I need to repot, but I am unsure of how to minimise damage and shock to the roots. Basically I'm mixing some pearlite into my compost, but the pot the plant was originally in had no pearlite and the compost was too compact. So obviously I need to get the pearlite etc nearer the roots, but how should I do it without hurting the plant?
I've just repotted, and wow! The roots were so compacted they had no where to grow. No wonder I've been having such problems. I slightly crumbled the substrated attached to the root -very gently- so as to allow darinage. The substrate is damp, but not wet per se. When should I water next?
Water right away. And watch in amazement this coming week - your plant will go into turbogrow as the roots penetrate and draw nourishment from the fresh soil. I have yet to see any plant suffer any shock as a result of careful repotting.
water until it drains out of the bottom, of course pouring more towards the outside in a circular motion
So long as the roots aren't bound in tight circles when you repot they will recover very easily, otherwise you need to loosen them and "damage" to stimulate regrowth.
I do not find that is the case. When I transplant females from the 5 litre containers I start them in, to their final 50 litre containers, I disturb the roots as little as possible. I surround the root ball with new soil, and watch the plant burst into renewed growth as the roots enter the fresh soil.
The soil around the roots was so compact that something really needed to be done, so I slightly loosened it, and very slightly broke it up so water and oxygen to get to the roots. No droop so far, but don't think enough water has been given, as not all the pots drained water out. So water once more, and then leave it for a few days - at least that's what I've read in books is the best thing. Is it best to empty the excess water out of the collection tray so the pot doesn't sit in water?