The flask was full of these little babies. We're talking about more than 50. There are at least 15 that have over 3" root span. At least those that were in singles. I've got several root ball clumps right now that have big plants in them. My question is whether I can leave them in clumps like that or if I need to break them into singles. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi Chris when you took them out of the flask did you put them in warm water and a little fungicide? If you swish them around a lot of times they should untangle for you.
I worked with them in the water swishing them around and giving them a little tug to separate them. Just work gently with them in the water bath. It takes time to get them all separated.
Since you're asking, it won't hurt them if a few of them end up staying together. When they're larger, you may have more luck untangling them then. If not, you get a few of them living together, and that's not really a problem. Oak Hill used to leave some tangled together like that, and it never caused any problems, to the best of my knowledge. You can keep trying to untangle them, but I wouldn't worry too much about having a few little groups, either.
This is what I ended up with after taking out the 15 larger seedlings. From top right going counter clockwise, 3-4 inch root span. Left top, vigorous root clumps that are big but I cannot separate without destroying them. Middle group are 1-2 inch root spans. Bottom left less than 1 inch to 1 inch, right bottom are blobs of growth. Hahah. I am setting up in 2" net pots inside a plastic jar that has live sphagnum moss on the bottom. 80-90 degrees. Totally high humidity.
This is what I ended up with after taking out the 15 larger seedlings. From top right going counter clockwise, 3-4 inch root span. Left top, vigorous root clumps that are big but I cannot separate without destroying them. Middle group are 1-2 inch root spans. Bottom left less than 1 inch to 1 inch, right bottom are blobs of growth. Hahah. I am setting up in 2" net pots inside a plastic jar that has live sphagnum moss on the bottom. 80-90 degrees. Totally high humidity.
Great Job they look good. I can't wait to see what they look like in a few months after they start to become established in their new home.