Choon's Cacti Collection

Hello,

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I am concerned about them dying if I do this. Do I place them with their dirt in a larger pot with the soil dampened?
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There are many answers to this question (sort of like what's the best potting mix?, or how does one water?)

I have had very bad luck when I do not strip ALL of the old soil off of the roots. It seems the roots have a difficult time moving from old, compacted, saline, decomposed,... soil to new soil. Plants that were growing quickly would first sulk and then lose their roots, rot, and die. Inspection would show no root growth from the old to the new soil.

So I gently shake the old soil off the roots, and then gently wash the remainder off with a garden hose (on my concrete garage driveway). I check roots and trim off dead or damaged ones. The plants then sit for a few days (depending on the season, plant size...) and are repotted in DRY soil. I water them a week or two later (depending on the season, plant size...).

NOTE: This is similar to what Mesa Gardens does and they repot MANY thousands of plants per year!

Ralph Peters
Albuquerque, NM

Last updated: July 12, 1998. Copyright © 1997 & 1998 Ching Yen Choon all rights reserved.