transplanting /magnesium issue

[beograd011]

Hi, i recently transplanted my three week old plants to 2-gallon pots. My first question is: when I was transplanting them, i let it get a bit dry then i coaxed the soil and roots and everything out of the pot, with the obvious intention of placing it in a hole that i dug in the new pots.

however, it 'crumbled' in my hand - the roots got moved around quite a bit before i was done repotting. i'm wondering how much damage this could have caused.

Also, i'm fairly sure i have a magnesium deficiency so as soon as i was done replanting I sprayed them with diluted epsom salts, as well as watering with them. i'm wondering, if it is in fact a magnesium deficiency, in how much time i can expect to see results. the plants are under a foot tall, maybe four or five nodes.

 

[Purplekrunchie]

Well, it's unlikely a magnesium problem will start at such a young age. And seeing how they sound like young plants I wouldnt worry alot about the roots. In the future, transplant them several hours after a good watering of only water.

 

[DoeEyed]

Well, it's unlikely a magnesium problem will start at such a young age. And seeing how they sound like young plants I wouldnt worry alot about the roots. In the future, transplant them several hours after a good watering of only water.

As long as you didn't rip the roots off, they should be fine.

 

[beograd011]

that's relieving, the roots seemed intact from what I can remember. thanks for the input.

 

[Brick Top]

For future reference .. when you repot follow the following steps.
　
Select the pot size you will be transplanting into. (I suggest growing in nothing smaller than 5-gallon pots and I normally use 7-gallon pots and I start out my plants in them and never repot.)
　
Allow the soil in the pot your plant is in to dry out and slightly pull away from the sides of the pot.
　
(The following applies if you are right handed. If not reverse the hand position/use instructions)
　
Partially fill your new larger pot with quality soil so when you insert your plant into the new pot and fill in around the rootball the top of the soil will be at the correct level.
　
Pick up your old pot with your left hand.
　
Place your right hand on top of the soil with the main stem between your first and second fingers.
　
Gently tap the edge of the pot on a countertop or a workbench or something similar. The entire rootball should slide out in one piece, possibly with a slight amount of soil loss, but no damage to or loss of roots unless the plant was so root-bound that the roots had grown through the drain holes. If that is the case clip them first.
　
You plant and rootball are then securely held in your right hand. Inspect the rootball and if it is tightly packed/twisted/root-bound slightly score/cut the edges of the rootball and also slightly score/cut the bottom of the rootball. If you do not score the rootsball the roots will want to continue to follow their circling pattern and their growth progression both down and to the sides into the fresh deeper soil will be much slower. Each cut root will push out new roots and they will go both out and down into the new soil.
　
Place the plant into the new pot.
　
If the surface level of the old rootball is to low or two high remove some soil or add additional soil.
　
Next fill in around the edges between the rootball and the sides of the larger pot.
　
Water thoroughly to cause the soil to settle without compressing it too much by packing it down by hand. If needed add additional soil and water again.
　
Normally plants will undergo very little to no shock when transplanted in this manner but it would not be an injudicious thing to do to use a product like SuperThrive or something with the same general properties because they will reduce plant stress helping them to overcome it quicker and easier.
　
Good luck!