Whenever I transplant (and whatever I transplant) seems to sulk for a week or two before picking up again. That's what I would expect regardless of whether you freed up the roots or not. It just takes them a little while to adjust.

While a heavily root-bound ball is a dismal thing to behold, roots always figure out where they need to go. You don't need to point them in the right direction. Yes, the price of a root-bound root ball is an extra week or two while they figure out how to do that, and it is easier and safer to let them.

I think 5 to 6" tall seedling would not /should not have a big mass of root ball. I NEVER disturb the root ball of my tomato plants, both when re potting and planting out. But I have don it on peppers. But if you see a lot of roots that are woven and tangled, just disturb them a bit. This way the plant will try to re organize its forces. JMO

Sey

That's correct. A 5-6" plant shouldn't have had a dense rootball. But I see no purpose in disturbing roots at all beyond separating them from the container that they were in.

I always tease the roots when potting up and transplanting. Doesn't bother the plants at all.

The size and density of a root ball from a 5-6 inch plant would depend on the size of the pot that it was growing in.

Rodney

You guys are right in that the root ball is not a solid tangled mess. I was just wondering if I was failing to do something that was generally done when transplanting tomatoes. Thanks for your quick responses.