you scored that gnarly looking root ball, right?

What do you mean by score? I've never really transplanted one that was as root bound as that one on the left so I wasn't sure if I should do anything different. I just spread the bottom a little like I usually would. I suppose if I was going to do something else now would be the time as I potted them earlier today.

When the roots are heavily bound, cutting them by vertically scoring the ball with a knife will encourage them to grow outward into the new media. Otherwise they can just sit there.

Those look like healthy, vigorous plants. I bet you are pleasantly surprised come spring.

Dennis

Ah good to know. Should I pull it up and do that real quick or am I doing more harm than good?

peppers are tough plants. maybe do it to only one to be on the safe side?

Maybe I'll do that real quick before it gets dark. That one on the left of the middle pic is definitely more root bound. Thanks for that advice guys.

What does "vertically scoring the ball with a knife" mean? Cutting the roots? Scraping the sides?

Hope this helps. I choose to spread out the roots a little after preforming this procedure.

Here is a link that might be useful: Root bound plants