Big Sativa in 1 1/2 Gallons of soil. Can I add top soil?

[Buba Blend]

I have a big sativa about 7 or 8 weeks into flowering that was off to the side of my other plants in 1 1/2 gallons of soil in a 3 gallon pot. I'm going to add an inch or two of fresh soil to the top soil. Is that OK?
Would there be any harm or benefit chopping off the lower branches and filling the pot with soil?
It probably has about 7 more weeks to go if I keep the plant.
Was thinking of adding the top soil using 1 part FFOF and 1 part happy frog.

 

[vostok]

make 3usg the smallest pot

then you'd be on track

good luck

 

[OldMedUser]

Better to get your soil mix ready then lift the plant out of the pot and add the soil to the bottom and sides so the roots can stretch out into fresh soil. Wait until the pot has dried out and needs watering so the rootball holds together better then give it a good watering after adding the fresh soil.

If there are lots of roots wound around in the bottom have some clean scissors or a tool like a sharp bread knife at hand to cut those off. New, fine roots will quickly populate the new soil.

Your buds will love it.

 

[Indacouch]

I use to do this to myself years back ....I personally don't like transplanting in flower ...what I was taught and did with awesome results is get a razor knife cut four huge windows in the sides of the existing pot and then drop that into a larger pot with more soil .....it won't hurt anything to addsome soil to the top either....GL



You can set the depth on your razor knife to just cut the pot and no roots and with a new razor it's very easy

 

[cat of curiosity]

I use to do this to myself years back ....I personally don't like transplanting in flower ...what I was taught and did with awesome results is get a razor knife cut four huge windows in the sides of the existing pot and then drop that into a larger pot with more soil .....it won't hurt anything to addsome soil to the top either....GL



You can set the depth on your razor knife to just cut the pot and no roots and with a new razor it's very easy

if cutting the pot, i'd suggest you cut off the bottom of the pot as well. feeder roots will hit the walls and spiral down to the 'new' bottom, and removing the 'old' bottom will allow much easier root expansion.

and don't listen to that inda guy... unless you want to grow great shit...

 

[Indacouch]

if cutting the pot, i'd suggest you cut off the bottom of the pot as well. feeder roots will hit the walls and spiral down to the 'new' bottom, and removing the 'old' bottom will allow much easier root expansion.

and don't listen to that inda guy... unless you want to grow great shit...

Cutting the bottom would be pretty affective especially if the new larger pot has ample soil at the bottom ....it's been years since I've had to do this cause I learned my lesson finally ....but I remember pulling the pots apart after harvest and my roots would be just stuffed through the drain holes in the first pot and the windows I cut on the sides as well ......the things we do when were learning

 

[cat of curiosity]

Cutting the bottom would be pretty affective especially if the new larger pot has ample soil at the bottom ....it's been years since I've had to do this cause I learned my lesson finally ....but I remember pulling the pots apart after harvest and my roots would be just stuffed through the drain holes in the first pot and the windows I cut on the sides as well ......the things we do when were learning

as mentioned, don't listen to @Indacouch unless you just want to grow some great pot or some silly thing like that...

 

[Indacouch]

^^^^what can I say .....I guess il just have to keep my mouth shut and not argue with him on this one ...lol..

 

[OldMedUser]

Ruin a good pot for nothing. Makes sense to me. NOT!

Plants grow new roots all through flowering and doing it like I mentioned won't slow them down a bit and will boost those last few weeks of fattening up the buds.

I'm also known for growing decent bud. These are cooking now in the grow room on their 26th day since flipping on what should be 10 weeks of flowering.

 

[Indacouch]

Ruin a good pot for nothing. Makes sense to me. NOT!

Plants grow new roots all through flowering and doing it like I mentioned won't slow them down a bit and will boost those last few weeks of fattening up the buds.

I'm also known for growing decent bud. These are cooking now in the grow room on their 26th day since flipping on what should be 10 weeks of flowering.

View attachment 3847283

Didn't say your method was wrong or rite just sharing with OP what's worked for me in the past with no issues ....pots are around 2bucks thankfully I'm not that strapped for cash to ruin one ...lol

 

[OldMedUser]

I'm Scottish so wasting anything goes against my need to save a dime.

 

[Indacouch]

I'm Scottish so wasting anything goes against my need to save a dime.

Lol ......yeah it all adds up I agree ...

 

[Buba Blend]

Thanks all! I'm going to use about 3 gallons of additional soil (1 part ffof 1 part happy frog) using the pot on the left, it's a 6 or 7 gallon pot with good drainage. That should leave several inches of fresh soil below and an inch of additional soil around the sides. I'll cover the exposed roots at the base of the trunk with a couple of inches of top soil.
Tomorrow will be 48 hours without water and it dries out really fast, I'll be careful and try to lift it out tomorrow morning.

 

[OldMedUser]

Those exposed roots are basically like the main stem of the plant. Just transport tubes for water and nutrients so it's no problem that they are exposed. Better to have more dirt under the plant that add any to the top tho it won't hurt to do that.

Make sure to have the soil level right up to the rim of the pot to get the maximum under the plant as it will settle down a couple inches after watering it in good after you repot it. Pres the new dirt in firmly but don't pack it down hard and make sure you have lots of perlite in it to keep it airy for the new roots that will grow into it.

 

[Buba Blend]

Those exposed roots are basically like the main stem of the plant. Just transport tubes for water and nutrients so it's no problem that they are exposed. Better to have more dirt under the plant that add any to the top tho it won't hurt to do that.

Make sure to have the soil level right up to the rim of the pot to get the maximum under the plant as it will settle down a couple inches after watering it in good after you repot it. Pres the new dirt in firmly but don't pack it down hard and make sure you have lots of perlite in it to keep it airy for the new roots that will grow into it.

Thanks! It lifted right out with no stress, I look forward to see how it reacts to the new soil.

Cutting the bottom would be pretty affective especially if the new larger pot has ample soil at the bottom ....it's been years since I've had to do this cause I learned my lesson finally ....but I remember pulling the pots apart after harvest and my roots would be just stuffed through the drain holes in the first pot and the windows I cut on the sides as well ......the things we do when were learning

Thanks for the idea, I considered cutting the pot at 1st and then thought how some of these pots have been from my 1st grow over 20 years ago. They just haven't deteriorated (used an average of twice a year). The only things still around since my 1st grow have been some of these pots, everything else has been replaced that I can think of.