Remove rockwool from plant roots, or leave it on?

[Utar]

I am thinking about ordering some plants from Buce Plants. This will be my second time to order from Buce. The first time was a disaster for me, I completely ruined the roots on some Amazon Swords that I ordered from Buce trying to remove the rockwool, they wilted away and never grew. If I do order some more Amazon Swords from Buce, can I leave the rockwool on the plants or must I remove it. If I have to remove the rockwool form the roots, then how do I do this without destroying the roots. Thanks Everyone.

 

[CassCats]

Itd be better to remove most of it. A little bit won't hurt nothing but if the roots are kept locked in, you may struggle with a root bound plant eventually and that may cause it to grow stunted.

 

[Utar]

Itd be better to remove most of it. A little bit won't hurt nothing but if the roots are kept locked in, you may struggle with a root bound plant eventually and that may cause it to grow stunted.

Thank you for your reply, but I am curious as to how I am going to remove most of the rockwool without tearing up the roots.

 

[CassCats]

Usually I just pull it apart

 

[Colin_T]

Carefully tease off whatever you can remove without damaging the roots and leave the rest on.

 

[Utar]

Usually I just pull it apart

Carefully tease off whatever you can remove without damaging the roots and leave the rest on.

I guess that is the answer just use a pair of tweezers and take my time pulling little pieces at a time of rookwool from the roots.

 

[Odd Duck]

If you pull the bulk of the rock wool off, then you can gently swish the plant roots in a container of tank water and usually most of the rest will come off. I have even held the roots under gently running tap water (traces of chlorine won‘t hurt the plants a bit) to get the rest off.

 

[Essjay]

I use a pin to gently pull the rockwool from the roots, bit by bit. I do this under running water, set to a dribble rather than full on.

 

[Fishy_Dan]

I had to remove most of the root system from my plants, they were so tangled up with the wool they came off as I removed it. All the plants have grown back strong though. So long as there is some root structure left they will grow back and encouraging new root growth is a good thing.