Transplanting
Marijuana Horticulture
by Jorge Cervantes
When plants are too big for their containers, they must be transplanted to continue rapid growth. Inhibited, cramped root systems grow sickly, stunted plants. Signs of root bound plants include slow, sickly growth and branches that develop with more distance between limbs. Severely root bound plants tend to grow straight up with few branches that stretch beyond the sides of the pot. To check for root bound symptoms, remove the plant from its pot to see if rots are deeply matted on the bottom or surrounding the sides of the pot.
When growing short plants that reach full maturity in 90 days, there is little need for containers larger than three gallons (11L). Large mother plants will need a large pot if they are kept for more than a few months.
Transplant int the same type or similar growing medium; otherwise, a water pressure differential could develop between the different mediums, which sows water movement and causes slow root growth. Starting seeds and clones in root cubes or peat pots makes them easy to transplant. Set the cube or peat pot in the hole in the growing medium, and make sure growing medium is in firm contact. Remember to keep root cubes and substrates evenly moist after transplanting.
Transplanting is the second most traumatic experience after cloning. It requires special attention and manual dexterity. Tiny root hairs are very delicate and may easily be destroyed by light, air, or clumsy hands. Roots grow in darkness, in a rigid, secure environment. When roots are taken out of contact with the soil for long, they dry up and die.
Transplanting should involve as little disturbance to the root system as possible. Water helps the soil pack around roots and keeps them from drying out. Roots need to be in constant contact with moist soil in order to supply water and food to the plant.
After transplanting, photosynthesis and chlorophyll production are slowed, as are water and nutrient absorption via roots. Transplant late in the day s transplanted plants have all night to recover. Transplants need subdued light, s foliage can grow at the rate roots can supply water and nutrients. Give new transplants filtered, less intense light for a couple f days. If there is a fluorescent lamp handy, move transplants under it for a couple of days before moving them back under the HID or outdoors to harden off.
Ideally, plants should be as healthy as possible before being traumatized by transplanting. But, transplanting a sick, root bound plant to a bigger container has cured more than one ailing plant. Once transplanted, cannabis requires low levels of nitrogen and potassium and increased quantities of phosphorus. Any product containing Trichoderma bacteria or Vitamin B1 will hep ease transplant shock. Pants need a few days to settle in and re-establish a solid flow of fluids from the rots throughout the plant. When transplanted carefully and disturbed little, there will be signs of transplant shock or wilt.
Double potting is a simple transplanting technique that disturbs roots very little. To double pot a plant, cut the bottom out of the root bound pot, and set on top of another, bigger pot of soil. Roots grow down into the second pot.