Was going to repot this, but even after soaking in water for 2 hours it is still has hard as a rock. Just pot it in one piece?

Its as hard as a rock because its a solid square root ball. I would just pot it as is. Just make sure when you water you pour the water down the middle of the root ball so it can soak into the soil around it. The roots will follow the water but they have to be alive to do that. Make the new pot about an inch to an inch and a half wider all the way around but not much deeper.

GummyBear said:Was going to repot this, but even after soaking in water for 2 hours it is still has hard as a rock. Just pot it in one piece?

Soaking doesnt nearly help as much as a high pressure wash. Get a hose or do it in the shower to clean the rootball.

I am wondering why it is necessary to break up the root ball. Or to put it another way, what's the benefit of doing that when there are potential risks to ripping all the roots apart from each other?

I always leave healthy root balls alone.

Ugh! A perfect example of why I only buy plants that I can propagate when I see them for sale in that fibrous peat stuff. Horrible stuff, hydrophobic when dry, airless when wet. Might be easier to get along with in a dry climate, or easier to transport plants from grower to store, but where I am, this stuff kills plants when it's really hot and humid. An unglazed clay pot might make it possible to stay alive, or putting in the ground for a few months. You probably don't have time for meaningful grounding unless you are in a warmer zone.

Will the roots grow out or continue circling?

purpleinopp said:Ugh! A perfect example of why I only buy plants that I can propagate when I see them for sale in that fibrous peat stuff.

That's not fibrous peat stuff, those are roots. They will grow out of that shape, one little root is already making a gallant effort.

Hamwild said:Will the roots grow out or continue circling?

They will grow out regardless of whether the root ball is broken up, unless the new substrate is radically different from the old one.

Yes, there are roots, quite a lot of them, but if whatever they are clinging to won't come off in water, I don't know what else it would be. Maybe little flecks of bark.

Baja_Costero said:

They will grow out regardless of whether the root ball is broken up, unless the new substrate is radically different from the old one.

I've always read about unwinding (or even cutting) shrubs and perennial's roots when they do that, that they will continue to grow 'round and 'round otherwise, so I wasn't sure if that was also a concern with succulents.

I have heard the same thing, but it seems like an urban rumor, at least as far as succulents go, because I have never unwound (or cut) a succulent's roots except under very special circumstances. There's some discussion about this in the sticky about repotting succulents.

One thing about drought tolerant plants is their roots seem to be really good at finding their own way. They often grow in confined spaces (eg. cracks in the rock) in nature, and their survival (thus their existence) depends on their roots' ability to explore, anchor, and find water.

When I put succulents in the ground (usually for good), I don't disturb the root ball if I can avoid it, either. That said, I also do make a point of avoiding sharp transitions in substrate between the original soil and the soil that will surround it... for plants in the landscape, I make a mix of roughly half native soil, half succulent mix in the immediate vicinity of the plant, so its roots will not face a sharp transition from one to the other.

I just potted it the way it is in a larger pot with more "ventilated" type media. Will check it in a few months.

GummyBear said:Will check it in a few months.

You might want to check more often then that. Eventually it will need some water.

PS: I think you meant "will check back with us in a few months" but I couldn't resist.

DaisyI said:

You might want to check more often then that. Eventually it will need some water.

PS: I think you meant "will check back with us in a few months" but I couldn't resist.

No, I really meant that I will check the plant after a few months.