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My asplenium has been doing it’s own thing since I got it and today I… | Anything about plants | Planta community

Paz

My asplenium has been doing it’s own thing since I got it and today I thought I’d actually take it out the pot to take a look. I had to wrestle it out of the pot and when it came out this is what it looks like. I don’t have any other fern type plants so want some help! I’ve never had a root bound plant before, this one is entirely encased by it’s brown roots so can someone tell me is this root bound? I am going to repot it, any advice on whether I should loosen up the roots (if it’s possible) or just size it up and leave the current shape as it is?

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5 likes 7 comments

7 comments

  1. Ijanae

    Looks like it’s definitely root bound. I would loosen the roots up just a little bit on the bottom to encourage new root growth before repotting and it should be good to go !

    4 likes
    • Paz

      The bottom is so root bound it’s almost one solid mass! If you know the answer, would I need to stab at it/force it to loosen and open it up, or would that cause damage?

      0 likes
    • Dave_opuntiaface

      Just squeeze it gently a bunch.

      2 likes
  2. Ijanae

    Just squeeze it gently a bunch and it should loosen a bit and you should be able to pull the bottom out, it will be okay if some of the roots break they’ll grow back and it’s got plenty

    1 like
  3. Koval gardening

    I would not loosen the root ball at. Just soak in water and then pot it up in one size up pot it will do its own thing.

    1 like
  4. Kim

    You could just soak it and pot it but I definitely wouldn’t put it in the pot dry and root bound. With soak or loosen it or both.

    3 likes
  5. R plants

    I would gently squeeze the roots and remove some of the soil and cut off the rotten roots, then plant it in a pot about 1-2 inches bigger than the root ball.

    1 like