How can I keep root bound plants healthy?

[Fraggle Rock]

I have some strains that I have been vegging into mothers, but the space I have keeps me from transplanting...They are in half gallon containers and are pretty bushy and 12-18" tall...They seem to have nutrient deficiencies and droopy leaves....I don't underwater or over water...I have been giving them light Earth Juice Nutes. I am guessing they are lacking vigor and perfect health because they are so root bound. I plan on transplanting in a few weeks, but should I just give them extra nutes to compensate for the small pots for now?

Thanks!!

 

[RetroGrow]

Definitely have to transplant to bigger pots, if possible. If not possible, you can trim back the plant and roots. Check out the thread on Bonzai moms. It's a sticky. Extra nutes will not help.

 

[xcrispi]

Pull plants out of the orig pots , hack rootballs back w/ a serated knife so it ends up square , repot right back in the origional pot using fresh soil / medium .
Crispi

 

[Core]

or treat'm like bonsai mom's like crispi siad....but that does include cutting roots and transplanting

 

[KyndBud]

Have you checked out smart pots yet? They are a felt like material sewn into pots and they are the shit for mothers. They will auto prune the roots as they grow through the material so they should never get root bound. I've pulled some gnarly root balls out of those pots. I really like them because it allows the roots to breath and dry out evenly. Otherwise, chop the tops and roots, transplant with some vitamin b and you should be good to go.

Peace
KB

 

[dubwise]

If you enough vertical space, you could make your own pots out of large 6" pvc. The pvc could be about 2' high....should give plenty of space for the rootball. I like that smart pot idea...I've had a mother in a 5gal container for a few months and she's about 3'-4' tall and she does very well, but I was expecting to replant in a 15-20gal container, but those smartpots would be even better.