Use a small hand saw, like a pruner saw and cut the rootball all the way around, maybe an inch inside the edge of the pot. Angle in when you cut, so the rootball comes right out. This is also called 'root pruning' LOL!

Love ceramic containers, but oh, my aching back.

Great tool, Dave!!!

I love my saw and everyone needs one in their tool box!!! Does it come in pink? Kidding... ;-)
This makes root pruning so much easier..

This will work wonders for you Andrew!! Like Dave mentioned, cut around the perimeter of the container so that the circle will be able to come out clean from the container.. Especially if it is concave in design. Then lay it on its side and use a tool that can be placed through the bottom drainage hole to help push out from the bottom as you gently guide the mass of the ball outward.

Roxanne. we talked about this during our meeting and this tool will work great for you in your containers as well! When you are ready to repot!!! ;-)

Thanks for the picture , Dave.

Good luck Andrew... You won't have any problems!!

Bill did post a pic.. I'll look for it later tonight. If I remember correctly, he posted a pic on one of my threads about root pruning and how he does his in those large containers. Just let it dry out a little before you tackle this..

I have pics of the huge root pruning of the Pony Tail Palm that was in a huge ceramic container.. That was a job!! Lol!!!

Take care,

Laura