Fixing The Exposed Roots Poking Through The Drainage Holes

Question:

I have a Camellia in a terracotta pot whose roots have grown through the drainage holes and are rooted into the ground. I’m not entirely sure how to fix this.                  

Answer:

  • This is not as much of a problem as it might seem.
  • Your Camellia is root bound.  I suspect it's been in the same container for a very long time or planted in a container that is too small. Either way, now and for the next month is an excellent time to remedy the situation.
  • The solution is simple: push the container over as far as possible and cut the roots off at the drainage hole.
    • Now, you have two options: root prune the Camellia and replant it in the same container or transplant it into a larger pot.
    • Containerized maples, roses, azaleas, gardenias, and many others are transplanted once every thirty-six to forty-eight months as a standard practice. This prevents them from becoming root-bound and declining.
  •  Root pruning allows you to keep a plant in the same container indefinitely by creating room for new roots. At the same time, transplanting enables you to increase the container size gradually over time. With either technique, you’ll be cutting the root ball, which makes people very nervous, as they are concerned about permanently damaging the plant.
    • Unless you grossly overdue it, this shouldn’t be the case.
  •  You’d remove the Camellia from the container, exposing the rootball. It was maybe necessary to break the pot.
  • As plants become root-bound, they develop a thick and tightly bound rootball in the shape of the container. You must break this pattern by severing the roots with a serrated knife, pruning shears, or a pruning saw.
  • You physically slice, trim, or cut away two to six inches from the sides of the root ball and four to eight inches off the bottom.
    • If it’s being transplanted, make four to twelve slices or slashes depending on the size of the root ball, and don’t forget the bottom.
  •  Next, add fresh potting soil to the new or existing container, insert the Camellia, and fill the vacant space with soil to complete the transplanting project and water.