Calling ALL Rootbound Experts! (Urgent)

I vegged for 2 months under two 400W lights originally had 9, now down to just 4 females under 800W.

Week PRIOR to switching over into flowering I took all of them out of their 3 gal pots and transplanted into 5 gal. I used hygrozyme and earth juice mainly during veg, have used hygrozyme once during flower.

All 4 females are at 2 ft and today makes 11 days of flowering, removed the bottom trays and it's sporadic being every other drain hole there is about half of an inch of 1-2 roots poking through the bottom.

However I can't see any extras accompanying them (with 1-2) I shined a flashlight to help peep into the holes and the same applied for those w/o roots showing, nothing.



My question is if this is a sign of early rootbound? Or is this like what I have gathered in other threads I have googled to be normal and expected? As I saw it suggested they typically grow downward and then began to expand horizontally and whichever way they can from here on out in flower.

Other examples of things I read was that transplanting in flowering is to be avoided and that best bet if plant does become rootbound in flower to cut the bottom off and replant it into another 5 gal filled with 2/3 soil. So I did try to find some similar threads but none really applied to my situation.



(Thanks in advance!!)

5 gal is enough to grow to harvest. some do it in 3gal. i've had 12 ft. tall sativas in 5gals. if you have to transplant, you could go up to 10 gal totes, and just transplant as usual. but as i said, i think 5 gal is enough root space.

Are they particularly fast indicas or slow sativas? I use small pots on mainly ind dom plants. I'd prob go bigger on Sats as they take longer.

I think it's safe to say I'm going with all Indica this time as I only have 4

2 are New Blue Diesel which is Indica dominant Hybride

1 is Anesthesia which is pure Indica

and the last one is Narkush which is pure indica f1 hybrid w/ genetics from vigorous strains from the Hindu Kush mountains.

Is there any standing water or excess moisture in your bottom trays?

This will cause roots to come out 'searching'.

You should be ok with the 5gal containers. Correct on the roots going down before spreading out horizontal and filling in.

Wet

There was some water at the bottom of the trays but I have since dumped the trays out, I came back today and the top of the soil was dry and I stuck my finger down an inch and it was dry but if I squeeze the bottom of the pot water would drip still out of the bottom holes this is the case for 2 out of 4 pots.

The two that has the dripping going on has the longest roots showing through the bottom yesterday they are all half of an inch but now those 2 are actually nearing a full inch.

As already said, 5 gallon pots are definitely big enough to flower in. I flower in 5 gal pots with 24-30" tall Indica dom strains, with large root bases, and I only water every 3 days usually.

The roots are probably coming out of the bottom holes because of the water in the trays. I used to keep a cheap small wet/dry vac when I used trays so that the water didn't have to sit in the trays, it's not a good idea to leave it there.

You can trim the roots coming out of the bottom of the pots if you feel you need to. Better that than they get bacteria all over them.

I may be wrong but root development should slow down during flower. If true then as stated should be able to finish in them.

thenoblefarmer said:

There was some water at the bottom of the trays but I have since dumped the trays out, I came back today and the top of the soil was dry and I stuck my finger down an inch and it was dry but if I squeeze the bottom of the pot water would drip still out of the bottom holes this is the case for 2 out of 4 pots.

The two that has the dripping going on has the longest roots showing through the bottom yesterday they are all half of an inch but now those 2 are actually nearing a full inch.

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That's why I don't care for the 'stick your finger in a inch' deal. The top can be dry and plenty of water in the bottom.

Learn to do it by weight. After a bit you won't even need to pick the pot up and can tell just by tipping it a bit. Just muscle memory, not rocket science.

Just keep those trays empty.

Wet

I believe you are correct tranka as before I posted this thread I did do some searching through other related threads and I Did see that root expansion does typically slow during flowering and they are just on their 12th day so it should be about over, I guess this is just them getting use to their new home because they were only in the 5 gal during veg for one week.

True Wet, what you and Witchdoctor say on this matter is definitely accurate as I just watered the girls only around the edges of the potter yesterday as I heard that makes the roots search better vs pouring it near the actual stalk as it promotes it to grow vertically and prior to me coming across that info the latter is what I was guilty of LOL so I can't just blame the hygrozyme. Anyways I just watered around the edges yesterday and of course I stuck my finger in an inch dry as a bat but if I pick it up the bottom is heavy and if I squeeze water droplets come out but not as much and bad as it was when I first discovered this issue as one had enough water for about half a glass! Long story short I have seen some very big and vigorous strains in 5 gal pots in other peoples grows too so gonna stop worrying and just let these gals do their thing.

I appreciate each and every one of you all's feedback. I'll be sure to keep you guys updated on how it all goes!

thenoblefarmer said:

True Wet, what you and Witchdoctor say on this matter is definitely accurate as I just watered the girls only around the edges of the potter yesterday as I heard that makes the roots search better vs pouring it near the actual stalk as it promotes it to grow vertically and prior to me coming across that info the latter is what I was guilty of LOL so I can't just blame the hygrozyme. Anyways I just watered around the edges yesterday and of course I stuck my finger in an inch dry as a bat but if I pick it up the bottom is heavy and if I squeeze water droplets come out but not as much and bad as it was when I first discovered this issue as one had enough water for about half a glass! Long story short I have seen some very big and vigorous strains in 5 gal pots in other peoples grows too so gonna stop worrying and just let these gals do their thing.

I appreciate each and every one of you all's feedback. I'll be sure to keep you guys updated on how it all goes!

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Yea, good luck and let us know man. Just make sure that you don't create any dry pockets in the middle by watering around it. Maybe water around the edges a little first and then come back and give a little to the middle.

If you got roots peeping out your drain holes 2 weeks after transplanting to a bigger pot, you need to put more dirt in the bottom, pack it in a little when you transplant, and keep standing water out of the catchpans. For plants too big to move, I put a cedar shim (wedge) under one side of the catchpan, pour in a little water then drill a hole in the bottom of the pan where the water pools so it drains away into a cup or jar below the pan. That way my pan stays dry, and I dont gotta lift a 30 kg Pineapple plant to tip the pan out.

one week of veg in a 5 gallon potter from a 3.... is not enough to rootbound your roots to effect yeild

I flower in 1 & 2 gallon potters and get 4-8 oz depending on strain

Dr Kynes said:

If you got roots peeping out your drain holes 2 weeks after transplanting to a bigger pot, you need to put more dirt in the bottom, pack it in a little when you transplant, and keep standing water out of the catchpans. For plants too big to move, I put a cedar shim (wedge) under one side of the catchpan, pour in a little water then drill a hole in the bottom of the pan where the water pools so it drains away into a cup or jar below the pan. That way my pan stays dry, and I dont gotta lift a 30 kg Pineapple plant to tip the pan out.

Click to expand...

Good idea, but it sounds like you could just use a flood tray and make things a lot cleaner and simpler.

+ WitchDoctor + said:

Good idea, but it sounds like you could just use a flood tray and make things a lot cleaner and simpler.

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Won't let me rep you again. Gotta *spread it*. I'm kinda stingy with my reps and not that many get them. You're one of them.

A most excellent idea!

Another alternative (sometimes), is the concrete/cement mixing tubs at HD and (I guess), Lowes. ~$13 for the large. Cheap to see if it will work for you and handy for mixing stuff if it doesn't. I have several of both.

The small tub, >$5, makes a REALLY good kitty litter box also. Compliments of my wife.

Wet

Lol thanks Wet. Means a lot. I actually just set up my tent with flood tables, I'm bringing in the first 4 Wonder Womans today. Here's a pic with the green bulbs on though. I'm gonna set them up to drain from small hoses (hopefully) that will connect all three small hoses to a bigger one that I can just screw on when watering and drain right into an open drain in my basement. I may just put some little trays under there for the time being though. These 3x3 trays were less than 50 bucks though new. Not bad.


Awesome idea about using the concrete mixing tubs at HD for mixing soil. I've been using an old 4x2 hydro res container to mix in lol. It's driving me crazy. I can mix 30 gallons in it but it's a HUGE pain in the ass! I'll go check out HD for those today.

And what would we do without our wives man? I spent the last few weeks building raised beds and filled my whole back yard with them lmao. Over 400sq ft of garden.....and I didn't even think to plant herbs lol....so now she's taking over every window in the house with them.