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I have my plants in 10" flower pots and its coming soon to transplant them in the patch. I was stupid and didn't put a net around the dirt to stop it from breaking up, and now I have to figure out how to get my plants out of these big pots without breaking roots or having the dirt fall to pieces while I move it, I also can't cut up the pots either. How will I be able to do this? Thanks.

5/11/2005 4:37:24 PM

Montoursville, PA

Dump them out and plant them. The shake up will cost you a day or three.

Next year consider one gallon paper ice cream pots. You can see them in my diary 2004.

5/11/2005 4:43:01 PM

[email protected]

Kyle
Water the pots quite good about a day and a half before you transplant. The water keeps the dirt together quite good and also helps slip out of the pot. works for me and I use 2 gallon pots, and have never used netting or anything else
Eddy

5/11/2005 5:16:26 PM

Walkerton Ont

good point iceman, i also use 2 gallon pots, but this year i got smart as i wrecked a few plants last year by taking them out. SO i cut the sides and taped them up; now all i half to do is take the tape off and pull it out

5/11/2005 6:35:19 PM

Brillion Wisconsin

I would cut the bottoms off the flower pots with a Dremel Tool or a 4 inch grinder w/thin cutting wheel. Carefully remove bottom and the hold dirt in. Bury entire pot and slide the remaining sides out of the soil.

Then go buy new flower pots. Good Luck...Dean o

5/11/2005 7:22:48 PM

Marion,IN

kyle- mine did the same thing. The mix was dry and it fell apart. Hopefully, I only lose a day or two. Next year, alot of water to hold it may be the answer. I also like your net trick. Anyway they are outside and I have cables and a heater.

5/11/2005 8:03:25 PM

Yah thanks for the help. I don't want to destroy or cut up my pots, esspecially because they weren't very cheap and are a thicker plastic. I always wet the soil before I slide em out so thats what I will continue to do. It worked for me last year but I was using muck a thick chucky soil, this year I am using a fluffy moss soil that breaks apart easily. ohh well there tough plants and they will make it. Thanks a lot for the help!

5/11/2005 8:10:33 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

With all of the plants that I put into the garden, I always make sure that the soil in the containers is always moist, then it doesn't crumble and it is easier to slide out of the container. I guess it would work the same way with GP

5/11/2005 9:16:47 PM

Rhode Island

Guys....moist soil is good but....to get the plant out without disturbing the root system bad...let the pot dry out for the day before you want to transplant it..it will love ya for the watering when you do put it in the ground..simply squeeze the pot on all four sides turn it upside down with your hand over the top of it....the plant between your fingers it will fall right out..she'll be good to go!!!!!

5/11/2005 9:53:20 PM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

JRB's right. . unless your mix is really crumbly.
Then make a plastic scoop. . .like a disposable plastic pot or 2-ltr bottle cut in half lengthwise. Lay your plant nearly sideways and work the scoop in under your baby. If necessary slip a knife in to loosen from pot. If super crumbly use 2 half scoops to completely capture. Hold together till you can ease into hole and push dirt up against. .

5/11/2005 11:24:07 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

What if you used something like a plastic shopping bag to "catch" the plant as you empty the pot. You could make a hole in the bottom of the bag big enough to fit around the base of the plant. Then, use JRB's method. The bag should prevent anything that might slip through fingers.

I've never done this. But, it might work.

5/12/2005 12:48:05 AM

Joliet, IL

if your soil in the containers has good drainage, then water them with a medium to light watering one morning before the day you transplant them the following evening. basically water 1.5 days before transplant with
a medium to light soaking. it takes just the right amount
of water to hold the form with out threatening with root rot to the freshly developed root systems. too dry and you
can't make a sandcastle---too wet and your creating a
smothering mudslide. i have had the dry crumbling
landslide with broken off roots, and i have also damned
near drown the plants with too much agua. this is how i have learned the 1.5 day medium to light watering in transplant containers with good drainage.

5/12/2005 2:07:44 AM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

shazzy that is kind of how I do it. If you have good drainage there should be no problem. It is moist soil. Just enough to hold the soil together. And turn it upside down holding the plant. Might have to tap the bottom of the container. You will not need a spoon or anything else to disturb the root system. I do not think that I would ever intentionally allow soil for a giant pumpkin dry out. Not good for the plants. Then water it after transplant.

5/12/2005 8:14:19 AM

These are great ideas! Thanks a lot! I think Iam going to soak the soil, and I thought about using a shopping bag method before, and then I saw crammed's suggestion and it was the same that I thought about earlier. That was cool!

5/12/2005 10:14:54 AM