Should I Repot?

[JDH23]

I need some quick advice. I have some seedlings (Sabal minor and trachycarpus) that are outgrowing their starter pots (roots growing out of drainage holes), with some plants appearing stinted in growth, so naturally my first instinct is to repot. However, given the time of the year and growing in borderline 6a/6b, cold temperatures are coming. So, in about a month or so I’ll have to bring my palms inside. My caution, whether warranted or not, is repotting the plants and then scaling back the water and light they receive to get them to slow their growth for the winter.  Will I be alright to repot my seedlings now, or should I wait until the start of next growing season to do so? 

[Manalto]

I'm interested in seeing the reply to this too. I'm in a warmer zone but similar circumstances. My instincts suggest that keeping them in the small pots will compound the winter stress if they're kept in a cool greenhouse but let's hear what the experienced palm growers have to say.

[Las Palmas Norte]

I just did that very thing. Repotted root bound seedlings into gallon pots & watered them well. It'll be some time before I move these into a frost-free unheated garage for winter.

[SeanK]

I'm on the edge of 7b/8a. Last weekend I repotted fortuneis and minors. Some had roots about a foot into the ground.

[WSimpson]

I have a tendency to not water perfectly when I bring my houseplants inside for the winter and keep them too much on the dry side a lot of the time   ,  so I would repot them into  larger pots . If I were watering them a lot inside and keeping them wet all the time I would not repot them . 

 

Will

[Las Palmas Norte]

2 hours ago, Will Simpson said:

... when I bring my houseplants inside for the winter ...

When you say "inside" are you referring to interior heated? If so, I've found it best to place them in a cool/cold room to simulate a moderated version of winter without frost. This prevents weak growth which is a challenge for the plant next spring.

[WSimpson]

Yes , I just bring them inside the house with that dry heat and very low light levels . I pretty much just want to keep them relatively healthy till spring . That's probably a good idea to give them some sort of cooler conditions but I haven't had any problems yet with overwintering them in the house . They do get some cooler temperatures because I leave them outside till into November some years and get them out in March when there are no signs of a freeze . 

Will

 

[D Palm]

I would pot-up to reduce stress, but that may not be the optimal answer. 

[Manalto]

5 hours ago, D Palm said:

I would pot-up to reduce stress, but that may not be the optimal answer. 

This is what I was thinking. Drought stress is less of a risk if you pot them up, however, over watering is a slightly higher risk. And then, of course, there's the question of room. Those bigger pots times however many you've got can gobble up a lot of space. Ultimately, I'm thinking that giving the seedlings an opportunity to produce more of a root system in larger pots prepares them better for growth or transplanting in the spring.

[Las Palmas Norte]

Evaluate each situation and respond accordingly.  These can't wait until next spring. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

Just did a very root bound 5 gal. Pygmy date into a 15 gal. &  1 gal Sago into a 3 gal. The roots where pushing them upward out of the pots.