When I repot my houseplants, is it okay to cut some of the roots?

Answer 1

It is fine to trim the roots as long as you do not take off more than 20%. I do not recommend giving it fertilizer though. I know it sounds counterintuitive but it's literally putting salt on a wound. Fertilizers are nitrogen, phosphorous, and potasium salts, dry or dissolved in water. Any fertilizer for the first 2-3 weeks after root pruning tends to draw out moisture from root and inhibits water uptake by the plant. This is called root burn that results in root rot. With root rot, your soil will be moist but he plant will be wilted, it can't take up water. Root rot also opens the plant up for diseases.

Repot your plant in well draining media and use plain tap (OK) or distilled ( Best ) water and the roots would heal and grow in 1-2 weeks. The best indicator to start fertilizing is when your plant shows lush growth (2-4 weeks after root pruning). Start with 1/4 fertilizer rate/ gallon then increase by 1/4 every 2 weeks or so.

Horticulture student - Greenhouse production.

Answer 2

Sure. And if you can provide good growing conditions, you can trim up to about half the roots, as long as you balance the tops by trimming, also.

Do not fertilize. New soil should be adequate until the plant gets its roots under it again.

Answer 3

Yes, but be sure to trim back the foliage at the same time, or boost the fertilizer. A trimmed root system takes time to bounce back -- and you don't want the plant to be undernourished in the meantime.