Help treating possible root bound issue

[AZreefer]

Morning farm! So one of my girls turned a bit yellow over a few weeks. I top fed and it cleared. Today I went to water and I see it just running out the side of the air pot as if it can not penetrate the top layer. I poked it and it was hard af. So I jam my finger in some choice spots and it's waaaaaay hard. So i dug in the side of the pot. Sent my first to the bottom doing claw fingers as I push in the pot. My claw fingers feel about 3" of tight bound together roots and under just dry potting mix.

I suspect poor watering practices early caused this.

My thoughts on how to approach it is to claw the roots out gently, remove her with the roots as intact as possible then fix the potting soil by loosening it with my mitts then watering a bit to wet the soil and have the wife hold the plant so the roots are dangling in the pot spread as I slowly burry and the gently pack with fresh potting mix

Sorry for no pics but I'm already out for the day and when I discovered the situation I tried to deal with it best I could with the time I had.

If I'm off the mark on my proposed fix or if there is a trick to root bound fixes please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks!

 

[AZreefer]

I read an article on RQS site to aid in my quest for knowledge on this subject. It has confirmed with a plant matching the lime shade one of plants had a week ago.

I'm going to go ahead with the plan I have. If anyone has any further tips or tricks id love to hear. Other than that I guess just wish my giant fingers luck with wiggling the roots loose.

 

[BearWater]

I read an article on RQS site to aid in my quest for knowledge on this subject. It has confirmed with a plant matching the lime shade one of plants had a week ago.

I'm going to go ahead with the plan I have. If anyone has any further tips or tricks id love to hear. Other than that I guess just wish my giant fingers luck with wiggling the roots loose.

Pics or it didn’t happen! J/King!!!!

Could you try and “recondition” the soil. Like water it really slowly over a long period of time? That’s what I’ve had to do (and recommended by others here) as far as the root ball I cant advise on that. me personally would just try and work the soil (you fed it and it looked better). Take this with a grain of salt reefer! : )

 

[AZreefer]

Pics or it didn’t happen! J/King!!!!

Could you try and “recondition” the soil. Like water it really slowly over a long period of time? That’s what I’ve had to do (and recommended by others here) as far as the root ball I cant advise on that. me personally would just try and work the soil (you fed it and it looked better). Take this with a grain of salt reefer! : )

I take everything with a bit of weed.

I could link my grow diary. If you looked in the pics I'm sure you could identify the girl that is lighter than the rest. I'm just concerned that if I do not get them growing into the lower part of the pot it will compound issues.

 

[Putthataway]

If you are root bound put them in a bigger pot. Water the soil slowly as stated if the soil is too dry. I can’t remember for the term for it.

 

[AZreefer]

If you are root bound put them in a bigger pot. Water the soil slowly as stated if the soil is too dry. I can’t remember for the term for it.

I'm not pot bound. I didn't water my soil well enough causing the dirt to dry too much. (I think). I do have another 15 gallon pot but not enough potting medium to fill that.

 

[BearWater]

I take everything with a bit of weed.

I could link my grow diary. If you looked in the pics I'm sure you could identify the girl that is lighter than the rest. I'm just concerned that if I do not get them growing into the lower part of the pot it will compound issues.

Pics are always good : ) I’ll go check it out! Im really bad at keeping up on threads! I seem to find them after a few days and catch up that way lol : )

Weed is always a good way to take life hahaha : )

 

[Putthataway]

Pics are always good : ) I’ll go check it out! Im really bad at keeping up on threads! I seem to find them after a few days and catch up that way lol : )

Weed is always a good way to take life hahaha : )

I can hardly navigate this site. I use the heart button and the new posts to get around this joint.

 

[AZreefer]

Pics are always good : ) I’ll go check it out! Im really bad at keeping up on threads! I seem to find them after a few days and catch up that way lol : )

Weed is always a good way to take life hahaha : )

I'm leaving work to go deal with the lady. I'm going to sort of combine suggestions for this. I'm reporting into a same size pot just better prepared

I can hardly navigate this site. I use the heart button and the new posts to get around this joint.

I will put up pics soon as I'm home.

 

[AZreefer]

Alright. I loosened the dirt under the plant by digging around under herm. The organics were like a puck. I didn't keep that shit wet enough.

If you are root bound put them in a bigger pot. Water the soil slowly as stated if the soil is too dry. I can’t remember for the term for it.

When we are watering slowly what exactly are we doing? Small amounts over a period? Or just add water at a slow rate so it doesn't puddle?

Pics or it didn’t happen! J/King!!!!

Could you try and “recondition” the soil. Like water it really slowly over a long period of time? That’s what I’ve had to do (and recommended by others here) as far as the root ball I cant advise on that. me personally would just try and work the soil (you fed it and it looked better). Take this with a grain of salt reefer! : )

Oh shit...lol. Okay. That's what I'm going to do now.

 

[BearWater]

Alright. I loosened the dirt under the plant by digging around under herm. The organics were like a puck. I didn't keep that shit wet enough.

When we are watering slowly what exactly are we doing? Small amounts over a period? Or just add water at a slow rate so it doesn't puddle?

Oh shit...lol. Okay. That's what I'm going to do now.

No way dont worry about it!!! Im totally fucking with you!

I have been told to use a sprayer nozzle and just spray the topsoil (would take forever) it’s probably the most correct way lol. I used a smart water 1L and drilled tiny ass holes in it (2) and just spray the top until the water kind of builds up slightly and then back off. Do that for A WHILE! : ) so yeah little amounts over a long period (within a few hours I have been recommended).

 

[AZreefer]

The lady in question as she sits now. I took her into the living room to have more space. I turned her upside down and let everything loose drop. Then I took to the ball with my fingers raking and pushing easy until I was all the way under. That when I felt the puck. I loosened best I could then refilled the potting mix.

 

[BearWater]

The lady in question as she sits now. I took her into the living room to have more space. I turned her upside down and let everything loose drop. Then I took to the ball with my fingers raking and pushing easy until I was all the way under. That when I felt the puck. I loosened best I could then refilled the potting mix.

She looks really good! Thats promising! : )

 

[AZreefer]

She is the obviously different colored one about a week ago. You can see it. Lol and if not top left.

 

[AZreefer]

She looks better this morning than she has in 2 weeks!

I really expected to find her droopy and angry this morning. This pic is like 10 minutes after lights on she even sprouted some white hairs!

Let's go!

 

[fishmon]

I found the same issue using dry organics. It helps to crumble up the hardened top of soil before watering. The trick is to water very slowly. I really like air pots but going back to fabric. Transitioning to organic exclusively and have found the air pots problematic In controlling fungus gnats. I'd rather deal with them at the top surface only. Gnats love organics. Air pots offer a blue million access points with all the holes in the sides. Not nearly as bad with synthetics but a total horror show with organics.