roots

[xrob420x]

Ok so i have 4 small plants about 2 weeks old i started them in small pots
then put them in a small soda bottle cut off with holes drilled into the bottem
you can see the roots at the bottem alreaddy should i replant them again in a bigger pot
or let them grow alittle longer

 

[BadKittySmiles]

Don't use clear containers.. it hinders root growth and invites bacterial pests, and algae. It will cause your roots to try to hide from the light, and exit the base of the container seeking darkness, long before it attempts to utilize the space given.

 

[Jozikins]

Put it in a 3 or 5 gal container and be done with it. I usually go Red Dixie Cup > 1 Gal Container > 3(or 5) gal container.

 

[Mother's Finest]

We use 3-liter bottles exclusively during veg. Cover them in tin foil. When a few strong roots can be seen at the bottom, it doesn't mean they need to be repotted yet. After awhile they will swirl into little coils in the dips at the bottom of the bottle and more, smaller roots will start being seen and this is when they need to either be transplanted or have their roots trimmed & new soil added.

 

[Jozikins]

We use 3-liter bottles exclusively during veg. Cover them in tin foil. When a few strong roots can be seen at the bottom, it doesn't mean they need to be repotted yet. After awhile they will swirl into little coils in the dips at the bottom of the bottle and more, smaller roots will start being seen and this is when they need to either be transplanted or have their roots trimmed & new soil added.

That is called "root bound" and the idea is to transplant before roots begin to circle. This is explained in many horticulture books. It leads to less over-all root growth in final transplant, and slows the transitional grow phase between transplants, it just stresses them out. Do not allow your plants to become root bound, when you see roots at the walls of the dirt, it's time to transplant, as long as they are well rooted enough that they don't fall apart when you take them out.

 

[Mother's Finest]

That is called "root bound" and the idea is to transplant before roots begin to circle. This is explained in many horticulture books. It leads to less over-all root growth in final transplant, and slows the transitional grow phase between transplants, it just stresses them out. Do not allow your plants to become root bound, when you see roots at the walls of the dirt, it's time to transplant, as long as they are well rooted enough that they don't fall apart when you take them out.

No, actually a plant that is "Root Bound" is not growing roots because the substrate is too restrictive. If roots are still growing then the plant isn't root bound yet. Even if the plant is not root bound, but just a couple of the roots have bound because of restrictions, it will grow just fine while most of the roots are still free to grow. Roots in nature grow this way all the time. When a few roots encounter difficulty growing, the plant stops their growth and puts its energy into the roots that haven't run into restriction yet. Transplanting just because a couple roots touch the bottom, without waiting for them to swirl, is a waste of time, soil and nutrients.

ed:Letting the longest roots run into restrictions instead of allowing them to always grow unhindered also helps keep pot size down. The swirling that takes place on the couple longest roots would have been many inches of vertical container space needed for root growth had they not been held back.

 

[BadKittySmiles]

Not trying to argue Just thought I'd add this.. it's always best to transplant before becoming root bound, in order to encourage and promote the fastest healthiest growth possible. It's not that they won't grow, it's that they could grow much better otherwise:

http://watergarden.com/pages/glossary.htm

....
Rhizome - in-ground plant stem from which roots and shoots form
Root bound - growing a plant in the same container too long, forcing the roots to become tangled and grow in circles; roots must be carefully loosened when repotted
Runoff - water that flows over the ground and reaches a stream or pond as a result of rainfall; best to divert runoff so it does not go into the pond
....

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/glossary?snap=R

root boundA disorder of the root system that occurs when a plants is allowed to grow too long in a pot that is too small for it. The roots wrap around in on themselves and become tangled.

http://www.moongrow.com/gardening_guide/gardening_resources/gardening_glossary.html

Root bound: A plant is spoken of as root bound when it has remained in a container for so long that the roots grow around it in a circle. Seriously root bound plants are useless for planting in the garden since their roots will not grow normally. They may die or fail to grow, or blow over in the first good wind.

 

[Jozikins]

I agree with BadKittySmiles, and with sources like that, it is hard to contest. But I'm not here to argue anymore than the next friendly grower on here, I just want to make sure we are all doing our best. If the roots have to search and swirl until they jam themselves into the niches and crannies of a 3 liter soda bottle, then the roots are root bound, by definition. The definition is a strict one, but it's by following these strict guide lines we get the best results.

Not to mention, look at those nugs!! Oh lawd!!

 

[new grower uk]

buy air pots, i just got some, they are meant to grow great in them, look them up, when my seedling need transplanting im putting them in them and comparing them to my other plants