Bill...

Will do!!!

I do have a question for you....at what point do you repot/transplant plumie's earlier in the year? I usually wait until the weather warms up and I have top growth on the plants, so that way I know when I repot/transplant, I can water well w/ST & B-1, and add some slow release granule fertilizer and some bone meal to the potting medium. Otherwise, if you transplant when they are dormant, I would be afraid to water them because of no top growth which could = rot ...can you clarify this?

You are a wealth of info my friend!

Thanks in advance...

~Mary Jane

this is a rooted plant not a cutting. When you normally start your first watering is an ideal time to have pruned. But no slow release fertilizer and bone meal yet. First, the ST+B1 encourages root growth and eases any shock. Wait about two weeks for root growth to be stimulated before exposing to fertilizers which can burn young roots. You can transplant any time of the year, but if the plant gets shock, it can inhibit flower growth. Root pruning and transplanting are two different processes. Bill

I see.

So it's still ok to water (w/ST+B1) when one is about to 'root prune or transplant' (without any fertilizers...) while it's dormant or just before they are due to leaf out?

I do realize the pic is of a 'root pruned' situation.

Thanks Bill...

~MJ

Mulchlady,

Just wanted to throw in another opion about repotting. Unless my plumerias are showing inflos, I usually do MOST of my repotting in the summer months (June/July)...because our weather is so warm and humid (Equatorial conditions!), the plants don't seem to skip a beat, and any stress from the repotting is more than offset by the benefits of fresh soil and space for new root growth. Make sure you take care to keep root damage to a minimum. Even if the root ball is somewhat tight, new rootlets will eventually form in the new soil and (in my opinion) will only help the plant grow better/larger/stronger. Also, you will not need to water as often. Rootbound plants may require water every day. What to do when you go on vacation? Lose plants. Not worth it. Just repot.

Also, if I repot in Spring before they really get going, I find I run the risk of a too-wet soil and rot.

But this is only my opinion and may not be a real popular one! Just sayin' what works for me in Virginia.