I am gonna transplant but my roots are growing through the smart pot bottom. What is the best way to transplant without damaging my baby? Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
This is why I don't like smart pots. Not very smart at all, they damage roots. I guess your two options are cut the protruding roots off so you can take the pot off, or keep the pot on and put it in a bigger pot with the idea that the roots will grow through the small pot in to the bigger one
Nothing to worry about. I use SmartPots with SIP's and the roots always grow through the pot into the reservoir. I move my plants around regularly, and rip/tear/destroy those water roots all the time. The plants don't even notice... FWIW, I've found that transplanting out of SmartPots is easiest if you can set the pot on something stable with a slightly smaller base (like another pot of some kind (stiff of course) or a gallon paint can) and peel the SmartPot off like a condom. Works a lot better if the soil is fairly dry...
They are designed to air prune your roots thats why they are growing through. When you transplant your root pruning, most of the weaker outside feeder roots with get ripped and grow back twice as wild and healthy while the important inner "core" is left alone. Another thing I do (usually for transplanting outdoors) and if your worried about hurting them, ill take my 5g smart pot that has my plant in it and just plant the entire smart pot into the ground. It wears the pots more then normal but saves the root ball and no stress on the plant.
Thanks for all the great advice everyone. I was worried by ripping the roots it would kill or stress my girl out. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
It's not going to kill it, but it's definitely not good for it. However, as long as it's still vegging they will all grow back in time