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[bnr]

When moving up to bigger shoes, how deep do you place your root ball?

Do you go deep, or do you leave room and let the roots grow down into the media?

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Discussion

[growing_for_2]

I like to bury the root ball about the middle of the new pot.

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[bigwrd]

I try to cover the root ball with about a half inch to an inch of fresh media to encourage all around root growth.

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[bnr]

do you water less after transplant to avoid the bottom staying wet?

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[seedpoppa]

I do the same.

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[michaelstillgrows]

I believe in placing the top of the rootball at your new soil level. That plant has already established its level , why mess with it

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[bnr]

i can see reasons for both. burying more stem on a lanky plant can be helpful , and if the root ball is towards bottom where the water goes, seems less likely to have soil that stays kinda wet for lack of roots?

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[goodguycanna]

I keep mine at the same level too.

If you bury the stem does it create new roots from the stem?

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[bnr]

yes!

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[goodguycanna]

I bottom water so could be interesting to see if they actually establish

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[jmystro]

As long as the stem is green and not woody, then roots can easily form. You can speed up the process by scraping off some of the outer cell layer and add a little rooting hormone on wound for roots to form from.

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[Newleaf]

I’m a fan of leaving room for the roots at the bottom. So I usually have my root ball level with the new soil, or like an inch or two below. Are you still using the Stonington Blend? I add rice hulls, pumice, and biochar to my Stonington Blend. I’ve had great luck with watering in 10% water volume of the size of my container, with that mixture. I like to premoisten my media before putting it into my pots. I’ll use half of the 10% to premoisten the media in a tote (nice to be able to mix it with my hands to ensure even moisture). Then once I transplant the root ball into the container I add the other 5%. I’ve always liked watering my entire pot at transplant, and inoculating it with my recharge. Even when going from 2gal to 7gal or 10s. When doing so I don’t have to water again for almost a week. Usually 5 days minimum. Yucca also really helps with getting the moisture even, and being precise with where I want to water. Meaning, say my root ball is drier than my premoistened soil. I can then water just the root ball more than the rest of the pot, and not worry about it running off to the sides. I use a 3.5 gal Chapin sprayer with a 1 min per gallon nozzle.

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[growcoast]

I try to plant about an inch deeper than previously planted..

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[backyard-boogie]

I’d go down an inch or 2 if I have the stalk has the real-estate, this should promote feeder roots to get fresh soil and nutes from all sides of root ball including the top.

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[goodguycanna]

Is 1″ of feeder roots developing from start + other benefits (not as leggy) better than an extra 1″ of deep roots?

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[burky62]

I have a 4x4x5 tent but use 3gal. Fabric pots. When I transfer the girls I put them about 2″ deeper and water completely, I grow in coco than drains well but I still put about a little over a quarter of a inch of perlite in bottom of pot to prevent bottom staying wet. Might try wicking from bottom but would leave out perlite to water.

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