root bound during flowering question

how do u know if Ur plant is root bound during the flowering cycle.Ive read if your fan leaves continues to yellow until all the fan leaves are gone and also u can get n deficiency from being root bound.now does that goes with the plant being in budding or is it during veg,plus can i add more dirt in the container during flowering would it effect the plant in anyway

..........reason im asking,well my fan leaves are yellowing bad and dying off,plus half of my soil in the container seems to be missing or mush half way down the container is it necessary to replace the soil when this occurs

If you are past the third week then the yellowing is normal, but next go round you should feed veg nutes high in N until the 10th day of 12-12 in order to give the plant that needed N to carry it throughout the flower cycle IMO. Also I would add some dirt on top, not because the roots will grow into it, but it will help so that light does not start hitting your roots which is not a good thing. It will also help to keep some more water on the top roots.
Adieu
Adieu

As far as the rootbound issue, it isn't a terrible thing for a plant to finish rootbound. You should make sure that it has a total of 1 gallon of soil for every 12 inches of height that you expect it to finish at. Then it will all come out about right.
Bear is right about the N... the plant needs just the bare minimum of N to keep green until week 5 or so of flower for an 8 week cycle, or even later for a long-flowering sativa.
I avoid both problems by repotting into a 3 gallon container after week 2 of flower and mixing some organic N (Neptunes Harvest kelp and seaweed fertilizer has been on the menu lately) right into the soil for the repot... then as the roots grow into it they will get just a bit of N to finish. I apply it at a rate of about 4 tablespoons undiluted fert in the 3 gallon pail of dirt, mixed REALLY REALLY well.

thank you, i didn't know u need to put another dose of high N. two weeks into flowering I believe im around four or five weeks in flowering but still in early flowering stage,im definitely going put more dirt in the pot,also i transplanted the plant in a 3 gallon two weeks before 12/12.i use ff 2-8-4 tiger bloom so its low on nitrogen but should be enough n to sustain the plants growth I think

I think over all you should be fine, just prepare to give a little more N next time round and I think Stinky feels the same.
Adieu

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Originally Posted by smokybear

thank you, i didn't know u need to put another dose of high N. two weeks into flowering

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I would warn against trying to do it with a chemical fert. Something slow-release in the soil is better. Bushy Old Grower, who is a LEGEND, recommends a soil mix that includes blood meal even in the flower stage as a slow-release fert.
I just bought his book and really like his simple, unfussy approach to organic gardening.

If you are worried about stressing the plant when you transplant during flower, you can be ultra paranoid and do what I do. I take my pot (usually a 1 gallon) and I literally just cut the bottom off the pot with either a sharp serrated knife or a Dremmel. I then plop the whole pot right into the dirt. The roots will grow into the new soil. If you want to be super technical, you can actually cut the bottom off and then cut a line down the outside too, splitting the pot. Keep it together though and put it down into the new dirt and then slowly and carefully lift the old pot out from around the plant and discard. Ive done this a # of times with no ill effects and the plants definitely enjoyed it.

For me, the absolute tell tale sign of rootbound is curled under tips of leaves. Unless it does that, I generally assume its a different problem.

now,thats a good idea,racerx

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Originally Posted by Racerx

I take my pot (usually a 1 gallon) and I literally just cut the bottom off the pot with either a sharp serrated knife or a Dremmel. I then plop the whole pot right into the dirt. The roots will grow into the new soil. .

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Elevated transplanting, a la BOG.

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Originally Posted by Racerx

For me, the absolute tell tale sign of rootbound is curled under tips of leaves. Unless it does that, I generally assume its a different problem.

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Yup agreed. And the upside-down canoe leaves.