small root ball

peppero · August 3, 2010

i have had some plants die suddenly(mainly peppers and tomatoes) and noticed that their root mass was very small. as this happened last year i was wondering if someone had some suggestions how to stimulate root growth. my soil is pretty loose due to the organic materials put into it over the years. anyone?

jon

TomatoDon · August 3, 2010

I'm guessing the plants were what the nursery people call "root bound." This is the result of the plant, particularly the roots, outgrowing their container, but being forced to stay cramped up like that. The roots start growing in a swirling mass and it literally becomes root bound.

There's a little bit of art and delicacy to it, so don't be too aggressive, but the remedy is to loosen up the root ball, even if you have to pull and pry and prod. The roots can stand a reasonable amount of that, just don't overdo it. You're going to break and frazzle some of the roots, but you want to tear the roots from the pattern of swirl many have when root bound in a pot.

It can also result from planting in a heavy clay soil. The planting hole acts like a pot in this case, and the roots can't spread out and grow. I've always thought that width was as important as depth when preparing a planting hole.

The other thing is, when the season is over and I pull up the plants, I'm always amazed at how small some of the root balls look. I guess they send out a lot of hair roots that break off when you pull them, but I always expect a bigger root ball than what I pull out.

That's my experience.

beeman · August 3, 2010

My plants have suffered with small root balls over the last few years. Late last year I had a soil test done and found it was very low in Magnesium, necessary for the plants uptake of the other necessary materials for root growth.
I added Epsom Salts and am waiting for the results when I pull plants, Certainly things look totally different than previous years, but then I've changed a number of things this year.

**mdvpc** · August 3, 2010

You can also have a small root ball if you water too much.

peppero · August 5, 2010

thanks for your replies.

jon

TomatoDon · August 6, 2010

Hi Peppero....just noticed your home town. Sort of a distant neighbor. Used to know several people there.

August 3, 2010	#1
peppero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: selmer, tn Posts: 2,944	small root ball i have had some plants die suddenly(mainly peppers and tomatoes) and noticed that their root mass was very small. as this happened last year i was wondering if someone had some suggestions how to stimulate root growth. my soil is pretty loose due to the organic materials put into it over the years. anyone? jon

August 3, 2010	#2
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	I'm guessing the plants were what the nursery people call "root bound." This is the result of the plant, particularly the roots, outgrowing their container, but being forced to stay cramped up like that. The roots start growing in a swirling mass and it literally becomes root bound. There's a little bit of art and delicacy to it, so don't be too aggressive, but the remedy is to loosen up the root ball, even if you have to pull and pry and prod. The roots can stand a reasonable amount of that, just don't overdo it. You're going to break and frazzle some of the roots, but you want to tear the roots from the pattern of swirl many have when root bound in a pot. It can also result from planting in a heavy clay soil. The planting hole acts like a pot in this case, and the roots can't spread out and grow. I've always thought that width was as important as depth when preparing a planting hole. The other thing is, when the season is over and I pull up the plants, I'm always amazed at how small some of the root balls look. I guess they send out a lot of hair roots that break off when you pull them, but I always expect a bigger root ball than what I pull out. That's my experience. __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

August 3, 2010	#4
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	You can also have a small root ball if you water too much. __________________ Michael

August 6, 2010	#6
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Hi Peppero....just noticed your home town. Sort of a distant neighbor. Used to know several people there. __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

August 3, 2010	#3
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	My plants have suffered with small root balls over the last few years. Late last year I had a soil test done and found it was very low in Magnesium, necessary for the plants uptake of the other necessary materials for root growth. I added Epsom Salts and am waiting for the results when I pull plants, Certainly things look totally different than previous years, but then I've changed a number of things this year.

August 5, 2010	#5
peppero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: selmer, tn Posts: 2,944	thanks for your replies. jon