Quote Originally Posted by BlueDevil
Well, I did it. After some thinking, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and just get it over with.
Getting them out of the screen wasn't as bad as I was expecting to be honest. And I think I found the problem: the roots had made contact with the layer of rock I used in the container bottoms - I suppose the mineral composition of said drainage layer didn't agree with them? I guess this is why people use clay pellets or marbles... *sigh* Live and learn I suppose... It would explain why things looked the way they did without an out-of-whack pH or over/under feeding.

I was thrilled with my root structure though! Thrive really does make a difference - I had (easily) 4 or 5 times the root mass in these containers than I did with my first try in containers of similar volume.

Got'em out, freed up the roots, gave it all a bit of a shake to dislodge soil and perlite, and re-potted with new soil and generous amounts of tamping. Finished off with spring water and Thrive to address transplant shock.

*crosses fingers* I'll let you guys know if they pull through! Thanks for all the input btw... :thumbsup:

I really doubt if it was the roots touching drainage rocks. They grow well wrapped around nearly anything buried in the ground so it must be something else. If your leaves are spotting then dying off it's most likely your tap water that needs fixing. And using drainage rocks aren't necessary if using pots with drain holes in them and will only mess up the weight when checking for watering needs. Next time...