Root pruning houseplants and why it might be good in some cases | Save a dying plant!

[@krisfarnsworth620]

I always think about the BALANCE between roots and leaves. That’s why if you prune roots you should prune the top as well. Also why it can be challenging to propagate a large cutting (too many leaves/no roots)… and why pruned plants seem to regrow so fast.

[@EverythingPlants]

I 100% agree with this. A lot of times people will say that their plant hasn't grown since they've bought it, but all the growth is usually happening in the soil to accommodate the future growth. So much to learn from plants.

[@robinmorrison3382]

I'm so glad you showed me an option of keeping my plants the same size!! 🤯🤯

[@EverythingPlants]

Yay!!!

[@squishbean573]

Hey Jeff! Thanks for this video! I feel like generally people are very afraid of pruning Roots or dead heading plants, but I am opposite! I'm probably an aggressive root pruner. I transfer all of my plants go into semi-Hydro, so plants basically go through "processing" in my house lol. That means there is no really quarantine and "do nothing" time, they are removed from soil and basically bathed and cleaned for pests. Most plants have a pretty large root system when you buy it, especially pothos plants from Walmart LOL as they are usually incredibly root bound. So I actually trim a little more than half of the roots because in leca it's really hard to keep all of the roots. Most of the soil Roots will be shed anyway. I know that not all pests like thrip eggs within the leaves are visible so I do still keep them separate for a little while afterwards. Depending how big the plant is and how much of the roots I prune, I may propagate the plant at that time or remove some of the older leaves. For the most part my plants have never had an adverse reaction. And it's funny because they always say "let your plants acclimate and don't do anything!" 😀 I really like doing it this way! In the end everybody does what suits them ☺️ I have probably 70+ plants and my losses are under 10. But I love this type of video because I don't find many people do this 🙂 also, if you're ever in cochrane or Calgary we should plant swap!

[@EverythingPlants]

Hey Jasmine! I was really excited to make this video as I completely agree about people being nervous or unsure of how to manage over grown plants. That would be so cool to do a plant trade if we ever pass through!

[@squishbean573]

@@EverythingPlants Love it! I think it's awesome that your putting out such informative content about somewhat controversial plant stuff! I remember when Harli G talked about dead heading plants to start over! It made me not afraid to do it! Lol. That would be sweet! Stampede is coming up! And also people like to come to Cochrane for the icecream for some reason!

[@jillianleblanc9370]

Thank you for sharing beautiful and amazing plants collection lovely garden have a blessed day

[@EverythingPlants]

Hello Jillian!!!

[@sdouglas9003]

Great video, thank you! I have problems with 2 things when re-potting: cleaning up and aggressively raking the soil from the root ball(!), which a number of plant vloggers do, and then trimming the roots! I find this especially true of plant vlogs re-potting overgrown jade plants. I re-potted my overgrown one prior to watching the aggressors, and now think I should re-pot the repotted jade and really give the roots a rake and trim. I’m a bit scared though. I’m encouraged by your demonstration, feeling somewhat braver, but I’m still not there yet…

[@EverythingPlants]

Hey S Douglas. Are you wanting to give those roots a bit of a trim because you want the same sized pot or did you up size it into something larger when you just repotted?

[@sdouglas9003]

@@EverythingPlants My jade was extremely root bound. I re-potted into a larger pot. It seems to be doing well, but I’m wondering if it would be better for the overall well being of the plant to rake and trim the root ball. I’ve always tried to keep the root ball intact, but am learning that isn’t always necessarily true or beneficial.

[@EverythingPlants]

@@sdouglas9003 if you've upsized the pot you should be good. Jade roots are usually fairly fine and in my experience typically don't encircle the pot, they just fill out the pot. I did the exact same thing to my last repot of my larger jade and people were screaming at me in the comments (I might be exaggerating slightly) about not loosening up the roots a bit. It's totally fine and growing great. I'd leave yours along and let it adjust. You'll see the improvement soon.

[@sdouglas9003]

@@EverythingPlants thanks so much for the advice. I now feel better about just leaving it alone.

[@timbrelman]

Happy to see you're doing root pruning now.

[@EverythingPlants]

Thanks. Assuming you do as well?

[@timbrelman]

@@EverythingPlants haven't in years. But I have several plants that may soon need to be. I just got back into house plants in 2018. Started off with all small plug pots to four inch pots. My plants are getting larger and healthier.

[@audreymuratore]

Just what I needed to see before I do the same with my golden Pothos. Thank you.😊

[@EverythingPlants]

Nice! Good luck 👍

[@kyipadolma9105]

Thanks for this wonderful & useful info abt root pruning. How one could do with heavily rootbound spider plants.? Ur advise is highly appreciated. Thanks

[@dbbrbc]

It does look very healthy!!!! It's beautiful! 💚🌿🌱 I think your root cutting really really helped! Yay!!! Love the video!

[@EverythingPlants]

Thanks and it definitely helped with the pothos.

[@beckypackqualls2745]

Excellent info! TFS, as always.

[@EverythingPlants]

Thanks Becky!

[@diannenaworensky6698]

Jeff you should really get yourself a Ginsu knife. It is one of my favorite garden tools. You know that fern that is starting to look like crap....I just pull it out and hack it with my Ginsu knife. Perfect for taking Staghorn pups too. I'm still a nervous wreck over doing this to some of my more expensive plants but Pothos and ferns it's no fear cause like you said, it's good for them. Thanks for the video 🪴🌼🪴🌼🪴

[@EverythingPlants]

That knife would be soooo much better! Thanks Dianne.

[@Its.Nerisa]

So interesting! I always learn something new from your videos. Thanks for sharing!

[@dianaduncan8877]

Thanks for sharing .

[@EverythingPlants]

Thanks for watching!

[@cathyspooner7093]

Alot of good information

[@bonhetorbon6990]

Very interesting video. Thanks!

[@EverythingPlants]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Have you root pruned any of your plants previously?

[@karenb136]

Good video. Here is the update on my air layering of my ruby ficus. It worked and the new plant is doing well. It already has a new leaf on it. The mama is doing well too. Thanks so much for your video on how to do that. 💚🪴🌿🌱💚

[@EverythingPlants]

Wow...that is awesome!

[@normatrewhella9003]

Good information.

[@EverythingPlants]

Thanks Norma!

[@pennymayo2332]

Good information

[@EverythingPlants]

Thanks so much Penny!

[@JETBLACKPRIEST]

I just got my monstera on a moss pole and i had to completely disturb the roots to fit it in the pot. Its gone and thrown out a leaf with absolutely no fenestration after a leaf with two holes and a split lol, similar little hissy fit I guess cause it didnt slow down for a second.

[@EverythingPlants]

That is so weird lol

[@shadesofidaho]

OHHH You made me think to check my Neon Pothos for root bound. I do not want to up pot her. I like the pot set up she is in. I for sure will ull her out to see what is going on down there. Plat is looking good but I feel like I a finding a few more yellowed leaves than usual for this plant. I really love the idea we can keep our plants, well many of them, down to a more manageable size. About the bigger leaves At first my goal was to get those huge leaves. Now I am really leaning towards the smaller leaves so I can enjoy the plant leaf shapes just in smaller size. My Tetrasperma leaves are so cute even though many are only 4 inches long. Thanks fr sharing this. Hahaha I jst give those root pucks a fling oun into my flower beds. I am a lazy composter.

[@EverythingPlants]

Hey Chris. If you have some plants long enough they just hit a stage where they seem to grow faster and faster each year. Now if you have the space, that is okay. But if you don't then you need to chop the roots!

[@shadesofidaho]

@@EverythingPlants Yes I am too the point I cannot let the plants I have get too much larger. I totally get some I can not root prune. Do you know if you can root prune a Red or green congo? Both I have are so pretty as they are right now and I would love them to stay that size or maybe grow much slower. Thanks!

[@vixistixi]

Hi Jeff, I know its an old vid but I was wondering when you prune the stems of the pothos can you keep cutting the same stem once it has grown long again? X thanks for all your videos-I love them!!

[@shirleywilhelm1495]

Can Hoyas be pruned in this way?

[@EverythingPlants]

I have never done this to a hoya, but I would do it to any plant if it needed it and met those requirements!

[@RockyWo]

I am afraid.. i did this to my golden fruit palm.. hope it does work for that one 2 because its many years old and i wanted to give her a new pot . Do i thought abour this video and it was a nobrainer . Hope it will survive such a harsh circumstance

[@EverythingPlants]

Good luck and let me know how it goes

[@RockyWo]

@@EverythingPlants wow.. it maintained it's strength. I die not see any Kind of Bad Influenz because of rootcutting jet. Let's See how it goes in the next weeks. I am specially exited because that plan ist known for it's fragile roosystem you shouldn't toutch.. but actually nothing Bad happend so far.

[@ravensdotter6843]

This was very helpful Jeff! Thanks for posting!

[@EverythingPlants]

You're welcome!

[@cathyspooner7093]

I never remove any leaves when i root prune

[@rephaelreyes8552]

I’ve heard that potted fruiting trees need their roots to be pruned annually so that they won’t suffocate. I guess it’s true for any potted plants

[@EverythingPlants]

Yup!

[@rebeccahenderson7761]

Jeff, it would be great if you could do one on the effects of green algae on the roots. I bought a bunch of those clear pots to see the roots, but then someone said something about toxins from algae??

[@fioregiallo]

I could be wrong, but as someone with experience in aquatics, unless you have blue-green algae aka cyanobacteria it should be fine. Green algae is just another plant and will just compete for nutrients at worst. You might be over watering though!

[@rebeccahenderson7761]

@@fioregiallo Thanks for your note, much appreciated. Yes, cyanobacteria was what they said. Okay I will look up blue-green algae, I didn't realize it was a separate type.

[@fioregiallo]

@@rebeccahenderson7761 it can definitely become toxic and cause problems not just for your plant but you as well. Totally worth looking into. I'm glad I could help!!! You're welcome!

[@EverythingPlants]

I agree....everything that I have read is that there is no effect to your plants. If you want to limit the growth of algae then you light the light that it gets. You can place that clear pot inside another pot and that will solve the issue.

[@rebeccahenderson7761]

@@EverythingPlants Great, thanks!!

[@marjxowisno]

I think this is what is happening in my mayoi it’s starting to lose some leaves and I think it’s because of being root bound.

[@EverythingPlants]

Take it out of the pot and have a look at the roots

[@marjxowisno]

@@EverythingPlants will do!

[@sophyyee8640]

Is it you who is playing the piano?

[@EverythingPlants]

Hey Sophy...no it isn't but I sure hope to make my own music for my videos someday. Just need to find a way to have good audio quality.

[@dramaticleafing9103]

This is sooo aggressive jeff 😳 but I’ve been doing it also🤭I am just too scared of the haters I’ll be making if I make a video about it lol.

[@EverythingPlants]

Hahaha....I don't think I've received anything negative yet. I always like reading about what others do for their plants....I just ignore the rest and carry on.

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@EverythingPlants]

👍

[@krisfarnsworth620]

First comment!!

[@EverythingPlants]

Yay! 🏅

[@getschwiftysales4559]

I disagree with the practice of having so many plants in such a little space that they have to go through trauma every once in awhile to fit your conditions. I hope you may consider your plants as your children; you wouldn't want to have 20 children because you couldn't care for them all and provide them their needs. I believe the plant has memory and feels it is being injured. I don't believe you should have plants that you don't have room for.

[@eggpassion]

wait till you hear about this practice called bonsai 😂

[@dylansellers9339]

That's basically how a bonsai tree grows It's the same plant but it looks alot smaller

[@peggymalabuyoc9150]

Great video with lots of great information! You never disappoint. 😊. Many thanks for this enjoyable video along with all your hard work and efforts to make exceptional content for us. Always appreciated!! 👏👌🪴🥰

[@EverythingPlants]

Glad you enjoyed it!