Rose seedlings bought online have roots exposed outside the pot - this is the correct way to handle them

Rose seedlings bought online with roots exposed outside the pot - this is the most correct way to handle them!

A gardening friend asked whether rose seedlings bought online need some roots trimmed when repotting, and what to do.

It is quite common for the roots of potted roses to grow out through the bottom holes. This usually happens when the potting soil can no longer accommodate root growth or when the ground is damp, causing roots to grow straight through the drainage holes into the soil. Whether it is a grow bag, a nutrient pot or a plastic pot, this problem appears after being grown for a long time. If the roots that have grown into the soil are too strong, the seedling cannot even be pulled up.

If you receive a seedling and find many roots growing out through the bottom holes, do not rush to repot it. Acclimatising the seedling is more important, because during normal care the roots growing from the bottom do have some absorption function. Once the plant is shipped, these bottom roots are the first to be damaged and lose their absorption function. If they are all fine roots, the problem is not too serious. But if it was grown in a grow bag placed directly on muddy ground and then pulled out for shipping, these roots that grew into the soil will be damaged. So after buying a seedling, if you are not careful, it will drop all its leaves. Therefore I suggest that after receiving the seedling, water it thoroughly and place it in a shaded spot with indirect light and good ventilation. Let it transition like this for 2-3 days. At this point the seedling will have yellow leaves. As long as the branches have not dried up and the leaves are not wrinkled, normal physiological yellowing is not a problem. Generally after 2-3 days the leaves that are going to drop will have all fallen, and by then the leaves and roots of the seedling have reached a balance, so it can be potted up. However, I do not suggest cutting off these roots. Once buried in soil, they will quickly sprout new roots.

If you do trim roots, it is usually for bare-root seedlings bought during the dormant season. Then you would cut off some fine roots to stimulate new root growth, or cut off roots that have rotted or gone bad. During the growing season, keep as many roots as possible and avoid damaging them.

Besides acclimatising the seedling, two other things are very important. The first is spraying a broad-spectrum fungicide to prevent the seedling from getting sick due to lowered resistance. The second is checking for pests and diseases. If there are problems such as black spot, downy mildew or red spider mites, treat them thoroughly first before placing the plant together with your other seedlings, otherwise it can easily infect a large number of them.

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