SOIL Transplanting

[buds73]

Hi all,
I'm planning on transplanting 2 of my 3 plants a little later.(only 2 of 3 pots turned up) from 5ltrs to 12. I've done some reading and watched some videos of it and have done some small flower transplants with my mother in the past but I have this vision in my head that when I tip pot up to take out plant all the soil is going to fall off. I know this is probably just me playing out the worse possible scenario lol.
So I was wondering does anyone have any transplant tips that might stop that sort of thing from happening?

[ChadWestport]

I prefer to do it when the soil is wet, sticks together better. The key is to have enough root mass in the soil to hold it together for that quick moment. You don't want to root bound your plants, but you'll also have a hard time keeping the soil intact if no roots have reached the bottom and are somewhat holding it together.

I prefer to have everything staged and ready so that I can go from tip to stuff in one motion. Also try and keep the exposed soil upright as you take it out as opposed to a horizontal position, which creates more gravitational force over the soil and can lead to falling off.

[buds73]

Thanks, root mass was one of my concerns as i don't know how well they've grown and don't see a way of knowing unless i leave them to long enough to come out the bottom of the pot and i don't really want to do that.

[ChadWestport]

I use quart containers, close to the solo cup size. When I see the roots poking at the bottom, I know it is a good time. They aren't spiraling around the bottom or turning brown yet, but I do wait until I see a few poking their heads out of the bottom drain holes.

[golfnrl]

When it's time to move the sprouts from their Rapid Rooter start into the first pot I use a small paper pot, get the soil wet but not dripping, and have all the tools lined up. But none of that happens until I see roots poking out the bottom of the pot and the leaves to extending a little ways beyond the edges of the pot.

[buds73]

Thank you for the replies.
My plants are 5wks old tomorrow. They are currently in 5 ltr (roughly a gallon) pots and have been in them since seed so this will be their first transplant. I'm going to move them into 12 ltr fabric pots. Didn't get to do it last night as something came up so going to attempt it later. My one plants leaves have already extended beyond the sides of the pot. Seems to be growing wide more than tall probably in part down to mistakes i made in the beginning. That plant is currently 6.5 inches tall grown half inch in last 2 days lol, and 14 inches wide and starting to get bushy which is also another reason for transplanting it. I am unable to do any lst with the room i currently have in the pot. Pics below.

[golfnrl]

They look a nice healthy green. I don't see any burnt tips or anything. How full is your pot? I like about an 1" of grow medium from the top of the pot. Let us know how the transplant goes.

[buds73]

The soil is about 2" from the top of pot. Didn't get to transplant again. Wife been working evenings so I've not found the time but she's off today so fingers crossed it will get done today.

[buds73]

Finally got round to transplanting,went well and without incident lol. Seems that roots had developed much better than i was expecting and i think if id have let them continue to grow in the original pots they would have become root bound sooner or later. Roots were wrapping around bottom of soil when i took it out. Couple pics below. 1st pic is of my better fb plant after transplant 2nd pic is a pic of the roots on the smaller Fb i have. Didn't get a pic of the roots on the first plant as my wife and camera weren't to hand lol.

[golfnrl]

Glad it went well

[buds73]

Thank you