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Post by Chuckles on Dec 12, 2006 11:29:16 GMT
Just been removing the last of the saucers from large pots in the garden and noticed my Common White Jasmine has started to sprout lots of roots out of the bottom of the pot.
Any one know if I can trim the roots and if so when. I don't want it to block the drainage holes and get water logged. The pot is 15" tall, bottom is 11" across and the top is 17". It's in a pot because I have it on a slabbed area growing up some trellis. Don't really want to put in a bigger pot if I can help it.
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Post by andy on Dec 12, 2006 12:21:05 GMT
Hi BB
I would remove the roots coming out the bottom and then, around march time, i'd remove the plant from its pot and either pot on to a bigger pot or scrape away about 1/3 of the existing roots and compost and replants into the same pot with fresh compost. Much in the same way as you'd treat a bonsai really.
This should really apply to all plants grown in pots (unless ones that particularly like being pot-bound)....every couple of years, the above treatment should be given.
Of course, all plants grown in pots should be given a liquid feed regularly in the growing season too
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Post by oldmoleskins on Dec 12, 2006 12:24:26 GMT
we used to have big stocks of container plants we didn't want to 'pot on' into larger sizes and during the winter regularly cut a slice 1" or 2" thick off the bottom, plus 'shavings' down the sides of all sorts of shrubby things as well as pruning topgrowth for balance... it allows a certain amount of fresh compost to be introduced and always seemed to work... we used an ordinary carpenters handsaw...
OM.
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 12, 2006 13:01:07 GMT
andy  and oldmoleskins thanks soooo much for that and for being so prompt with your help I was beginning to panic. It's so nice to have such knowledge available and on our doorstep so to speak. I have learnt so much since joining GWD and really enjoy it on here. You are both such an asset to GWD as are others too. I'll tackle the job in question when OH gets home, it will be a 2 man job to hold the pot and lift it out me thinks  then I can do the biz. Thanks again BusyBee |
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Post by Plocket on Dec 12, 2006 13:23:45 GMT
I was too late but do what the guys say - I do it with my clems and they don't seem to mind!
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Post by andy on Dec 12, 2006 14:15:24 GMT
Yep...as OM says....use a saw, axe, chainsaw whatever....be brutal, you really can't do a lot of damage. They would probably tolerate over 1/2 of the roots being cut off....even 2/3 but it's best just to keep it at 1/3 ish.
I usually keep an old serrated bread knife for doing such work.
Good luck
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 14:33:55 GMT
It's in a pot because I have it on a slabbed area growing up some trellis. Don't really want to put in a bigger pot if I can help it. Why not lift the slab and plant the jasmine - it will love you for ever and the cool root run ;D |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 12, 2006 14:48:47 GMT
I was too late but do what the guys say - I do it with my clems and they don't seem to mind!  Yep...as OM says....use a saw, axe, chainsaw whatever....be brutal, you really can't do a lot of damage. They would probably tolerate over 1/2 of the roots being cut off....even 2/3 but it's best just to keep it at 1/3 ish. I usually keep an old serrated bread knife for doing such work. Good luck It's in a pot because I have it on a slabbed area growing up some trellis. Don't really want to put in a bigger pot if I can help it. Why not lift the slab and plant the jasmine - it will love you for ever and the cool root run ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 14:56:43 GMT
Get your OH to lift the slab for you You would have somewhere to plant your alliums then too ;D |
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 4, 2010 10:16:39 GMT
I've been moving a few pots around the garden this last week or so and have taken Andys advise and trimmed some roots back whilst adding some fresh compo to them. I'm sure I'll be rewarded well  |
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 23, 2011 14:40:34 GMT
I started sorting a few of my bigger pots out the other day. I've got Clems, roses climbing and shrub, Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Box to name a few things in pots. Over the years I've had the drainage holes block with roots and lost plants through being pot bound. Andy gave me some good tips on caring for them in this thread so though I'd bring it back into play. This photo gives you and idea of what can happen if you don't care for them properly. It was a Clem and the tub was roughly 18 x 18 x 15  Every year I remove a couple of inches of the compo from the top and replace it. This year I've done some root trimming too. Nearly got caught out with some of the Box that are in pots, I had placed a few that were in teracotta pots on the edge of a border and the blighters had put root down into the bed. |
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Post by Auricula on Mar 13, 2011 9:27:55 GMT
Gosh Chuckles - looks like a bowl of spaghetti ;D ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 13, 2011 12:12:30 GMT
Gosh Chuckles - looks like a bowl of spaghetti ;D ;D It does Auricula, just shows what happens if you don't care for stuff in pots. I won't be caught out again ;D |
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 13, 2011 19:22:43 GMT
If I get a chance I'll check some of mine tomorrow.
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 8, 2014 7:30:34 GMT
My Blue Angel has done really well this year, it is in a container, I shall have to tackle it come autumn or next spring as it is pot bound. Not sure how much root to take out though, just don't want to lose it. Some good tips on here from andy and OM, 2nd and 3rd posts. Depending on the size and weight of the pots I find it can be a two person job. I did another of my Clems last year and threw the lump I cut off in the chicken run for them to scrat about at, the other day I noticed shoots appearing on it so teased the growing bit out and have planted it up. Can't remember which Clem it was though  |
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Post by Tig on Jul 8, 2014 9:36:29 GMT
Wow, that is really helpful, thanks Chuckles  |
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and oldmoleskins 
then I can do the biz.
