Step 3: Pull the Plant Out of the Pot
This step may require two people or a bit of extra muscle strength, depending on the plant’s size. You’ll want to display your strength but remain gentle at the same time to keep the roots from ripping.
If you’re dealing with a big plant, lay it on its side to get a better grip. In case your plant’s in a plastic pot, apply pressure around the pot to loosen the rootball, enabling you to pull the plant out. Lastly, if your plant is in a ceramic or terracotta plant, use a long serrated knife to scrape around the edges to loosen up the soil.
Step 4: Loosen Up the Soil and Roots
Once you’ve pulled the plant out of the pot, make sure to loosen up and remove as much soil as possible. Not all plants will have soil in the rootball due to their crammed roots. However, if yours does, then make sure to loosen it up with your fingers or by gently tapping the back of your knife on the rootball.
Step 5: Prune the Bottom Roots
Use your saw or serrated knife to slice off the 1/2 to 1″ off the bottom of the rootball. If you’re conducting root pruning to maintain a certain height of your plant or tree, cut off even more of the rootball. However, remember not to chop off more than 1/3 of its root mass.
Step 6: Prune the Side Roots
Once you’re done pruning the bottom roots, it’s time to slice off the side roots around the rootball. Be very careful during this process, ensuring that you stay clear of tap roots. In case you do find taproots during pruning and find it challenging to cut around it using a knife, switch to scissors.
Step 7: Loosen Up Soil and Roots Again
Once you’ve pruned a good enough portion of your plant’s or tree’s roots, try to loosen up even more soil around the roots. This is quite beneficial for your plants as it helps get rid of soil saturated with excess mineral salts and depleted nutrients.
Step 8: Mix Soil and Perlite
Mix your plant or tree’s specific soil with perlite before repotting your pruned plant. Perlite is often a good option because it adds draining to the soil, which is important for plant health.
Step 9: Repot Your Plant
Once you’ve pruned the bottom and sides of your plant, there will be more than enough space for the pruned roots to grow back into the old pot. Allocate a fresh layer of potting mix at the bottom of a pot before placing your plant in it.
Step 10: Water Your Plant
As soon as your plant has been repotted, give it a good ol’ drizzle of water.
Step 11: Let Your Plant Rest
Once your plant or tree has been root pruned and watered, it’s time to let it rest.
The Bottom Line
Plants and trees often need major interventions to grow in a specific way, and root pruning is just the way to do it. We hope that our guide helps you conduct root pruning effectively to ensure that your plants remain healthy and happy.