I have roots growing out the bottom of my three gal pots! Help!

anomaly1990

Member
I transplanted from 1 gal pots to three gal pots and vegged in the three gals for almost two and half months then switched to 12/12 i noticed that at the bottom hole of my three gal pot for my two lady's the roots had coiled up at the drainage hole and roots were starting to grow out the side drainage being four days into 12/12 i didn't want to transplant and i actually don't have any five gals laying around.. I noticed that i had some room in my three gal pots on the top so i took the ladys out and put a few cups full of soil at the bottom but now four days latter the roots are back growing out. I am SERIOUSLY worried about this effecting my flowering and giving me a lot less bud, some people say DON'T WORRY others say TRANSPLANT RIGHT NOW so i don't know if i should walk four miles and pick up pots and carry them home (don't own a car) or if they will be fine. I don't want them to be root bound and i don't honestly know if they are already because of how bushy i made them. Both plants are diesel crosses. Also i find its sorta difficult to push my fingers into the soil to test for moister. UGH this is seriously frustrating and any help would be greatly appreciated like i said i vegged in the three gals i would say close to three months (was that to long?) if you guys need i can take pictures of the plants so you can see how bushy they are compared to the pots. NOT TALL at all but VERY bushy both plants are under 350 watts mixed LED CFL with co2 being produced by two exhale Co2 bags.
 

Billdo024

Member
pics, but I'm not sure I would worry about being root bound, if you added dirt and it grew back out the holes I would take that as the roots are doing exactly what they are born to do. but i"m noobish get another opinion, and agian PICS!
 

*BUDS

Well-Known Member
if the roots are growing that quick transplant again and this time start using hydro nutes every watering(start at 1/2str,work up to 3/4 str) this almost stops root development in soil as the roots have no need to reach for nutes/water as you are feeding every watering.
 

anomaly1990

Member
I use the full earth juice line minus the meta-k and i feed every two water. if you compare the plant growth to the pot size would you say that they are "too bushy"
 

anomaly1990

Member
So i guess my BIG question is do i REALLY have to move the plants around in there pots AGAIN after adding a few inches of soil to the bottom utilizing the top of the pots that did not have soil? Or is the roots growing out the drain holes "normal"?
 

boneheadbob

Well-Known Member
I say its a little late to start worrying about your yield now. All that veg time in a small pot wasted.

I would transplant but I would not be in a huge hurry to do it today. Relax, dont stress. You should still get plenty of weed, no matter what
 

Dank Hands

Active Member
the Jorge rule of thumb: atleast 1 gallon of space in the container for each month the plant is alive. Your plants might hermie from this rootbound stress. I think it will still turn out good.
 

asaph

Well-Known Member
it'll be alright
after 2.5 months would be better to transplant, you can still do it IMO and benefit from it, but not as you would a week ago.

Btw just cuz the roots are poking out the bottom don't mean it's rootbound. you gotta lift the plant with the soil to see how bad the situation is.
 

darkdestruction420

Well-Known Member
i'd transplant now or asap. only problem i see is you might lose some roots since that soil you added may not be solid to the rootball, so be careful but dont sweat it.
 

bkbbudz

New Member
HMMM...perhaps cutting the bottom off the pots they are in and just laying that in a bigger pot with some soil in it? May be a dumb idea, but it may work as well.
 
imhaving same prob ourside. I tranplanted my girl from.gal.pot to 25 gl pots an in 3 weeks my.plants went from a ft to 3 1/2 ft. plants r huge but ive notice the roots growing out the bottom an I.can lift 3 right outa the pot not sure if I should trabsplant I have 4 more mobths to harvest. does anyone have some advice.
 
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