After repotting, you've usually removed some roots, whether intentionally or when you removed all of the old soil from the root mass, some will have broken off.

It's best to wait until you see new growth. Usually about 2 weeks.

plants can be in shock slightly after repotting. Give them time to adjust.

While something may seem beneficial to us as humans, you need to think in the plants perspective. What works and seems best for us, isn't always best for them.

Dave, I understand that but wouldn't the fertilizer promote new growth, especially root growth?

No. It's not like us taking vitamins if we're sick.

You need to just leave it be until you see new growth if you want to do what's best for the plant.

Can someone provide a scientific explanation for not fertilizing immediately after repotting?

dave is right on track with his advice. the tiny root hairs that break off are the ones that seek water/nutrients. the plant can't absorb the nutes if the roots are broken. take it from those who have learned this lesson …

Vladimir,

humans aren't patent and we like to speed things up and do what we can to make everything happen as fast as possible. Instant gratification is great after all.

unfortunely, with plants, if you want to do the very best for them, operating on their clock is a much much slower process.

Soils that are initially low in fertility are conducive to root growth.

Once the roots have established themselves in the new mix, then provide the nutrients that the plant is again ready to use.

Josh

Hi Josh. Soils that are initially low in fertility are conducive to root growth. But isn't that counter intuitive?I would think that soils low in fertility prevent or inhibit root growth due to insufficient nutrients.

I've had this same question for a while. I'm assuming Vladimir is using a soilless mix (5-1-1). Is a wet 5-1-1 mix completely devoid of any kind of fertility/nutrients by itself?

Vladimir, how are you repotting your container plants? Are they in 5-1-1 or something similar? Do you bareroot and root prune the plants? In my experience 5-1-1 can go a quite a long time between repotting, unlike standard potting mix which only lasts a little less than a season at best.

I bare root but do not root prune prior to putting trees into 5-1-1.