Do you remove potting mix?

creister · February 9, 2007

from the roots of your transplants, particularly when putting into the garden or pot?

PaulF · February 9, 2007

I do not, but I guess an argument could be made that in order to get good soil contact with the roots which helps nutrients start flowing which means healthy growth, it might be a good idea. I just make sure I have good interfacing of potting mix to the new soil. I lightly but firmly press down the soil all around the new plants in the dirt and water in a bit to get rid of the air spaces.

feldon30 · February 9, 2007

Last year I did not. This year, because of the poor results of some seedlings, I did dust off SOME of the soil so they'd get better contact with the new soil.

Worth1 · February 9, 2007

I have read that if you have a planting hole that that is slick on the sides it is best to rough up the sides so the roots can have a better chance of getting hold on the new soil.
With some plants it is best not to disturb the roots as this will darn near kill the plant in some cases.

With others it is best to knock the whole root ball apart and spread the roots apart before planting.
(((Know your plant!)))

This should be done only if the root ball is on the damp, not wet, not dry side.
And I only do it on a cloudy day and not in the bright sun.
Or early in the morning or right before the sun goes down, so as not to stress the plant.

Worth

CLa · February 9, 2007

For the few tomatoes that I have grown, I have had better success while keeping the root ball intact with the soil without disturbing it. In theory to me it seems that since the root ball is secure in a medium that it is used to, it can move to greater things such as expanding it's roots past the root ball instead of having to re-secure itself in the soil. which is easy especially if it has a light potting mix medium to start with. But if you keep a root system nice an moist that first day of transplanting, I'm sure its going to fit right in, regardless if all the potting mix is removed or not. Just till up the whole area good, plant, and soak the area well. Works for me.

Bitwise Gamgee · February 9, 2007

I let any loose potting mix fall off the root ball. If the roots are root bound, I scratch at them all the way around, pulling them out, severing any roots traveling around the root ball in a circle. This encourages the roots to spread and not knot up in circular growth.

With respect to disturbing their roots, I have found tomato plants to be very resilient.

February 9, 2007	#1
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Do you remove potting mix? from the roots of your transplants, particularly when putting into the garden or pot?

February 9, 2007	#2
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	I do not, but I guess an argument could be made that in order to get good soil contact with the roots which helps nutrients start flowing which means healthy growth, it might be a good idea. I just make sure I have good interfacing of potting mix to the new soil. I lightly but firmly press down the soil all around the new plants in the dirt and water in a bit to get rid of the air spaces. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

February 9, 2007	#3
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Last year I did not. This year, because of the poor results of some seedlings, I did dust off SOME of the soil so they'd get better contact with the new soil. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

February 9, 2007	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I have read that if you have a planting hole that that is slick on the sides it is best to rough up the sides so the roots can have a better chance of getting hold on the new soil. With some plants it is best not to disturb the roots as this will darn near kill the plant in some cases. With others it is best to knock the whole root ball apart and spread the roots apart before planting. (((Know your plant!))) This should be done only if the root ball is on the damp, not wet, not dry side. And I only do it on a cloudy day and not in the bright sun. Or early in the morning or right before the sun goes down, so as not to stress the plant. Worth

February 9, 2007	#5
CLa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Central Louisiana. Zone: 8 Posts: 207	For the few tomatoes that I have grown, I have had better success while keeping the root ball intact with the soil without disturbing it. In theory to me it seems that since the root ball is secure in a medium that it is used to, it can move to greater things such as expanding it's roots past the root ball instead of having to re-secure itself in the soil. which is easy especially if it has a light potting mix medium to start with. But if you keep a root system nice an moist that first day of transplanting, I'm sure its going to fit right in, regardless if all the potting mix is removed or not. Just till up the whole area good, plant, and soak the area well. Works for me.

February 9, 2007	#6
Bitwise Gamgee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: TN z6 Posts: 103	I let any loose potting mix fall off the root ball. If the roots are root bound, I scratch at them all the way around, pulling them out, severing any roots traveling around the root ball in a circle. This encourages the roots to spread and not knot up in circular growth. With respect to disturbing their roots, I have found tomato plants to be very resilient.