Loosening the
Teasing Roots is a Bad Idea…
The short answer is to avoid unnecessary root damage! Roots don't just anchor a plant into the ground, they're the plant's major absorption organ to take up water and nutrients from the soil.
If you plant a pot-bound plant into the ground or into another pot without first loosening the tangled and overgrown roots, they will continue to grow in a circle rather than reaching out into the soil to anchor the plant.
Roots can be destroyed during transplantation, especially if the plant has been rootbound. A plant will continue to grow even if some of its roots are injured as long as its main root system is unharmed. These are the plant's larger, more firmly rooted roots.
Pruning the roots will encourage the plant to produce a flush of new feeder roots. The goal is to allow the plant to develop new feeder roots within the zone of the future root ball that will be moved. This will reduce the amount of transplant shock the plant experiences.
Breaking up the root ball with hands or a knife prior to setting the plant into the hole helps to encourage root growth into the surrounding soil. Failure to do so usually causes the plant to continue to be root-bound (most plants are to some degree when they are purchased in containers).
If done properly, root pruning can improve the plant's growth and overall health. This is especially true with container plants that can become “pot-bound,” with the roots girdling around the inside of the pot. This also means those roots can't take up enough nutrients and water to support the plant.
However, repotting can be a somewhat traumatic experience for plants, and some are more sensitive to this disruption than others. The journey from the garden center to your home is quite an adjustment for your plants, and they should be given a little time to rest before repotting.
It may take a few days to adjust, but your plant will soon settle into its roomier digs and produce new growth again. And not only does repotting root-bound plants freshen up your greenery, but it's also an opportunity to update your decor with a stylish container.
It can be quite normal for plants to temporarily stop growing after repotting, especially if you went up a lot bigger in pot size. What you want to try to avoid is transplant stress, such as yellowing, wilting, dropping leaves, roots that don't recover, root rot or even plant death.
The amount of time it takes for tree roots to decompose will depend on the tree species. But generally, it takes between 5 and 10 years, and hardwoods take longer than softwoods.
The telltale signs of shock are yellowing or brown wilted leaves that droop drastically. Often a stressed plant becomes very delicate and the leaves easily fall off, if touched or bumped.
If the plant itself makes up more than ⅔ of the height, it's time to repot. Not all plants grow taller; some grow fuller or longer (think trailing varieties). The same rule applies, though: Consider repotting whenever the plant seems to outgrow its home, Greene says.
Plants and trees can experience transplant shock for two weeks to five years. It is more likely that the plant will die if the transplant shock persists for a long time.
Transplant shock is water stress and making sure the newly planted roots can take up enough water from the first moment is essential. Lastly, be careful to repot in a temperate weather period. Don't do it when it's hot and dry or very cold for a longer period.
If the new potting mix is already slightly moist, then soaking the root system when you're done isn't necessary. In fact, if the soil is already wet, watering at the end just for the sake of it can cause stress on the plant.
A potted plant should be root-pruned whenever the plant's roots grow to the extent that they entirely fill the pot and begin to circle around the inside surface, or if the roots visibly escape through drainage holes.
Roots are removed from the soil by hand rinsing soil from the roots through a sieve followed by drying. The soil must be dispersed for successful separation of the roots and plant residue from the soil sample.
The new recommendation is to shave off about 1 inch of the outer periphery of the root system and to physically remove the circling roots. This will encourage the tree to develop new roots growing out into the soil.
Worms, bacteria, fungi, and other organisms all nibble away, ultimately converting the dead roots back into nutrients available for other living plants. And the cycle repeats. In the process, soil organic matter, soil carbon, and overall soil structure are all improved.
Once a tree is cut down, the roots can continue to grow for some time. This is because the root system is still alive and is trying to support the tree.