The only gardening tool that you need, she revealed, is a handy hatchet.
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Alicia Leverette (@whitewater_creek_farm) shared the pro tip in a viral Instagram video.
She de-potted a plant that had deeply compacted soil, which she dubbed “root-bound.”
While it may seem hopeless for the plant, she shared a trick she picked up from her mom.
“My mama taught me this y’all so I know it’s the truth. When you get a plant and you pull it out of its pot and you see this, this is root bound,” she said, slapping the condensed roots of the plant.
“This plant needs your help.”
The solution, however, proved to be fairly straightforward.
With a hatchet, she knocked a few inches of the plant’s roots off, revealing a layer of soil.
She manually ripped the rounded roots off the plant with her hands.
Alicia explained that while it looked dangerous, the technique didn’t cause any harm to the plant.
The ends of the roots, she explained, all gather at the bottom of the pot.
“You are actually doing it a favor,” she said.
“Now, you have all these roots that are ready to go down into the ground and take up the nutrients in the water that this plant needs to survive.”
Many were shocked it was as easy as she’d make it look.
“Omg I’ve been detangling them trying to not tear any roots,” said one commenter.
You are actually doing it a favor.
Alicia Leverette
They agreed that while the method looked potentially harmful, they were willing to try it.
“This feels so wrong but I trust you and your mama,” they said.
“I was not ready to see the hack job lol,” said another.
“I did a little jumpscare on that one. I would’ve never thought to do that. I would have tried to open the roots up more and still planted the whole thing lol. Now I know.”
More experienced gardeners confirmed Alicia’s advice based on firsthand experience.
“I also work with plants for a living and it’s true!” said one.
“We do this with citrus trees and all sorts of plants. Chop off the bottom half so the rest can start new patterns and thrive!
“Otherwise, they keep on growing in on themselves like an ingrown toenail.”
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