Plants have been common household ornaments likely for as long as there have been houses.
And like pets, they need to be tended to or else they will wither and die. Excuse the melodrama.
Sometimes, the measures are drastic.
There are some pretty basic tenants to caring for our life-enriching leafy friends.
Regularly watering them is one thing, and pruning or deadheading could be another.
What about plants outgrowing their pots?
This method may have been unpopular in some way, however, cutting the roots could be beneficial to their growth.
Is cutting the roots, safe?
Root pruning is a process wherein the plant is removed from the pot, and cutting a portion of its roots so there’s enough room in the pot for new, nutrient-rich soil to be added.
The method sounds intimidating, but the procedure is effortless. And root pruning could save you money from buying bigger pots for the same plant.
The Youtube channel “Sheffield Made Plants” shared his way of pruning roots for his plants. They also explained the benefits of root pruning for the plants.
When a plant is root bound, wherein the roots have taken over the majority of the space in the pot, there’s no longer enough soil to retain moisture.
Not to mention the plant will also struggle to get nutrients. Root pruning is a better alternative in most cases.
While repotting is the common procedure when plants outgrew their current pot, root pruning can be a better alternative in most cases.
Below is the step-by-step process:
First, remove the plant from the pot.
You should notice that the bottom area has plenty of roots already.
Once removed, carefully cut about a third of the root structure at a time and not more than half your plant needs.
This will give room for new soil with lots of nutrients to be placed in the same pot.
Plants need some roots left to be able to draw moisture and nutrients.
You’d be surprised how much they can take.
Next, trim the sides of the root structure.
Then on the pot, add new soil mixture at the bottom before placing the pruned plant.
Add more soil to the sides until you get the desired volume.
Pour water into the newly repotted plant, and place it in a sun-lit area.
Look at this happy plant.
So, what are the benefits of root pruning?
There are a few noticeable benefits of root pruning your plants. One of them is that there’s new room to grow for the root system of your plants, as well as acquiring a soil mixture with lots of nutrients.
The foliage will eventually turn greener since the plant is healthier. Giving more vibrance to its color.
The increased density of new roots growing allows the plant to absorb more water and nutrients.
The video has since been viewed more than a million times and viewers praised the channel for properly explaining this method.
Helping them not to get intimidated by the process.
A user commented, “This is probably the best explanation of “root bound” I’ve ever heard. I usually repot in a larger pot. I never even thought of reducing the roots.”
Watch the video to learn more about root pruning!
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