Need Help Quickly Please! R.E. Quick Retransplanting

19 years ago

Traditionally young minis in tiny pots are supposed to go first in 1 gallon pots as a transition before their final 5+ gallon pots. Mine always dry out too quickly in Florida heat in ones, so I bought 2 gallon pots in anticipation of my first order. My first order the minis were so huge, when I had to buy more pots before the arrival of my second order I went up to 3 gallons. I've been outside mixing up a batch of potting soil to pot up my new order of minis. The new ones aren't a bad size, but I think they're going to be overwhelmed by the 3 gallon pots I bought. I'm looking over at my first order of minis in their 2 gallon pots that are really too small, and wondering if I can switch them over to the 3 gallons. Even though the've put on a lot of growth in the 8 or 9 days since they've been repotted, I'm sure the root systems (they were in tiny 3x3 pots) is not anywhere close to filling up their new pots.

Anybody out there ever retransplanted a rose this quickly? Will I damage the roots? The first order is growing like gangbusters, and I don't want to hurt them.

I really wanted to get my new minis in bigger pots this morning. I'm covered in dirt and sweat, by the time I take a shower and go buy more pots it will be too hot to do anything outside. Anybody have any experience they can share?

I know this is concerning minis but this forum getts WAY more traffic, and I figure if anybody has done this with any kind of rose the info would be helpful!

Thanks in advance for any help!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

pete41
19 years ago
Yeah-back when I was in miniatures[had fifty at once]I did all kinds of stuff like that.Sitting here wondering whats the problem.Never lost one by moving them around .If you do expose some roots just don't let them dry.
michellesg
19 years ago
I had to move an in ground pinkie out of the way of the cable man one day and put her back in the next. I know I busted a few roots but she was fine.
Related Professionals
Manhattan Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Redding Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Wilmington Landscape Contractors · Charlotte Landscape Contractors · Greenville Landscape Contractors · McAllen Landscape Contractors · Canton Landscape Contractors · Tucson Landscape Contractors · Honolulu Landscape Contractors · Vidalia Home Builders · Lake Charles Home Builders · Clarksdale Home Builders · Huron Home Builders · Kenosha Home Builders · Bakersfield Home Builders
berndoodle
19 years ago
Here's the risk to repotting too soon: that the roots haven't filled the pot, so the rootball won't still together, it will fall apart when you take it out of the pot and break off a bunch of the delicate feeder roots, setting back your plant.

I've potted up after 3 weeks many times. I can gauge time to pot up by two simple things that have little to do with top growth: seeing feeder roots in the drain holes and being able to turn a well-watered pot upside down with my hand holding the plant in and having the whole rootball tap out cleanly.

That's all I know. Whether 9 days is long enough in Florida to equal 3 weeks of root growth here is anyone's guess. This is the season of top growth, so don't be fooled by that.

Haven't you found a source of free pots from landscapers?!?! Or is it too hot to use plastic nursery pots down there?
garden_party
19 years ago
I suggest you put them in a shadier spot. My buddy does that and just sees that they get a few hours of filtered sun and she seems to have huge success. She then transplants when the weather is not hot as hades as it is now. If you do transplant, try to keep the roots intact as already suggested, heavily mulch, and water frequently if they have a lot of sun exposure.
pete41
19 years ago
Yes-by all means follow Garden Parties advice.Harden them off for a week in the shade after transferring.Sorry-sometimes we can assume to much.I just assumed that would be a given.My apologies.
effierose
Original Author
19 years ago
I spent most of today making up potting mix, repotting, making up some more potting mix, and potting some more. When I finally ran out of energy and light, I'd gotten all but a couple of my roses repotted. I did swap the huge minis into the larger pots. I was VERY careful. I did break off 1 or 2 feeder roots, but I think I did pretty good. I was especially concerned about all the new canes, but they all seem to be fine. I've got them in the shade, and I'll leave them there for at least a few days.

Thanks so much for all the help. I know I can always count on the nice people on GardenWeb!