Any good tips on how to get a very rootbound plant out of a planter?
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Any good tips on how to get a very rootbound plant out of a planter?
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  #1  
Old 04-28-2021, 05:39 PM
malteseproverb malteseproverb is offline
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Default Any good tips on how to get a very rootbound plant out of a planter?

I've had this dendrochilum cobbianum in this little pot for about 3 years. It started out very small and now it's spilling out. I thought it would be about time for a repot especially since it hasn't yet put out new growths since last blooming. Normally it would have by now but I thought it might be stalling because it ran out of space. (You might not be able to see in the pics but the newest growth is jutting out far over the pot rim.)

However, I'm having an impossible time getting it out of its pot. I watered it earlier today in an effort to loosen up the roots but it just won't budge AT ALL. I took a look and it seems like all the tiny roots are winding around the pot and holding on for dear life. The roots look great, and I know it's a plant that hates being repotted. Seems like I would have to destroy the roots and the pot to get it out. Right now I'm soaking it in the pot to see if that helps. What's my move?
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  #2  
Old 04-28-2021, 07:12 PM
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estación seca estación seca is offline
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Any good tips on how to get a very rootbound plant out of a planter? Male
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Consider using a butter knife to loosen the adhering roots. Press down from the top. Go slowly. Breaking the pot would probably be even more damaging.
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  #3  
Old 04-28-2021, 10:48 PM
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Roberta Roberta is offline
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Any good tips on how to get a very rootbound plant out of a planter? Female
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I use lots of terracotta pots, and roots do tend to stick to them. I'm inclined to just break the pot. Usually most of the pieces come loose easily. Any shards that have roots adhering, I just leave when I move it into the new pot. Bits of old pot in the new pot are no problem. Sacrifice the pot not the roots.
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Old 04-28-2021, 11:02 PM
Steve83 Steve83 is offline
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Any good tips on how to get a very rootbound plant out of a planter? Male
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Ball peen hammer. No worries if a few shards are still adhered.
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Old 04-29-2021, 09:19 AM
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Any good tips on how to get a very rootbound plant out of a planter? Female
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I've soaked pots overnight and did the butter knife thing with pretty good results and didn't need to break pot but old shard left behind is unavoidable but not detrimental.
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Old 04-29-2021, 01:06 PM
Fishkeeper Fishkeeper is offline
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Any good tips on how to get a very rootbound plant out of a planter?
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Nice plant! Looks a bit comical in that pot.

Soaking for a few hours will help a lot, just make sure to drain it well afterward.
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