Bad time to repot?

[mmlr38]

I purchased a few VFTs a couple of weeks ago and they were potted in their typical 2 inch pots that seemingly all VFTs come shipped in in the stores.

I immediately put them in a saucer with a couple mm of distilled water and set them in the sun. Some of the leaves got a little sunburned because I didn't properly harden them to the sun, but most of them did pretty well and now all the plants are showing new leaf growth.

Along with this new leaf growth it seems that the roots are growing as well. I now see roots growing out the bottom of most of the 2 inch pots and just resting in the water in the saucer.

My question is this: Would it be a bad idea to repot the plants right now? I am a little worried about leaving the roots exposed like they are as fall approaches and the temperatures here start cooling off. I bought a few large pots that will accommodate the roots better. Also, I would think that having a larger pot for the VFTs would help prevent the temperature of the soil from fluctuating as much and therefore provide a more stable environment for them.

Any suggestions? Should I wait to repot until it starts cooling off more or the plants go into dormancy? Or would it be ok to transplant them now? If I do repot them now, should I try to keep the original "ball" of peat around the roots and just set it down in the new pot?

Thanks for any feedback.

[gaduke]

I would do it now and put them all the way in, they are pretty tough.

[Hikenyura]

Ok there is no really bad time to repot except i would advise you not to repot during dormany. The best time to repot is right before spring growth spurts. I checked your city data and it seems like it can snow, but sometimes it's better to repot. Repotting can help improve soil airation, which has improve growth of roots and bigger pots allow more room to grow. As long as you find a time close to now(in days). First repot at night if you can because your humidity is higher in the morning (the only purpose of humidity for VFT's is to help with rootshock).
Now to do it with minimal rootshock (because I see your roots are growing out of the pot) First fill your larger pots with your soil mix (if you didn't know 1:1 peat moss to perlite) and dig a hole a little smaller than your 2 inch pot and moisten the soil with soft water. Now with your VFT pot just take the soil with the plant out of it. Now you have this pot shaped soil with your plant in it. Put that in the hole you just made ( make sure the roots that were coming from the bottom are in the soil now). Now your done.

I'm sorry if the instructions arn't clear but i hope this helps.

[mmlr38]

Thanks for the quick feedback guys.

gaduke,

What do you mean when you say "put them all the way in"? Do you mean to do what hikenyura describes? To take the plant and the soil together and just set them down in the new pot?

hikenyura,

Your description is very clear...probably because that was exactly how I was envisioning doing it. But what do you mean by "As long as you find a time close to now (in days)"?

[gaduke]

Yes,what he said ;D

[Hikenyura]

I mean if you misunderstood and repoted the minute you read it. My point is repot in a week from now atleast

[mmlr38]

Why would I need to wait a week? Or were you saying to do it within a week?

[Hikenyura]

do it within a week

[Aidan]

Personally, I would dispose of all the media and start afresh. You have no idea how the plants have been treated (almost certainly badly) and they may for example have been watered with tapwater for weeks or months. Plants will take a few weeks to get over the shock and will likely lose some leaves, but should recover without problem and will benefit in the long term.

The best time to repot? Here I wholeheartedly disagree with hikenyura and repot by choice during winter dormancy. Plants are barely ticking over at this time and hardly appear to notice being rudely uprooted. The only time that I would actively recommend being avoided is during flowering.

[Hikenyura]

Aiden is right. You should start off fresh because of the constant mineral build up the store gave to your VFT soil, and Aidens idea of repotting makes sense, but it depends, the mineral build up will gradually go away if you flush out some of the minerals with distilled water but if you notice that your VFT's leaves are turning yellow definatly use a new mix. I would trust Aiden more because h has more expirience than me though

[mmlr38]

Aiden,

When I do the repot, I will start with totally fresh material. Would it be a bad idea to repot right now? I could wait until winter dormancy, but I am worried about the exposed roots and small pots once the weather starts getting chilly.

If I wait until dormancy, is it a bad idea to repot them right after they enter dormancy? Should I wait until right before they come out of dormancy?

Thanks for the very helpful feedback.

[Clint]

Being chilly in fall and being frozen in winter are not the same thing Big difference.

Go ahead and repot if you want, but to be optimal with little if any setback, wait. As Aidan said, during dormancy is best.

[Aidan]

I'm in the midst of repotting plants at the moment. Not by choice... it's just the first opportunity I've had this year!

This is a plant I repotted a couple of days ago:



Your plants will be fine.

[mmlr38]

Wow, that is a beautiful plant. What type of cultivar is that?

[Aidan]

It's a seed raised plant and isn't a cultivar just yet.

There are a few more photos in this thread:

icps.proboards105.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=1188180911&page=1