This is a sensitive time in a plants life and a little care and attention will go a long way. You want to try and minimize any shock to the plant and it’s root system during this process. So it is careful to plan and be detailed about your transplant. Have all of your new media prepared and new containers cleaned prior to un-potting your plants. A few things you may need are new media, new containers, a tool to un-pot your plants ( trowel, shovel, butter knife, etc... ), mycorrhizae or root inoculant, and gloves ( optional ). You will also want to make sure the plants roots are wet but not soaked and the new media is moist but not soaked. This will help to reduce shock to the plants as they try to root into the new media. It’s also a good idea to use a similar media throughout the plants lifecycle if it is going to be transplanted several times. It will help to make sure the media has similar dry down times improving root quality.
Now we have all of our equipment ready, time to un-pot your plants and get them to some new homes. If you are transplanting from a container to a bigger container or a plug to a bigger container you can follow the same rules. Fill the new container with your choice of planting media. Tamp down lightly. If using a plug make small indention at plant site and cover soil surface with mycorrhizae. Plant plug in indention and cover with planting media. If moving up in container size, fill the new container with your planting media. Make a hole for the new plant. Cover soil surface with mycorrhizae. Squeeze the old container and slide the plant out of the container. Agitate the root ball loosening it from it’s self a little to help encourage growth into the new media. Plant into hole and cover with planting media. Now water the transplant making sure roots and media are wet and wait. Dry down time periods are important for healthy root systems. The roots need oxygen to be happy and healthy. Constantly soggy soil will not typically encourage root growth. So wait before watering it right away. Let it dry out some and then start your watering routine. If the rootball takes a long time to establish into the new soil the grower can experience stunted growth and lower yields.
