Do-it-yourself root surgery

New Air Bag or smart fabric technology has proven a theory I have used for years guerrilla growing in the desert SW - that roots behave the same as the top of the plant when cut off. They multiply - like topping your plant.

However the roots can be come either 2 or 4 pronged after the "insult". Topping yields just two. The smart fabrics sound great. Opposing weaves amputate the root tips when they protrude into the weave by opposing actions.

Here's how I do it.

Your surgical instrument. AKA a "weed puller". Available anywhere.


The business end. Note the "V". The most important part. Sharpen with a rat tail file occasionally.

Place the blade so it is crossing the root system.

GENTLY but firmly push your probe down. Do this when soil is anything but muddy or bone dry. You will feel the roots snap as you amputate them. Makes you ill at first maybe but is very satisfying when you see the results.

Doing this allows new propagation even on mature plants. It does not harm the plant. The holes also allow immediate oxygenation of your root system. Do this once a week minimum.

The plant I just did surgery on. Going into the 3rd week of flowering. Forgive the light. Didn't want to turn off the HPS mid-day. Try it and you will never stop. Does the plant no harm if applied as I stated. Like anything else do NOT overdo it. Works indoors and especially outdoors.

Good luck and happy growing.

very interesting. i wouldnt mind giving it a try but hearing the roots snap and crack makes me feel very guilty about the whole thing. i guess i will give it a try to my other non mj plants and see what happens.

Yeah a comparison would be great, Do the roots recover that easily in flower? I'm with bestbuds, the sound of roots even when I stake is cringing, let alone stabbing the root system multiple times a week...

Is this a way to copy the advantages of smart fabric? root pruning? If thats the case we're solid, I'm running smarties

WaxxyNuggets said:

Yeah a comparison would be great, Do the roots recover that easily in flower? I'm with bestbuds, the sound of roots even when I stake is cringing, let alone stabbing the root system multiple times a week...

Is this a way to copy the advantages of smart fabric? root pruning? If thats the case we're solid, I'm running smarties

Click to expand...

Understood. Done this since about 1967 and trust me, while topping needs to stop once flowering, root severance does not. Check the facts on these new smart grow bags. I have ordered 4 for a test. As a RN I just do what is necessary for the patient even if it "hurts" me watching it or doing it. Hope this helps.

Post your results later, waxxy. The roots were the selling point on the bags to me. You know the bags don't stop trimming.

Fuck yeah man, The veg growth from the smarties is almost exponential (not quite ). TBH even with big ass plants smarties just allow such a robust system, its hard for me to fill the bag up with roots, just a light spiderweb along the outsides, even sized root hairs for the most part.

I do miss pulling the rootballs out of the hard buckets and seeing the fat knots roll over each other, but if the ladies are happier in their new homes, they are staying! Would you suggest doing this same technique in smart pots for double pruning action? I'd love to put two clones of the same strain in the veg smarties I have, let em get chubby and use a weed puller on one.

From the little experience I have with HST, if done right it can make for some very robust plants. Thanks for the tips man

Interesting. For years I have been giving my "full-size" plants what I call root aeration. Really just a 16 inch bamboo skewer.
I push the skewer down into he rootball roughly half way between stem and pot lip. I read that helps get oxygen to the roots
and helps prevent root rot and mold. When I religiously remember to AR roots weekly I get fewer yellow fan leaves near the end of flowering.

"Doing this allows new propagation even on mature plants". Do you mean you are able to see more green growth attributed to the root canals?
I have been doing my AR thing to aid respiration, you saying the benefits are easily seeable above ground?

Funny we came up with radically different ways to do about the same thing and both settled on once-a-week Tx.

Appreciate the insight, BigSteve.