The Real Truth about Rootbound and Transplanting

[Uncle Ben]

I can only speak for myself, but like I said before it seems as simple as not everyone has room to keep all their plants in large containers.

If the canopy is 16" in diameter, and a 3 gallon pot is 9" in diameter, what's the issue?

UB

 

[Slab]

Who recommends 'some sort of substrate on the bottom'? Got any kind of link?

That is simply not true and is entirely unnecessary if you have ANY sort of a decent mix. Have you ever seen any nursery operation do this? Adequate amounts of perlite or pumice in your mix provide all the drainage necessary.

This is just not correct information, passed on in forums like this from inexperienced growers to even less experienced growers.

Besides BrickTop, does anyone here garden, or grow anything else besides mj?

All this drama about something as basic as upcanning has me wondering.

Wet

I recommend it and it is backed by a couple of centuries of farmers and growers in my family, I worked at a nursery and my family has owned one in New York for that last thirty years.

Soil has and can become compacted and clog drain holes, you can also prevent root binding and not have to transplant. crazy I know Mr Experienced.

 

[Hubert]

If the canopy is 16" in diameter, and a 3 gallon pot is 9" in diameter, what's the issue?

UB

Well that is true for some people, but SOG growers canopies aren't wider than their pots. Aside from that the issue is height, the bigger the pot the more vertical room you're losing. To people that have bigger rooms that may not be an issue, but for cabinet growers it's a big issue, room is everything. If you've only got a few feet to work with than any height you lose is gonna make for a smaller plant, smaller plants make for less bud.

I agree there's a line to walk with container size, if I had room sure I'd use bigger containers. Using smaller containers can be a bit more risky, but in some situations it buys you extra room for your plants. If you're going to use smaller containers you should find a happy medium, use as big a pot as will work. Also keep in mind that your plants aren't spending eternity in those pots, just a few months, so there's no need to over size them.

 

[Uncle Ben]

Well that is true for some people, but SOG growers canopies aren't wider than their pots. Aside from that the issue is height, the bigger the pot the more vertical room you're losing. To people that have bigger rooms that may not be an issue, but for cabinet growers it's a big issue, room is everything. If you've only got a few feet to work with than any height you lose is gonna make for a smaller plant, smaller plants make for less bud.

I agree there's a line to walk with container size, if I had room sure I'd use bigger containers. Using smaller containers can be a bit more risky, but in some situations it buys you extra room for your plants. If you're going to use smaller containers you should find a happy medium, use as big a pot as will work. Also keep in mind that your plants aren't spending eternity in those pots, just a few months, so there's no need to over size them.

You either stunt their size and marginalize their production with rootbound conditions.....or you don't.

 

[Brick Top]

I agree there's a line to walk with container size, if I had room sure I'd use bigger containers. Using smaller containers can be a bit more risky, but in some situations it buys you extra room for your plants. If you're going to use smaller containers you should find a happy medium, use as big a pot as will work. Also keep in mind that your plants aren't spending eternity in those pots, just a few months, so there's no need to over size them.

Like I said, I can see why at times someone needs to use small pots. Computer grows, cabinet grows, small closet's used to grow, any tight area especially with limited height involved.

But if a plant's root will use all the pot size they have to grow in that pot is not over sized and after cutting my plants and emptying my 7-gallon pots there are small fine roots all the way down to the bottom of the pots and from side to side. They aren't jam packed, they are a knotted mess, but they are everywhere, there is no area of soil without at least small fine roots. If they use all the soil in a pot, then the pot is not over sized.

The roots are not so thick that I could pull all the soil out of the pot yanking the cutoff plant. A lot of the fine roots lower would break and only a bit more than half the soil would come out with the roots than held together. When I drop down to 5-gallon pots, after cutting off the plants and emptying the pots it all comes out in one mass of roots and soil. That's why I consider 5-gallon pots to be the minimum sized pots I will use. If the roots will hang onto every last bit of soil when removed, there was nothing that could be called extra space or underutilized space and definitely not a case of them being over sized.

But again I do understand and recognize that at times smaller pots are needed because of space/area/height issues and even some growing techniques and types/strains grown. But if someone does not have one of those restrictions, they should go larger when it comes to pot sizes. Maybe not all the way up to 7-gallon pots, or larger like I use when I grow outside on my deck, but 5-gallon pots anyway.

 

[Slab]

IMHO I believe it is the tap root that is causing binding in potted plants. poor lil guy just goes up and down looking for a hole, I can relate to the tap root on a personal level.

 

[Uncle Ben]

IMHO I believe it is the tap root that is causing binding in potted plants. poor lil guy just goes up and down looking for a hole, I can relate to the tap root on a personal level.

"J rooting" is really not a problem with cannabis, it is with some woody materials like trees. A hormonal response to gravity called Gravitropism controls the direction of root growth. The problem is root spin-out.

UB

 

[Slab]

Awesome Uncle Ben, very funny I had considered P.M.ing you with my ignorant opinion. We are very lucky to have you on these boards.

 

[Zaehet Strife]

i disagree, no matter how good you are. if the roots dont have enough room to grow the way it wants to then your going to have a plant that will never be able meet its full potential (unless you give it the room)

 

[sso]

ive only needed 7 gallon pots (21 L ?) for 2 month veggers.

ive also found it better to use more plants rather than less and bigger pots.

 

[fdd2blk]

i disagree, no matter how good you are. if the roots dont have enough room to grow the way it wants to then your going to have a plant that will never be able meet its full potential (unless you give it the room)

you can disagree, but it won't change what i've already done.





i like how everyone keeps saying "you can't do this and your plant won't do that", as they look at pics of otherwise.



ALL plants will get bigger if you use a bigger pot. why doesn't everyone just use 50 gallon pots inside? how much room is "enough"? all you are keep saying is "rootbound" is bad. bad for YOU maybe. others simply deal with it.




the plant that i got 1.5 pounds off of was kept in a small pot because everyone kept telling me "small pots make small plants". i WANTED small plants. i wanted "stunted growth". i didn't want huge beasts standing up over the top of my fence. it DIDN'T work.


keep arguing with me and i'll keep pulling huge yields. makes NO difference on my end. i have NO complaints. none.

 

[sso]

..ive heard something about some strains not being rootbound so easy and also that if people use myccorize (sic)

then they can grow in smaller containers.

for me, all growth just stops when rootbound, sure i can keep it going but slowly and its far better and easier to just transplant.

your milage may vary, im just relating from experience..

 

[Zaehet Strife]

im doing something wrong too, because my plants stop growing altogether when rootbound bad enough too

 

[Wetdog]

rootbound is NOT a problem, if you are skilled.

I agree.

The second part of that sentence is usually the problem. LOL

Wet

 

[sso]

so..

how do you keep them growing at the same pace even when others would be rootbound?

 

[jesus of Cannabis]

good to see you back Fdd
I am in the market for more glass, can you post your thread link again?

 

[fdd2blk]

so..

how do you keep them growing at the same pace even when others would be rootbound?

simple adjust for what they need. water more often, using more nutes. not stronger nutes, just more nutes.

it obviously can be done, with exceptional results. though it's not something i do intentionally.

or maybe i do. what's it really matter? i'm simple here to share my results so others can be more informed. i feel there really is no right or wrong way, as long as the results lead to what was desired. who is anyone else here to tell another how they should grow? all you can really do is offer advice and experiences and then either watch or move on.

 

[fdd2blk]

good to see you back Fdd
I am in the market for more glass, can you post your thread link again?

thank you, my friend.

i'm going to start a new one. i'm working on a few "special items".

taking some time off here to get some things done elsewhere. stay tuned ...

 

[Slab]

FDD, how many months to get jacks bean stalk by the tent?

 

[Uncle Ben]

ALL plants will get bigger if you use a bigger pot. why doesn't everyone just use 50 gallon pots inside?

Well......tendency to root rot, maintenance, 100 lb. weight, cost....

the plant that i got 1.5 pounds off of was kept in a small pot because everyone kept telling me "small pots make small plants".

That looks to be a 2 gallon pot and I doubt seriously if you got more than 10 oz. of dried bud.

i WANTED small plants. i wanted "stunted growth". i didn't want huge beasts standing up over the top of my fence. it DIDN'T work.

Then top like I have. I topped Mexican plants numerous times during their life that finished out just inches short of a 6' tall privacy fence. Scared the shit out of me but it worked well. They were planted in good garden soil too.

UB