Do you use peat moss?

The vast majority of soil growers and those who use bagged soil grow in peat. You're losing a big chunk of roots because the plants are getting root bound and sticking to the bottom of the pot-it's not because of the peat. I actually read something interesting recently talking about increased root mass growing in peat over coir. Did your old soil use peat moss or do you not know? It most likely did.

As long as it's not straight peat moss, the soil should dry out just fine. Like I said, most people who grow in soil (or use bagged soil) are growing in peat. Was the soil pretty wet when you transplanted? That can often cause the bottom roots to pull off in the heavy wet soil of the pot. Most likely that (soil was too wet) or the plants were root bound. Want to share what's in your soil mix? HTH

 

[quote name='"Buckshot"']My soil mix uses 65% potting soil. The store I get it from recently switched the brand that they sell. This new brand has peat moss and I'm wondering if this is why my transplants are becoming more difficult.

The roots are sticking to the bottom of the pot and tearing off when I transplant. I'm losing a pretty big chunk of roots and I'm not sure why. My only guess is that the peat moss isn't letting the soil dry out properly.

Does anyone know what could be causing this? Do you use peat moss or a bag soil containing peat moss?[/quote]

You should always water your soil before u transplant so that doesnt happen

 

You transplant every 2 weeks? The best rule of thumb is to put your plant in the biggest pot you can and then don't disturb it. Most people start their seeds/clones in small pots, and then transplant into the final pot or transplant into a pot for veg and then a bigger pot for flowering. You definitely want to be transplanting less often, not more often. What size pots are you using? Also, when you say bone and blood meal at 3ml per L, are you using a liquid bone meal or something? I'm not familiar with that so just wondering. I would bet you just about anything that your last soil was peat-based. Your soil also might be compacted. When you put the soil in the pot, do you press it down in there really hard? (you don't want to do this btw). I'm not sure what's going on, but I do know that you should not be transplanting every 2 weeks and the problem is most likely not the peat.

 

Transplanting = stress, I only do it twice per grow some people don't do it at all and just start the plants in the bigger pots. IMO transplanting every two weeks sounds like a bad habbit to have.

Lots of good soil has peat moss mixed in, I use Bio-Bizz soil which has peat moss and perlite mixed in. You can mix your own, peat moss is good as it has no nutes in it but it can make the pH higher (Bio-Bizz has a neutral pH already mixed) Perlite is good to add as it helps drain the water.

 

I remember watching a video, where they taught how to transplant properly.

First they watered the plant thoroughly, let it dry up for 30 minutes and then transplanted in a bigger pot. After it was done, they watered the plant again. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[quote name='"Buckshot"']

I appreciate any info given but I believe you're incorrect. A transplant is much easier with dry soil. I'd like anyone to correct me if I'm wrong.[/quote]

It is alot easier when wet, the soil actually stays together...... Thts the way im dojng it till i die

 

watering before transplanting is a bad idea because the soil is heavy and it can cause the rootball to break apart damaging roots. if you let it dry out nicely all of the soil will have shrunk a little coming away from the pot. the pot should easily slip off with the root ball completely intact and it can be transplanted causing no stress to the plant

having a pot that is too big for the plant will cause the soil to stay damp for too long limiting oxygen to the roots. you should be looking for a good wet/dry cycle, watering about every 3 days with it getting so dry the plant is near wilting before its watered and then it should get a thorough watering. this gives the roots lots of oxygen. you can visibly see the plants get a boost as the soil gets really dry

 

[quote name='"jetski"']watering before transplanting is a bad idea because the soil is heavy and it can cause the rootball to break apart damaging roots. if you let it dry out nicely all of the soil will have shrunk a little coming away from the pot. the pot should easily slip off with the root ball completely intact and it can be transplanted causing no stress to the plant

having a pot that is too big for the plant will cause the soil to stay damp for too long limiting oxygen to the roots. you should be looking for a good wet/dry cycle, watering about every 3 days with it getting so dry the plant is near wilting before its watered and then it should get a thorough watering. this gives the roots lots of oxygen. you can visibly see the plants get a boost as the soil gets really dry[/quote]

My roots have never broke once when wet, they have when dry

 

how could they break when dry? there's no weight there? just let it get dryer until it sets

 

if the plant is seriously root bound it will be ok wet or dry but if not root bound its best to have it dry so its set in to shape. wet soil falls apart easily dry hard clumps doesn't

 

^word. A seriously root bound plant will hold its shape whether wet or dry. With a plant that is not root bound, however, that wet soil will try to hold on to the plant roots. Roots just have a much harder time slipping easily out of wet, heavy soil. Slightly damp soil (like watered a day or two before) is what I've found to be best after transplanting thousands upon thousands of plants. hth

 

Me too

There is more than one way to grow plants, slighty damp soil works best IMO but I have transplanted when the soil is wet or dry in the past when I've had to

 

that has no logic at all. I'm not saying wet soil WILL fall apart but it is much more likely to than dry soil. unless you have very different soil from the UK. do you grow in sand perhaps? lol

 

there's nothing wrong with the soil, your are drowning them. stop watering so often, let the soil dry right out. if your unable to judge when they need watering properly then wait until the plant starts to wilt a little. it won't harm them, even if they wilted loads to the point of harm they will still bounce back when watered